IGN對《勇者鬥惡龍 7 Reimagined》（以下簡稱 DQ7RE）的評測中，本作最終獲得7分（Good）的評價。IGN 的整體立場相當明確：這是“更好上手、節奏更現代”的重構作品，但也正因為過度修剪與簡化，逐漸失去《勇者鬥惡龍 7》原本最具代表性的挑戰性、厚重感與探索魅力。在他們看來，這是一種典型的取捨失衡。

IGN 認為，DQ7RE最顯著的變化來自於“精簡”本身，而這種精簡並非毫無代價。為了修正原作動輒上百小時、前期節奏極為緩慢的問題，重構版對內容結構進行大刀闊斧的調整。原作中完整存在的三個島嶼被直接移除，另有四個島嶼從主線流程中抽離，改為可選支線內容。這樣的設計確實讓主線推進更加順暢，也大幅降低玩家在中後期的疲勞感，但同時也削弱世界規模所帶來的史詩感。對系列老玩家而言，那種在漫長旅途中逐步拼湊世界全貌的滿足感，被明顯壓縮甚至消失了。

職業系統的調整同樣引發爭議。原版中超過五十種職業所構成的龐大成長網路，是DQ7 的核心樂趣之一，也是其複雜度與耐玩度的來源。然而在DQ7RE中，每名角色可選擇的職業被縮減至二十種左右。IGN指出，這樣的改動確實降低學習成本，也減少反復刷職業熟練度的時間，但代價是策略深度與培養自由度明顯下降，角色成長變得更“安全”、也更缺乏驚喜。

在難度層面，IGN 的評價尤為直接。他們認為DQ7RE幾乎是刻意向新玩家全面妥協。遊戲中加入角色死亡後自動復活的機制，傳統系列中那種“資源緊繃、一次失誤就可能全滅”的壓力感被徹底消解。戰鬥變得寬容而溫和，失敗的代價極低，使得勝負本身不再具有重量。更讓老玩家感到失望的是，開發者並未提供任何高難度選項，無法讓熟悉系列系統的玩家自行調整體驗。這使得許多資深粉絲在中後期幾乎感受不到挑戰，遊戲流程逐漸流於形式。

美術風格的變化同樣成為討論焦點。DQ7RE採用一種受到“立體模型場景（Diorama）”與木偶劇風格啟發的全新視覺表現，角色比例明顯偏向三頭身的Q 版造型。雖然整體畫面更加統一、親和力更強，但IGN指出，這種風格並非所有玩家都能接受。尤其是重構版取消3DS版本中“更換職業即改變角色外觀”的設定，使得角色在視覺上的成長感被削弱，這一點讓不少系列粉絲感到惋惜。

在探索體驗上，IGN認為這是DQ7RE損失最嚴重的部分之一。原作以龐大而碎片化的世界結構著稱，需要在不同時間線與島嶼之間來回穿梭，尋找石板碎片的過程本身就充滿未知與發現感。而在重構版中，流程被大幅線性化，指引更加明確，幾乎不會讓玩家迷失方向。雖然這減少挫折，也提高效率，但那種“靠自己理解世界規則、逐步解鎖歷史真相”的成就感，也隨之大幅下降。

IGN也在評測中回顧《勇者鬥惡龍 7》各版本的歷史評分，強調這是一個“每一代都有明顯缺陷，卻依然令人難忘”的作品。2001年的PS1原版雖然畫面在當時已顯老舊，卻憑藉極其龐大的內容深度與史詩規模，獲得9.0的高分評價。2016 年的3DS重製版成功改善冗長的序章節奏，但流程重複性與NPC建模問題讓其評分回落至7.7。而2026年的Reimagined重構版，則進一步優化節奏，卻因為刪減幅度過大、整體難度過低，被IG視為目前“最容易上手，但也最缺乏靈魂”的版本，因此僅獲得7.0分。

