What this all ultimately comes down to is that the game doesn't leave much for the player to discover on their own. The game tells you exactly what to do, when to do it, and gives you an overabundance of tools to succeed. There's no exploration to be had, few problems to solve, and only small hurdles to overcome. It leads to an experience that is definitely streamlined, but less satisfying. While there are difficulty toggles that can affect battle challenge, it is only a small consolation when most everything else outside of battles is unaffected. In an interview prior to the game's launch, Square Enix stated that "We are developing this to be the 'Masterpiece' version of Dragon Quest VII." Instead, I feel like we've received Diet Dragon Quest VII.