Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Huge, gratifying portable RPG has slightly mature themes.
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Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past
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What’s It About?
DRAGON QUEST VII: FRAGMENTS OF THE FORGOTTEN PAST tells of a young boy and his two friends, who leave their small fishing village for the first time. Aside from not knowing that anything existed out their peaceful town, these kids discover an evil force that threatens all life as they know it. They must travel back and forth through time to fight this threat head-on. Players will customize their party of characters (choosing from more than 30 jobs), explore strange lands, meet memorable characters, and engage in turn-based battles using might and magic. This game boasts more than 100 hours of gameplay.
Is It Any Good?
Whether you're new to the series or remember the original version of this game, this portable adventure offers a ton of fun to sink your sword into. Seriously, we're talking huge dungeons here, as well as big towns and rural areas to explore and battle through. It's a classic Japanese RPG that still holds up all these years later. It does take a while for the first fight to commence, but once it does the game's simple turn-based battle mechanic, streamlined user interface, and strong narrative all work hand in hand to drive the tale further. Side quests offer some variety, too, and you'll have party members with different abilities to keep gameplay fresh, along with many areas to explore. That said, there's a lot of back and forth between areas, and some of the NPCs (non-playable characters) repeat themselves often, but overall, you'll find this game hard to put down.
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past also offers rebuilt visuals and new controls (designed for smaller screens and Nintendo 3DS buttons). And if the estimated 100 hours of gameplay wasn't enough, this Dragon's Quest game also supports the Nintendo 3DS' StreetPass, which lets you send and receive traveler's tablets to explore new dungeons that contain rare monsters and unique equipment. Despite a few minor grumbles, this $40 remake is well worth the cost. In fact, it's one of the best Nintendo 3DS games of 2016.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dealing with mature content in games. What are some examples of content in games that would not be appropriate for children? What are some of the effects this content can have on younger kids?
Families can also discuss whether they see a difference between video games that pit heroes against monsters and those where the primary enemies are human. Do you think beating up or killing a fantastical creature in a game is less affecting then doing the same to a person?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo 3DS
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Nintendo of America
- Release date: September 6, 2016
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Wild Animals
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol
- Last updated: September 28, 2016
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