7th Dragon III Code: VFD (Nintendo 3DS) Preview

By Brandon (Michael) Howard 31.05.2016

Review for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD on Nintendo 3DS

The final product from the now defunct developer Imageepoch, 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is an interesting mix of firsts and lasts. The first in the series to receive any sort of western release, and with the studio's closure, likely the last. While the series has had modest success in Japan on the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable, it's still largely unknown outside of its home country, but it definitely brings the charm to its final entry.

The first thing that really stands out about 7th Dragon III Code: VFD (aside from its absurdly long title) is the visual style. It's a distinctive, J-pop style that really sets the tone for the overall presentation. The player-created characters are slightly customisable in appearance, and they have an impressive variety of well-known Japanese voice actors that provide some excellent lines.

The character creation at the start prepares the stages for the entire adventure. While many of the classic JRPGs offer a set roster of characters with specific roles, this time, it's geared to what kind of party the player wants to build. There isn't exactly a huge variety in basic classes, but they all have unique skills and roles that make any of them a worthwhile addition to a party.

Screenshot for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD on Nintendo 3DS

The class variety is honestly one of the more exciting things. While they fill standard RPG roles in terms of functionality, they do so in different ways: ones that require planning or careful setup. There's a surprising amount of strategy for a dungeon crawling JRPG, and the way each team plays out is really fun and exciting to discover.

The main storyline starts out a bit slow, and although the plot is pretty interesting, it does have its share of low points. It hasn't yet hit the perfect pacing of balance between story and gameplay, but there's enough to keep the battles from getting monotonous, and that's where the game really shines.

Screenshot for 7th Dragon III Code: VFD on Nintendo 3DS

Final Thoughts

While nothing really new or exciting in terms of straight gameplay mechanics, 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is a solid RPG with unique character archetypes and an original visual style that's instantly appealing. It's easy to get into, and players of any skill level will feel right at home due to the adjustable difficulty. For those looking to scratch an old-school JRPG itch this summer, this is definitely a title worth looking into.

Developer

SEGA

Publisher

SEGA

Genre

Turn Based RPG

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  7/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date Out now   

Comments

Our member of the week

I always thought the original on Nintendo DS looked great, and was really bummed that it didn't see release outside of Japan. It's great to see that now the series is released outside of Japan, but it's too bad we missed out on its original title.

Cubed3 Limited Staff :: Review and Feature Writer

It's definitely cool to see. I think the first time I saw it was when 2020 was coming out in Japan. Definitely a lot of fun though.

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