綜合來看，IGN 給出的結論相當務實。如果你是首次接觸《勇者鬥惡龍 7》，希望用較短時間順暢體驗劇情主線，那麼DQ7RE無疑是一個友善、現代化的入門版本；但如果你是熟悉原作、享受高難度戰鬥與深度探索的老玩家，這個版本很可能會讓你覺得它在追求效率的過程中，磨滅太多原本屬於《勇者鬥惡龍 7》的靈魂。

In its review of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (hereafter DQ7RE), IGN awarded the game a score of 7 out of 10 (Good). IGN’s overall stance is quite clear: while the remake successfully addresses the pacing problems of the original, it does so at the cost of stripping away much of the series’ core sense of challenge, depth, and exploration. In their view, DQ7RE represents a case where streamlining has gone too far.

According to IGN, the most significant changes stem from the game’s aggressive “simplification,” and this approach comes with clear side effects. In order to fix the original’s famously bloated structure—often stretching well beyond one hundred hours—the Reimagined version makes major cuts to its content. Three entire islands from the original have been removed outright, while four others have been taken out of the main story flow and turned into optional side content. These decisions undeniably make the main campaign feel smoother and reduce player fatigue, but they also shrink the sense of scale. For long-time fans, the satisfaction of gradually piecing together a vast world over an extended journey has been noticeably diminished.

The overhaul of the job system has also proven controversial. In the original game, the more than fifty available jobs formed a complex web of progression that was central to DQ7’s appeal and long-term replay value. In DQ7RE, each character is limited to roughly twenty jobs. IGN notes that this change lowers the learning curve and reduces the grind required to master professions, but it comes at the expense of strategic depth and freedom in character development. Growth paths feel safer and more constrained, with fewer opportunities for experimentation or surprise.

Difficulty is another area where IGN’s criticism is especially blunt. The review argues that DQ7RE makes a deliberate effort to accommodate new players by removing almost all meaningful challenge. A new system that automatically revives characters after death eliminates much of the tension traditionally associated with the series. Battles become forgiving and low-risk, and failure carries little consequence. Compounding this issue is the lack of any higher difficulty options. Veteran players are given no way to tailor the experience to their skill level, leaving many longtime fans feeling bored as the game progresses.

The game’s visual direction has also sparked debate. DQ7RE adopts a new art style inspired by dioramas and puppet theater, with characters rendered in a chibi, three-heads-tall proportion. While the presentation is cohesive and approachable, IGN points out that it is not universally appealing. In particular, the removal of the 3DS version’s feature where changing jobs altered a character’s appearance weakens the visual sense of growth, a loss that many fans find disappointing.

When it comes to exploration, IGN considers this to be one of the areas where DQ7RE sacrifices the most. The original Dragon Quest VII was known for its sprawling, fragmented world and its reliance on player-driven discovery, especially the process of searching for stone tablet fragments across different islands and timelines. In the Reimagined version, the progression has been heavily linearized, with clearer guidance and far fewer opportunities to get lost. While this improves efficiency and reduces frustration, it also greatly diminishes the feeling of discovery and the satisfaction of unraveling the world’s mysteries through one’s own efforts.

IGN also contextualizes its score by looking back at the franchise’s review history, describing Dragon Quest VII as a “flawed gem” in every incarnation. The original PlayStation version released in 2001 earned a strong 9.0 out of 10, praised for its immense depth and epic scale despite its dated visuals. The 2016 Nintendo 3DS remake improved the notoriously long opening but lost points due to repetitive structure and heavy reuse of NPC models, resulting in a 7.7 score. The 2026 Reimagined version further refines pacing, but because of excessive cuts and a drastically reduced difficulty, IGN considers it the most accessible yet also the most “soulless” version to date, ultimately awarding it a 7.0.

In summary, IGN’s recommendation is a practical one. If you are a newcomer who values efficiency and wants to experience the story quickly and smoothly, DQ7RE is a friendly and modern entry point. However, for longtime fans who cherish demanding combat systems and deep exploration, this version may feel like it has sacrificed too much of what once defined the soul of Dragon Quest VII.