After years of anticipation, Japan's other RPG giant has finally reawakened. A few days ago, the Japanese magazine Shonen Jump unveiled the world's first screenshots and information on Enix's upcoming PlayStation blockbuster, Dragon Quest VII. Very little information has been released so far, but here's what we know:

　　Three main characters (once again designed and drawn by the famed Japanese artist Akira Toriyama) have been unveiled. The first guy (with the green hood) is the game's main character. He doesn't have a name (this has always been the case with DQ), so you'll name him whatever you want from the get-go. He's an ordinary boy who lives in a small fishing village. He dreams to someday be a great fisherman just like his father. He carries a small iguana-like pet with him.

　　The second guy (the one with the sword) is Kiefer Gran. He's the Prince of Granestado and loves to hang out with the main character - the two fraternize with each other all the time.

　　Finally, the girl's name is Marybelle (keep in mind these are rough Japanese translations - the actual spellings of the names may be a bit different). She's the only daughter of the fisherman's boss. She's a spoiled kid who loves to stick her nose into everything.

　　As you can see, the game now sports a full 3D world, though the characters are apparently sprite-based. No information on a release date has been given yet, but more info is expected to be released in the coming week, and when it is, we'll be back with an update.

　　Shots courtesy of Japanese magazine Weekly Jump by Shueisha Publishing.

　　Special thanks to Freddy Chan of Anime PlayStation.