I can be pretty obsessive about Dragon Quest, so when I was given the opportunity to preview Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake at PAX West, I was thrilled beyond words. Like many fans, I’ve been waiting a long time for this one to come out, so I dove straight into the demo with unbridled enthusiasm. As expected, this is a brilliant remake that does everything I had wanted and then some.
To start, I was able to try out the personality quiz that the game begins with. Essentially, you answer some random questions about your beliefs and ethics and are thrown into a situation that tests your moral fiber. It asked me about what I find important, if I believe in a higher power, and more, then put me in the shoes of a monster in a well, When I emerged, two villagers were terrified of me. One approached to attack, and when I pressed the “speak” button, I accidentally set him on fire. Ashamed, I fled the village to avoid burning anything else.
Credit: Square Enix
The game then proceeded to tell me I’m a kind person who is capable of a lot, which I found genuinely moving. I know from playing before and the people around me in the demo that it can call you all different things, so it’s a very charming way to start the game and, now, the remake.
I was then able to play from a few hours into the game and given the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I started by taking part in a monster fighting tournament using a Slime, Healslime, and Bunicorn. Unlike regular battles with a human party, I couldn’t give my monsters direct commands – only general strategies. It’s a fun change-up from the usual gameplay and almost feels like a pleasant spectator sport.
Credit: Square Enix
I also explored the main town, an overworld, and a dungeon. Throughout the town, the many NPCs all have charming dialogue that’s become standard for the Dragon Quest series, and the same goes for the enemy designs. There’s a reason these are some of the most iconic monsters in the medium, and they look absolutely stunning in the HD-2D Remake art style. Everything looks great in the remake thanks to this look, which beautifully portrays the late Akira Toriyama’s characters and monster designs, conveying tons of personality from each.
“It almost goes without saying that the music is beautiful too – this is Dragon Quest, after all.“
The battles in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake are exactly what you’d expect and hope for in a Dragon Quest game. You can either assign tactical behaviors to your party or choose their commands for yourself, with all sorts of abilities and spells at your disposal for each class. By and large, it seems Square Enix knows that there’s no use in messing with success, so all the core attributes of the original Dragon Quest III and the series at large are present here.
Credit: Square Enix
The voice acting in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake surprised me. For whatever reason, I have difficulty imagining 2D characters in pixel art RPGs with vocal voices, but it works well here and further helps to give each NPC more character. The grunts in battle add a bit of extra spice to each attack too, as well as the visceral monster sounds. It almost goes without saying that the music is beautiful too – this is Dragon Quest, after all.
This preview experience cemented what I figured going into it – I cannot wait for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. It’s everything you’d want in a remake, as it preserves all the wonderful aspects of the original and updates the presentation splendidly. I can’t wait to play the full thing in November, as it seems like nothing short of a dream come true.
