Dragon Quest III HD-2D [PC] | REVIEW

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake revives one of the most iconic and popular RPGs of all time, helping breathe new life into its decades-old adventure with gorgeous re-invented visuals and modernized gameplay enhancements that ensure it’s just as good to play now as it was over 35 years ago.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Originally released in 1988 on the Famicom (that’s the NES for us UK folks), this instalment of the Dragon Quest series is actually the narrative starting point of the ‘Erdrick Trilogy’, so don’t be put off by the fact that you’re playing the third entry in the series – it’s technically a really good starting point for Dragon Quest newbies. With legendary names such as series creator Yuji Horii, character designer Akira Toriyama, and composer Koichi Sugiyama all part of its production, the original Dragon Quest III set a high bar for storytelling and gameplay. And now, Square Enix has brought the game into the 21st century, maintaining the core of what made it great while addressing some of the design elements that come with old-school RPGs.

The story of Dragon Quest III is pretty much unchanged, delivering an effective tale of ‘good versus evil’. Players take on the role of a young adventurer, the child of Ortega, a celebrated hero who died in battle against the fearsome Archfiend Baramos. On their sixteenth birthday, they are tasked by the king to take up their father’s mantle, assemble a party of allies, and set out to save the world. So far, so RPG, right? Whilst the narrative lacks the intricate depth found in more modern RPGs, its simplicity is complemented by the game’s endearing characters and themes of courage, friendship, and destiny. It’s the perfect recipe for an old-school RPG, and you know what? It’s still as charming as ever.

There have been some new additions made to the narrative that expand on the backstory of Ortega though, offering glimpses into his heroic exploits. These moments are well-integrated into the game and serve as welcome additions to the storytelling, all without trying to re-invent anything or alter core events. It’s a cool addition for returning players that helps give some insight into why Ortega was so beloved as a hero.

Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Dragon Quest III HD-2D looks absolutely stunning. First popularized by Octopath Traveler but having also been seen in the likes of Triangle Strategy and Live A Live, the HD-2D aesthetic is expertly implemented here. The game seamlessly blends meticulously crafted pixel art with dynamic 3D effects, creating a world that feels nostalgic yet modern, with light dancing off surfaces, beautiful water with captivating reflections, and environments that are teeming with small details that help make each area feel alive. Towns are more inviting, dungeons more atmospheric, and the overworld is transformed into a vibrant, sprawling landscape with varied packed with stunning vistas. I’m a sucker for an old-school RPG and will never stop appreciating the beauty of the pixel art of classic titles, but hot damn, I do love HD-2D, and it certainly looks jaw-dropping here.

“Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake succeeds in honouring one of the greatest RPGs of all time whilst making it accessible to a new generation of players.”

The soundtrack, composed by Koichi Sugiyama, remains a standout aspect of the experience too. Familiar tracks like the iconic Dragon Quest theme and the cheerful town melodies will undoubtedly evoke a sense of nostalgia for returning players, whilst the fact that the music has been re-recorded in a new orchestral form adds an additional sense of grandeur to your journey. There’s even the addition of English and Japanese voice acting for key story sequences, bringing an extra layer of cinematic polish to the game’s presentation. It’s shows that whilst the visual upgrade is the most obvious and noticeable improvement found in the game, every effort has been made to up the ante across all aspects of Dragon Quest III HD-2D’s design.

At its core, the gameplay of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake stays true to its roots as a traditional turn-based RPG. Players form a party by selecting from a variety of vocations, ranging from classic options like Warrior, Mage, and Healer to more unique roles like the Merchant or the newly introduced Monster Wrangler (which is an absolute treat). Each vocation comes with its own strengths and abilities, allowing players to fine-tune their approach and adopt varying strategies for each threat they’re facing off against. It’s still very old-school, with battles relying on strategic use of spells, abilities, and equipment to overcome enemies, but also remains as satisfying as ever – especially in challenging showdowns where you barely manage to survive. Just be warned: there can still be a need for grinding, and there can be some difficulty spikes that’ll catch you off-guard. But hey, it wouldn’t be an old-school RPG without them, right?

While the combat retains its traditional charm, the remake introduces several quality-of-life improvements that help streamline the experience. The option to fast-forward battles drastically reduces downtime, making grinding for levels or gold far less tedious than it could have been. Objective markers are a welcome addition that help guide players through the expansive world too, as are the markers that pinpoint important NPCs. These additions make the game more accessible to newcomers without alienating long-time fans who appreciate the original game’s challenge, and hey, if you don’t want to use them, you don’t have to.

Exploration remains a central joy of Dragon Quest III HD-2D, and the remake enhances this aspect with its reimagined overworld. Hidden locations, sparkling loot markers, and environmental cues encourage players to venture off the beaten path in search of treasures and secrets, whilst the whole world and its locales are substantially larger than before. The expanded scope of dungeons and the overworld does, however, come with a downside: the frequency of random battles. While items that temporarily prevent encounters are available, the unchanged encounter rate can sometimes feel excessive, especially during backtracking. It might have been nice to see some of the gameplay modifiers of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster make their way to Dragon Quest III HD-2D, if only for those who’ve got a little less time to play and want to streamline the experience further… hey, you’ll get no judgement from me.

Check out some screenshots down below:

That being said, the introduction of multiple difficulty modes can make life easier for players. Players can choose from an easy mode (Dracky) that emphasizes the story, a standard experience for those seeking a balanced challenge, or a hard mode (Draconian) designed for seasoned veterans. This flexibility ensures that players of all skill levels can enjoy the game on their terms, with there being no shame in dropping the difficulty down if you want an easier time. Personally? I’ve been playing on Draconian and have found the added difficulty a blast. As someone who is well versed in all things Dragon Quest, it helps re-invent the game even further, making for an experience that is unique, challenging, and, most importantly, a hell of a lot of fun.

Despite its many improvements, the remake does have a few lingering issues. Menu navigation can be a bit clunky by modern standards, whilst equipping items and managing inventory can feel unnecessarily cumbersome. I suppose it retains a sense of nostalgia, but it also highlights areas where modernization could have gone further, especially with modern RPGs allowing you to quick-sort a lot of varied aspects of your inventory and gear. And that aforementioned grind? It won’t be for everyone and can slow down what is otherwise a very well-paced experience. These are small issues in what is a brilliant experience though, so it’s hard to complain too much.

Developer: Artdink
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2701660/DRAGON_QUEST_III_HD2D_Remake/