Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a masterful couple of remakes that breathe new life into the earliest and simplest games from one of the greatest RPG series. The first game can be a bit tough to get into for newcomers, but it is still the best way to play both titles, and it’s a brilliant package that will surely keep people playing Dragon Quest I and II for years to come.
© ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SPIKE CHUNSOFT/SQUARE ENIX
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Developer: Square Enix and Artdink
Price: $60
Platforms: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was supplied with a PS5 code for review.
I’ve been playing Dragon Quest games since I was around five years old. I deeply love the series, to the point where I make sure to buy a physical copy of every new title (including this one!) Though I’ve gone between the mainline games and the spinoffs over the ages, it was only in my teenage years that I played through all of Dragon Quest I and a chunk of Dragon Quest II. This meant that this little collection of smaller remakes would be both familiar and new for me, so I was excited to assess it and all its changes. Thankfully, they’re all for the better, making this a must-play RPG package.
I’ll be segmenting this review into sections based on Dragon Quest I and Dragon Quest II, followed by a bit before the outro that covers the shared qualities of both.
© ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SPIKE CHUNSOFT/SQUARE ENIX
Dragon Quest I
Dragon Quest I is a very simple and straightforward RPG, as it’s the game that likely had the biggest impact on the genre going forward. There’s a world map, random encounters, turn-based battles, etc. If you aren’t into more retro RPGs, you may find it to be too simple, but I found it to be a wonderful palate cleanser after playing a lot of immensely complicated RPGs over the last couple of months.
Now, Dragon Quest I’s most unique attribute can be either its most intriguing strength or most unfortunate weakness, with my feelings towards it falling a bit more towards the latter. See, you have no party in the first game – the entire game is simply you as the Hero battling by your lonesome. This makes healing a real challenge, as you get one turn to do everything while enemies get as many turns as there are foes (and, sometimes, more than that). It provides a neat extra challenge that also feels more difficult than earlier releases of Dragon Quest I did, but it can have moments of frustration if you don’t level grind enough.
The story is, as expected, simple for such an old title, but a lot of charm has been added through voice acting and additional scenes that give characters like Princess Gwaelin new qualities and characteristics, which is certainly appreciated. It’s really just a joy to see iconic moments like the Green Dragon battle and the climactic Dragonlord confrontation presented in such detail and with such excellent voice work. The addition of the five Sigils from Dragon Quest II adds another layer of continuity to the Erdrick Trilogy, too, while also adding some extra length to the fairly short title.
© ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SPIKE CHUNSOFT/SQUARE ENIX
Dragon Quest II
This is where the majority of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake’s bigger changes are made. The biggest one comes through the story, which feels much more captivating now than when I played the original game so long ago. The Prince of Cannock and the Princess of Moonbrooke have much more personality this time around, making them feel less like simple units and more like actual characters. Playing this right after Dragon Quest I (and Dragon Quest III) also adds to the continuous feeling of the trilogy, so I’m glad these two were included together.
Speaking of characters, the inclusion of the Princess of Cannock as an extra party member really helps round out the party. It’s a proper group of cousins who interact with each other in funny, charming ways and share a genuine camaraderie, which elevates the narrative. Gameplay-wise, the new Princess has unique skills that further contribute to the strategic side of combat, cementing her as a grand addition to the crew.
There are new places to visit, bosses to battle, and narrative elements to uncover as well. It’s impressive how much Dragon Quest II has had added to it without removing or altering anything for the worse. I came away incredibly impressed by how enraptured I was by this nearly 30-year-old RPG, as so much new content and story were added to make it more immersive than ever.
© ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SPIKE CHUNSOFT/SQUARE ENIX
For those unacquainted with these games, modern game design elements such as markers have been added, streamlining the games for less patient players. Additionally, a series staple, Mini Medals, was implemented in both Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, providing further incentive to explore the larger worlds. You can also learn spells and abilities in both games through items called scrolls, which help to give each character more diverse movesets, alongside the way that Sigils now can let you use boosted moves in combat.
Of course, both games in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake have received the titular HD-2D visual overhaul, which is truly a thing of beauty. The sprites for the characters and monsters look gorgeous and are perfect at showing off Akira Toriyama’s unbeatable art style in 2D motion. To this day, nobody designs monsters that can be so simultaneously adorable and intimidating, especially when it comes to bosses.
© ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/SPIKE CHUNSOFT/SQUARE ENIX
The same goes for the audio side, which has been nicely improved all around. The voice acting throughout both titles is simply top-notch, infusing the narratives with a great deal of additional depth and emotion. There’s a certain Shakespearean flavor to the dialogue that is always appreciated, as it meshes with the silliness and puns that are so common in Dragon Quest to craft an atmosphere that is truly unlike anything else.
The Final Word
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a brilliant package that brings new life and depth to two of the most influential RPGs of all time. The improved visuals, voice acting, and story changes go a long way in making these classics feel both retro and new, even if the first game is a little tough for modern players. This is the best way to play these two once-revolutionary titles, and I truly hope that Square Enix continues to remake the earlier Dragon Quest games with such care and style.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
