Exploring the Potential of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake: Could it Be the Definitive Version of an RPG Classic?

Dragon Quest III is surely one of the most appreciated episodes by DQ fans. This is particularly the case in Japan where players love it for its adventure, its job system and the emphasis placed on the storyline. So obviously, when Square Enix announced in 2021 a remake of this opus with HD-2D sauce like Octopath Traveler, the community had reason to be delighted.

After three long years of radio silence, the project is finally being talked about again for a release scheduled for November 14 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series and obviously Nintendo Switch. But long before that, I was able to play it during the Summer Game Fest at the beginning of June and I am convinced that this episode will delight both veterans and those who want to discover the prestigious Square Enix saga.

HD-2D continues to work wonders

As its name clearly suggests, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is an updated version of DQIII. This goes through graphics that mix 3D environments, visual effects and modern lighting, with pixel art characters and monsters like in 90s role-playing games. If this rendering was used for the first time in Octopath Traveler, it has since been popularized by Square Enix. After Star Ocean, Dragon Quest is the second historic license from the Japanese publisher to see such treatment. And what else do you want me to tell you, other than that it looks great? As for the characters, they benefit from more detailed sprites than ever, their spells are the subject of special effects and above all, they benefit from dubbing when they attack to appear more alive. But clearly, it is above all the monsters which are most in the spotlight in this updated version with careful animations which make them even more credible in pixel art.

The world of Dragon Quest III has never seemed so alive as in this version which resembles the embellished memory of the nostalgic people who discovered it at the time. However, this is where the exercise is particularly difficult, namely to transcribe the atmosphere of before while presenting it in a more modern light. But the developers of Team Asano to whom we owe Octopath Traveler, TRIANGLE STRATEGY and Live a Live succeeded, at least from what I could see in the short session in which I was able to play it. Afterwards, it must be admitted that Koichi Sugiyama's orchestral compositions made with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra help enormously to reinforce the mood of the title. This is also played out through other sound elements such as small bird noises in a village which help make this world more credible.

An experience for veterans and beginners

Far from being solely visual, the modernization of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is also reflected through the gameplay. If we are still dealing with a role-playing game with old-fashioned turn-based combat, we find many comfort options to make the experience more enjoyable. Acceleration of the speed of combat, automation of confrontations, presence of an auto-save, a mini-map or even tutorials, redesigned interface, better save system… everything comes together to make the experience more accessible . Clearly, going through the fights very quickly quickly becomes obligatory as they are initially slow.. But sometimes, these options go even further… or even too far.

The most striking example is that the game tells you exactly where you need to go, both to talk to a character or to choose the right staircase to take in a dungeon to advance. If this assistance may seem too much for veterans of the series who will cry out for the casualization of their favorite franchise, a criticism already made of Dragon Quest XI, rest assured, the developers have thought of you. First of all, the accessibility options that I just mentioned can be deactivated for greater immersion. Then, if you are looking for a challenge, the title offers a draconic mode, that is to say more difficult, to help you find your way. Conversely, an easy mode is included, which is not for beginners because the difficulty of the time is still presentand in itself so much the better.