Anecdotally, it’s been stated that in its native Japan, Dragon Quest is more standard than Final Fantasy, which is more standard overseas. This is most evident for any followers of fantasy anime who will discover Dragon Quest’s simple affect over the style, from monster designs like Slimes to different fantasy tropes pioneered by the early Dragon Quest video games.
As somebody who grew up primarily within the United States, I’m within the camp of avid gamers more acquainted with the Final Fantasy collection, with solely a passing familiarity with Dragon Quest. Plus, whereas newer entries like Dragon Quest 11 have been rapturously acquired by followers, it’s the older Dragon Quest video games that maintain that sure air of historical past and mystique for somebody like me who’s more within the legacy of the collection.
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Which additionally means it’s been a fairly good couple of years for me as Square Enix is lastly remaking these older, beloved, Dragon Quest video games for contemporary programs – and with a recent new look. Rather than a full, polygonal improve, Square Enix is using the retro-modern fusion they call HD-2D from its Octopath collection to revive video games like Dragon Quest 3 for contemporary audiences. And that continues with its subsequent remake, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, coming later this 12 months.
Despite being launched earlier than Dragon Quest 3, Dragon Quest 1 and Dragon Quest 2 are literally sequels, so taking part in Dragon Quest 3, 1, and 2 in that order is chronologically appropriate inside the game’s universe. I acquired a likelihood to play these subsequent two lately on PlayStation 5, and I got here away even more excited to lastly uncover these early Dragon Quest titles.
The Best Way to Play the Original Dragon Quest Games
The first three Dragon Quest video games comprise the “Erdrick Trilogy” – named after the hero of Dragon Quest 3. It’s no spoiler to say that in Dragon Quest 3, Erdrick is profitable in his mission to save lots of the dominion from evil. You will then play as Erdrick’s descendents in Dragon Quest 1 & 2. Thus, Square Enix is definitely releasing these video games in chronological order, which is good of them.
Up till these remakes, these have solely been launched as ports on cellular and sure game consoles, however there’s no need to trouble with these now, until you need a really traditional expertise.
How Square Enix is Modernizing Dragon Quest
Given the legendary standing of these video games, Square Enix has to stroll a bit of a tightrope attempting to take care of elements of them that followers already love whereas modernizing some of the more dated bits. These modifications, except for the artwork model, are sometimes associated to gameplay and storytelling, I’m advised. In Dragon Quest 1 for instance, there was no celebration system within the collection but, so the entire marketing campaign is performed utilizing a single character who fights one enemy at a time. This has been modified in order that now the participant, whereas nonetheless solo, faces a number of enemies directly.
The two video games are additionally “shorter” in comparison with trendy RPGs, with How Long to Beat clocking Dragon Quest 1 at around 10 hours, whereas Dragon Quest 2 dials it up to 16 hours of playtime. Square Enix says they’ve beefed up some of the content material and cutscenes to try to push these numbers up a bit, however don’t count on to be all of a sudden taking part in a 100-hour RPG.
Even Better Looking Than Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D
The predominant draw of the remakes, actually, is the visible model. Square Enix has championed this HD-2D artwork model – whereby pixelated 2D participant character fashions exist in a vibrant, 3D world. Despite already taking part in video games like Octopath Traveler 2 and Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D on this artwork model, it one way or the other appears even higher within the upcoming assortment.
The textures are even sharper, making the distinction between the 2D pixels and the 3D world starker, however more hanging as a outcome. The 2D pixels have additionally acquired an improve, although you won’t understand it at first. I in contrast some of the screenshots Square Enix despatched over with my copy of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D operating on the Switch, they usually’re fairly completely different, with the pixelwork in Dragon 1 & 2 HD-2D wanting a lot more detailed and complicated than the pixels in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D.
The character fashions are a little bigger, and far more detailed with their armor and weapons wanting significantly subtle within the new remakes. I discovered the artwork model, mixed with the attractive music, drawing me into the world of Dragon Quest fairly utterly. Square Enix put out some chips during my preview occasion and I discovered myself munching away whereas totally engrossed within the story of the hero’s celebration discovering the wreckage of a fallen kingdom.
In a approach, Dragon Quest’s, let’s say “classic” storyline and trope-ish setting is less complicated to understand at this time than perhaps a decade in the past. Nowadays, with graphics as superior as they’re and storylines attempting to compete with the largest motion pictures and TV exhibits, Dragon Quest is a reminder that some tales are timeless for a motive. I’m wanting ahead to taking part in each of these HD-2D remakes after they’re launched on October 30, 2025 for all main programs – together with the Nintendo Switch 2.
Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.