While over the last decade, a lot of time and attention has been put towards bringing the ‘Square’ line of Final Fantasy games to modern audiences in different formats, there is much on the ‘Enix’ side to look forward to as well, with the classic Dragon Quest games finally receiving HD-2D Remakes on modern day hardware. While the origin stories in DQI and DQII have to wait until next year, Square Enix has in recent days released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, bringing the third mainline instalment to modern-day audiences, and striking a harmonising balance between remaining authentic to the original experience and making it feel more modern. Are you curious why this game deserves a spot in your game library? Read on to find out.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake retains the essence of the original’s straightforward narrative while making thoughtful enhancements to enrich the storytelling. This time around, players fill the shoes of a young hero tasked with avenging their father and vanquishing evil. This is a classic hero’s journey about a young boy and his growing group of allies as they tackle a journey to take down the big bad and save the world. More notably, it serves as the perfect foundation for the game’s strength: its world-building. Every town, dungeon, and NPC is complemented with personality and lore, creating an environment that feels vibrant and alive. New players will find the narrative easily accessible, whereas veterans will appreciate the expanded lore and nods to the greater Dragon Quest chronology – with narrative refinements to help better tie this instalment with DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake, releasing next year.
What truly elevates the narrative experience is the world that surrounds your hero. Every town and character exudes a sense of individuality, from humble shopkeepers to quirky, memorable foes. These smaller, deeply personal moments within the larger quest offer a sense of wonder and adventure that makes exploration genuinely rewarding. The game’s ability to blend light-hearted moments with its core elements of adventure and heroism is a hallmark of the series, and the remake kept me hooked from start to finish.
The design and aesthetic appeal of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a a reimagining of the original game, blending the nostalgic design of the 1988 original with modern flair. The HD-2D aesthetic combines classic 16-bit-style pixel art with 3D environments, creating a diorama-like effect that is aesthetically distinct. Towns, dungeons, and overworld settings are full of charm, each offering its own visual identity that makes exploration feel fresh and rewarding. The tilt-shift perspective and lighting effects enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere, making every location, from bustling cities to foreboding caves memorable to traverse. The aesthetic is well-considered and is not the creative team just doing the bare minimum to make the game “modern”. Quality of life improvements to the user interface and overall design also enrich the experience. Features such as objective markers, faster travel speeds, and adjustable battle pacing also make the game more approachable without detracting from its old-school charm.
The music backing of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake also contributes to this game feeling like a celebration of its legacy more than 30 years on. Each musical track in the game is a reimagined and orchestrated version of Koichi Sugiyama’s classic compositions, retaining the melodies that fans have cherished for decades while taking full advantage of modern audio technology. Town themes, overworld music, and battle tunes perfectly set the tone for each segment of the journey, from moments of quiet exploration to climactic encounters. Orchestral versions of classic songs from past Square Enix franchises can be hit or miss, but the offerings this time around were certainly more hits than misses.
The gameplay of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a refined version of classic JRPG mechanics, staying true to its roots while incorporating modern enhancements. At its core, the game features traditional turn-based combat, random encounters, and an emphasis on exploration and party customisation. Players begin by assembling a team of adventurers, choosing from a wide array of classes such as warriors, and priests – to some more unconventional options from the original release such as gadabouts (ie. pierots) and Monster Wranglers. These vocations have each been revised slightly, making them more balanced and practical to use.
Combat is once again tactical and satisfying, with mechanics that encourage thoughtful party composition and strategic planning – akin to the Dragon Quest games of the 80s and 90s. Battles involve a mix of physical attacks, spells, and abilities, requiring players to balance offence, defence, and support roles across their party. The game retains the original’s first-person battle perspective which is authentic but maybe not the most visually exciting. However, the system introduces useful quality-of-life features such as auto-battle options and faster battle speeds. These additions make grinding for experience and gold much smoother, ensuring that even repetitive encounters feel efficient rather than tedious.
Like many RPGs of its era, exploration also plays a significant role in the gameplay, providing players with access to a world full of secrets, hidden treasures and unlockable gameplay options. Every town and dungeon feels unique, encouraging players to scour and pilfer their surroundings for items, mini-medals, and other rewards. The sense of progression is satisfying, as tougher enemies and increasingly complex dungeons push players to level up and upgrade their equipment – and try some of the different classes amongst their party members through the reclassing system. Meanwhile, side activities like the Monster Arena provide an engaging diversion, letting players collect and battle friendly monsters in tournaments for valuable prizes. Ultimately, whether you are after a straightforward narrative experience or seek to 100% the game, there is quite a bit on offer.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is an exemplar of how a development team can take a game from decades ago, a defining game of an era, and turn it into a modern experience that both respects its history and what made it good in the first place, but complementing it with modern conveniences to suit any gamer – a perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer eager to explore the roots of Dragon Quest, this remake offers a polished and downright rewarding experience. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of the genre, and a reminder of why Dragon Quest remains a cornerstone of RPG history – even if perhaps still plays second fiddle to Final Fantasy.
Final Score for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
A PlayStation 5 review code for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was kindly provided by Australian distributor Bandai Namco Entertainment Australian on behalf of Square Enix to facilitate this review.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is now available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
