Dragon Quest 7 art aims to keep Toriyama's 'cuteness' and unique atmosphere

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined's diorama-style art and doll-like character designs have drawn mixed reactions since their reveal, especially after the Dragon Quest 1-3 HD remakes favoured a more traditional pixel-art aesthetic.

The new look remains faithful to the original drawings by the late mangaka and series artist Akira Toriyama. Producer Takeshi Ichikawa, who responded by email, said Square Enix tried to convey the "cuteness" of Toriyama's original designs without compromising the JRPG remake's "unique atmosphere".

Whether fans like the doll vibes or not, the developers have prioritised staying true to Toriyama's vision while adapting those designs into the game's distinctive style.

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