Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past Reviews

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
7.7 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2016

Despite the much-needed visual overhaul, if you spent 100+ hours with the PlayStation original there’s maybe not quite enough in this 3DS update to tempt you back. But if Dragon Quest VII doesn’t always justify the significant length of its journey, anyone looking for some good story content to last them well into the winter months will find a portable RPG that dwarfs most of its console counterparts.

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Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
Sep 15, 2016

An excellent remake of a game that represents one of the logical extremes of Japanese role-players, and yet remains surprisingly endearing despite its flaws.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 6, 2016

Dragon Quest 7 ties together a bunch of fun mini-adventures into a lengthy, nostalgic package

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USgamer
Top Critic
Sep 13, 2016

If a traditional menu-based RPG that spans nearly 100 hours isn't your idea of a good time, run away from Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Run away *screaming*. On the other hand, if you want to tuck into a great RPG for months at a time, you couldn't ask for a better companion.

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Sep 17, 2016

As far as remakes go, Square Enix shows time and time again how to do it right, and Dragon Quest VII for 3DS might be their best DQ revamp yet—a massive adventure packed with stories and characters, traveling across time and magical realms to plunge through volcanoes, caves, and underground lairs. I don’t see this appealing to a large audience who isn’t already fans of either the genre or the Dragon Quest series, but there’s nothing wrong with an old-school romp through swamps and slaying the hordes of palette-swapped enemies in the fields. Chicken soup for the gamer’s soul, y’know?

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2016

Nearly every Dragon Quest has added something unique to the gaming landscape as a whole, but Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is one of the best of the lot. As an RPG, VII simply begs to be played, though not necessarily on 3DS if you can swing it (or dig it out of a box somewhere).

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8 / 10
Sep 13, 2016

With the big push that Nintendo has given to Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, it’s a shame that this is the black sheep of the main series. It’s not that it’s bad, far from it, and ArtePiazza have exceeded the original version in every way. Yet as much as I love the work they’ve done, the plodding nature of the game makes this the longest game in the series, for not necessarily the most compelling of reasons. A lovingly crafted game, and a dramatic improvement on the original, but not the best entry point to the franchise.

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VG247
Top Critic
Sep 22, 2016

If a traditional menu-based RPG that spans nearly 100 hours isn't your idea of a good time, run away from Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Run away *screaming*. On the other hand, if you want to tuck into a great RPG for months at a time, you couldn't ask for a better companion.

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7.4 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a classic JRPG with a lot of enjoyable contents, but characterised by a slow pace.

Review in Italian | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2016

Accessible and incredibly deep, if you’re looking for a time-sink you won’t get much better than Dragon Quest VII.

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Sep 13, 2016

Dragon Quest VII was already a great game when it released on PS1 15 years ago, but the remade Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past takes that experience and improves on it to make it the definitive experience for the seventh entry in this long running franchise.

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Sep 29, 2016

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is an engaging remake of a well-liked classic that brings some much needed paint and portability to the overly long game.

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70 / 100
Sep 16, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a solid JRPG remake with more than enough plot and gameplay to keep RPG fans happy. The turn based battle system is light on grind, filled with Dragon Quest’s trademark cast of colorful monsters, and offers a mostly hands-off feature for fights. With an engaging story, a huge world to explore, and plenty of side quests and additional content, there are many of reasons to get lost in the past.

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81 / 100
Sep 22, 2016

Jumping into Dragon Quest VII, I was treated to a well-paced, meaningful story that did not center itself around battles like many JRPGs try to do these days.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 22, 2016

Dragon Quest VII is still an enjoyable RPG. It has the old school feel that made it a classic, but some of what was left in feels a bit too old for a modern take. The pacing is the biggest issue here, and I would say players wanting to understand the game going in need to realize it takes a good 12-15 hours before this game even begins to start, but if you can hold out until it actually begins, you looking at a decently structured, thought out, and fun JRPG.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 19, 2017

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic addition to the 3DS, and easily one of the best games on the system. Everything is well crafted and highly polished, and there is enough new content and variations that even if you played the PS2 version to death, you will still find lots of surprises and nuances. With high presentation values, a charming story, tons of depth, and traditional but fun JRPG battle system, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a must own for 3DS RPG lovers, and an easy early contender for game of the year.

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9 / 10
Sep 12, 2016

Dragon Quest VII is a compelling, detailed and enriching work that is going to envelop players in its adventures and lure them to its passionate narrative. Throughout its worlds, Dragon Quest VII puts the player at the center of a beautifully-crafted story that stands out among other games of its time...and of all times as well. A truly unmissable opus which will only marvel anyone who puts their hands on it.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 13, 2016

Fragments of a Forgotten World is a great remastered. The team managed to rejuvinate the screenplay, the graphics and the gameplay, thanks to a great variety of "tasty" additions.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Sep 26, 2016

Dragon Quest VII's more archaic elements may not sit well with some players, but it's still an exciting and varied journey through many colorful, memorable worlds.

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4.3 / 5.0
Sep 29, 2016

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past joins the list of JRPG remasters done right on the 3DS. Instead of providing a simple upscale of the original and calling it a day, this remaster goes the extra mile by completely redoing the visuals and adding or updating gameplay elements that streamline the experience for veterans while making it more accessible to newcomers. Purists might decry some changes as dumbing down the game and nixing some of its trademark challenge. For the most part, though, this is an excellent example of how to remaster a classic.

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