Square Enix has announced Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, a remake of the classic JRPG released in 2000, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, out on February 5th. The first edition of DQVII to arrive on Xbox, the game will see us meet a colorful cast of characters exploring different islands and discovering the adventure a little at a time, in a "modern" version with renewed graphics, refined gameplay and a tighter narrative pace.

One of the most distinctive features of this remake is its "handmade" aesthetic. The character designs, originally created by the celebrated and late mangaka Akira Toriyama, have been reimagined in a charming 3D style using models of dolls created in the real world. The environments and dungeons have also been made in a diorama style that brings the beloved world of the Dragon Quest series to life as if it were an animated storybook. The narration, while remaining faithful to the original, has been improved to offer a smoother experience, enriched with side quests, optional stories and mini-games.

The turn-based combat system has been overhauled with significant changes to make battles more dynamic and exciting. The vocations system has been updated with a "Moonlighting" mechanic, which will allow us to use two vocations at the same time. The "Let Loose" ability has also been introduced, which can be activated when a character gets agitated, and the new "Monster Master" vocation, which thanks to its "Positive Reinforcement" perk will allow us to summon powerful monsters to attack enemies.

Throughout the adventure we will travel alongside memorable characters such as Keifer, the prince of Estard, and Maribel, the daughter of a mayor, meeting many other allies and opponents. As for exploration, we will have to unlock, expand and explore different worlds by collecting fragments and completing tablets. These varied worlds will offer vibrant cities to visit, challenging dungeons to conquer, quests to undertake, and much more. Finally, the game will implement a number of quality-of-life improvements, including a redesigned user interface for easier access to information.

We leave you with the announcement trailer and a set of images: enjoy!