Dragon Queststill stands strong as one ofSquare Enix’s most classic franchises, and in celebration of that,Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remakeis essentially the same retro game but in a modernized package.
Although it brings a few quality-of-life changes, the RPG retains several other mechanics that might feel old-fashioned today, though they’re integral to the game’s overall design
In the past, Square Enix has already shown it can create remakes that stay true to the original while adding new features that make them more appealing to modern audiences, as withStar Ocean: The Second Story R. But that’s not the case here.
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Games like Kingdom Hearts 2 and Persona 3 took their respective series in bold new directions.
It’s worth noting thatDragon Questis one of the most traditional gaming franchises, especially in the JRPG genre. While its fans might be okay playing an old-school game on modern consoles, those new to the series or introduced to it viaDragon Quest XImay feel this latest entry is a step back.
WithDragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Square Enix aims to appeal to nostalgic fans of one of the franchise’s best-selling titles, even if that means potentially alienating a new audience. While I enjoyed the remake overall, I find it hard to recommend it to players who are used to modern conveniences in RPGs.
For some context, I had already played through the Erdrick trilogy, so I knew what to expect. Out of the first three games,Dragon Quest IIIwas my favorite. I love a great class system, and the remake improved it further.
Lore-Driven Narrative
To start off, the story inDragon Quest III HD-2Dis still non-existent. When the game begins, a bright light talks directly to the protagonist about fate and defeating evil. Then, we see the protagonist’s father, Ortega, the almighty hero, heading off on a journey to defeat the archfiend Baramos.
Ortega fails, dies, and on the protagonist’s sixteenth birthday, they’re thrust into the shoes of a hero, whether they like it or not.
From that point forward, wherever they go, some people hail them as a hero despite their blank canvas of heroic deeds, while others demand proof of their heroism—often by slaying a monster and saving their village. It’s a formulaic setup with a shallow execution.
The narrative ofDragon Quest III HD-2Dprimarily builds through its lore. The game’s world mirrors ours, with continents resembling our own world map. Villages and towns correspond to real-world regions, incorporating cultural, visual, and linguistic elements from the countries they represent.
For example, in the area reflecting South America, there’s a city with names and phrases in Brazilian Portuguese, whereas, up north, there’s a village inspired by Indigenous peoples. These cultural and geographic details are scattered throughout the game and are charming.
Even their hardships, usually solved by the protagonist, try to respect that nation’s historical representation in an encapsulated storyline. But they end fast, and we’re thrust back into the main plot, which is nothing to write home about.
The silent hero has zero expression, and though the remake adds a backstory detailing their father’s journey, the protagonist still shows no reaction when hearing these tales. The generic party members' personalities are about as deep as a saucer, so don’t expect any character development.
Events that drive the journey just happen without justification, to the point where a king gives us his best ship in exchange for some black pepper, purely to provide us with the game’s sea travel.
These conveniences keep popping up until the end, when it’s time to face the evil villain, ignoring the fact that it’s the protagonist’s first-ever adventure. The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a dense story-driven RPG,Dragon Quest III HD-2Disn’t it.
Classic And Timeless Gameplay
While the focus ofDragon Quest III HD-2Disn’t its main story, it’s easy to see the game’s dedication to engaging players through its gameplay, exploration, and party customization. In this department,Dragon QuestIII HD-2Dexcels.
Dragon Quest III HD-2Dpreserves the most traditional format possible for a JRPG. Battles are turn-based, and each combatant acts according to their agility. Party members gain experience, level up, and learn new skills or spells upon victory.
Aside from the protagonist, each party member can take on a vocation, the game’s class system. From Mages to the novelty Monster Wranglers, each vocation has a unique specialty. In the remake, they all feature distinct abilities, finally providing a reason to choose a Warrior over a Thief.
Party members can change vocations once they reach level 20, keeping learned spells, which allows for exciting build experiments and encourages the growth of all available vocations. However, expect some grinding as characters who switch vocations revert to level 1.
Still,Dragon Quest III HD-2Ddoes an excellent job of integrating its gameplay and progression system. However, the RPG isn’t beginner-friendly and will punish those who aim only for the main objective without careful planning.
But those who explore, study the tutorials, and understand the vocations and their specialties will have a smoother journey and uncover the hidden gems within the gameplay.
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As I mentioned, the game has some mechanics now considered old-fashioned, like random encounters, the need for grinding, a lack of collectible interfaces, and the frustrating resurrection spell that often fails. Yet, at the same time, it offers tools to tackle all these annoyances.
