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The Quick Summary

This is essentially a prototype/proof of concept game for the VASTLY superior, later released Dragon Quest Builders 2, but it is still enjoyable.
If you haven`t played either game, I would suggest starting off with this one, otherwise you will find yourself comparing it to DQB2 most of the time, wishing for more items, room recipes and features.
Story is still fun though, being broken up into various Chapters with end-chapter challenges to unlock stuff for Terra Incognita (Sandbox build mode area). Bosses are unique, gameplay is easy to understand, and you can build some pretty cool looking towns if you want. Resources, furniture and build options are a bit bare-bones though.


The Long Summary

This version of DQB1 was imported to Steam years after DQB2 came out, and Square Enix was kind enough to add in some features to help improve on the original DQB1.
-Weapons no longer break,
-They added in the Super Smash ability to make it easier to remove objects
-They imported some of the tools, unlocking infinite resources and animal riding features from DQB2 (although they can only be used in the Free-Build Terra Incognita area.)
The Story
Story is OK. It is mostly bits of story spread out through the chapters, but there is an overarching story. Key feature of the story is that humans have lost the ability to build/create things, aside from your character, so you must help rebuild the world and restore balance.
The story has flashbacks and story elements based on the original Dragon Quest (NES), which serve as extra-story telling as well as showing cool building ideas for the player. It is also frequently pointed out that your character is NOT a hero, but a builder instead, which has some pretty nifty late-game story related segments.
The Combat
Combat is as basic as you can get. spam the attack button to perform the same two-hit combo over and over until the monster is dead. You can move/jump around to dodge attacks, but it isn`t anything special. Way later in the game, you can get specific objects like cannons or ramming vehicles that you can just set down and use to blast enemies into oblivion, but they are tied to only 2 specific chapters.
Combat is probably the weakest point of this game, but it gets the job done.
Plus, i will never NOT get pumped up/worried when the wall of darkness appears, signaling the appearance of that chapter's boss.
The Building
The building is simple to understand, but gives enough options to never grow stale or irritating. You need a room that has walls that are at least 2 blocks high, a door and a light source. With this, you create an "Empty Room". Just put what objects and furniture you want into it, and it will change into a specific type of room if the criteria is met.
Put in a cooking pot and a chest? You built a rudimentary kitchen.
A few beds and a chamber pot? You got a shared sleeping area.
A room with flowers, plants and a bench? You got a botanical garden.
Depending on what you build, you get various bonuses. Residents will use kitchens to create food for you, inns/bedrooms will increase their health, gardens will add a HP regen bonus to your player, a masonary will let the residents build furniture (including stuff you can`t make).
Roofs aren't required (or even asked about by people), and reflect the aesthetic of the original Dragon Quest buildings. You can create apartment complexes with basements though, and as long as you build within the confines of the town area, residents will interact with them. So you can make castles and underground hotels if you wish.
Keep in mind that there IS a height limit though, although it was increased in this version of DQB1.
Pros
-Fun story.
-Building is easy to understand, but complex enough to allow some creative freedom.
-Story characters are unique.
-Slimes
-An improved Terra Incognita mode, with imported tools, animals and infinite resources from DQB2.
-Weapons no longer break in this version, saving a lot of tedious material grinding.
-Each chapter has its own gimmick/angle so it doesn't get stale playing/building.
-Music is still nice.
-Boss battles are always kind of fun and different from each other.
-I feel like the town areas are a bit bigger than I remember.
-Increased height for building up and down.
Cons
-Each chapter, your player loses all their items, health increases and even knowledge of building items. You have to relearn it all again in the next chapter.
-Combat is a bit dull, outside the boss battles.
-There isn't a huge amount of furniture/room types you can build in the story chapters.
-Feels a bit like a protoype/proof of concept if you played DQB2 first.
-No real quick way to get around unless you get the Bashmobile, which requires you to just spam the boost button. And it is only avaible at the very end of Chapter 3 and end of chapter 4.
-No real side-dungeons to explore, aside from the last chapter, where you can find the Sword of Ruin.
Conclusion
Still, a very fun game with an interesting story and some cool features. If you haven`t played either Dragon Quest Builders game, you should start with this one. Now, go build to your hearts content!.. and remember... you are NOT a hero!