If you’re short on money, adding a Merchant to your party may solve the issue, or if random encounters constantly interrupt exploration, a Thief with light footsteps can help, and so on.
Dragon Quest III HD-2Dstays exceptionally faithful to its core systems, as changing them would alter the game’s entire design, eliminating the satisfaction of learning essential skills to overcome obstacles the game presents.
The system isn’t flawless, though. Trial-and-error vocation switching can become tedious, as leveling up is slow. You’ll likely hit a roadblock after a difficulty spike in a dungeon and be forced to grind for levels or gold, only to repeat the process in the next dungeon.
This doesn’t necessarily spell fun, although some of you kooks out there doenjoy the grinding, eh?
Additionally, no matter how prepared or well-acquainted with the system, you’re always at the mercy of RNG in some battles, especially when an enemy casts “Thwack,” a one-hit KO spell that targets the entire party, and a game over screen greets you abruptly.
You can simply retry the combat, but it’s frustrating to see your strategy crumble due to bad luck, especially during long boss fights.
Ultimately, I had a blast with the battle and progression systems. I already had experience with the classic game, so I knew what to aim for, which made the process less painful.
But seeing that my combination of spells, the right gear with proper resistances, and the ideal personality in each character allowed me to triumph over the toughest bosses gave me an immeasurable satisfaction that I hadn’t felt in a long time with RPGs where systems are entirely streamlined.
A Whole New World To Explore
Two newDragon Quest III HD-2Dfeatures shift the game’s dynamic: a mini-map and a main quest marker. These can be disabled, offering a quasi-authentic experience of the original. Still, both approaches have their merits.
Playing without quest guides provides a more authentic journey, which might be the developers' intended experience. You’ll need to talk to NPCs to uncover the next objective. Some give hints about powerful equipment and where to find them, while others offer tips about farming spots.
Exploring the overworld without a set path might lead you to new locations, side quests, and items, potentially granting a power boost without needing to grind repeatedly.
The remake introduces secret areas and sparkle spots on the overworld map, offering items, mini-medals, and recruitable monsters. These points of interest allowed me to discover many weapons usually found in shops for an exorbitant price, showing me that exploration could be extremely rewarding.
Thus, the more I explored, the stronger I became, which spurred me to explore further.
I’m not a fan of open-world games with uninteresting side quests that just exist to bloat the playtime. If I had to choose, I’d always opt for a more linear experience in RPGs. However, I’d choose an overworld and exploration style similar toDragon Quest III HD-2Dwithout batting an eye.
Once I acquired the ship, the world expanded immensely, letting me choose my next destination among several. I was constantly eager to see what awaited me on the next continent, island, village, dungeon, or pot.
The journey still comes with its nuisances, like random encounters or backtracking. They’re especially bothersome during sea travel, but it’s eventually worth it.
Dragon Quest III HD-2Dis a masterclass showing that a simple system can offer great value. Its exploration boils down to finding new locations and grabbing all items it provides to help face the big baddie.
Yet, the game does this so well that it’s addictive. After traversing thousands of steps and risking my life in a dungeon where my spells are blocked, I knewDragon Quest III HD-2Dwould reward me, proving my efforts were worthwhile.
The Best HD-2D Presentation
Best of all, the game maintains its gameplay authenticity with the polishedHD-2D visualsthat Square Enix is known for. It’s the most enjoyable application of this art style yet, especially as it dials back the bloom and depth-of-field effects used in other games. The world is beautifully presented, as are Akira Toriyama’s iconic monsters and characters.
Granted, I was a little let down when I realized my characters fought from a first-person perspective and didn’t jump straight into the fray with weapons visible, but it’s a minor gripe. The spell effects are astonishing, and the fluid enemy animations more than make up for it.
The soundtrack remains true to the series, featuring a main theme that is more iconic than the Japanese anthem and an optimistic vibe throughout every new track.
The sound effects are loaded with nostalgia for long-time fans. There’s something mystical to be studied about a franchise that can maintain its audio identity for so long without becoming outdated or tiresome.
Closing Comments:
Dragon Quest III HD-2D is unapologetically a remake made for long-time series fans. Anyone looking for a faithful representation of the classic game with updated graphics will get precisely that. The addition of Ortega’s backstory is mildly interesting, but it doesn’t elevate the story, which remains extremely basic. Gameplay and exploration remain the highlights of Dragon Quest III HD-2D and will provide hours of enjoyment for turn-based RPG enthusiasts. While it might serve as an entry point for newcomers to the franchise, its mechanics stand in contrast to what many expect from a contemporary RPG, potentially deterring them within a few hours.
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