Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – Square Enix Breathes New Life into an RPG Classic

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – Square Enix Breathes New Life into an RPG Classic

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of RPG adventures under my belt, I must say that stepping back into the world of Dragon Quest III was like revisiting an old friend who’s had a bit of a makeover. The nostalgia was thick and rich, much like the syrup on my grandmother’s pancakes, but this remake isn’t just about fond memories – it’s a testament to the enduring charm and legacy of this classic RPG.


In Dragon Quest III, you step into the shoes of a determined young protagonist who carries the honor and burden of his father’s legacy. Born in the peaceful village of Aliahan, you uncover the tragic tale of your dad, Ortega, who perished while attempting to defeat the wicked Archfiend Baramos within a volcano. Despite his failure, your father’s heroic reputation remains undimmed, and people now rely on you to achieve what he could not. The King encourages you with high expectations as he sends you forth on this momentous journey. Good luck handling the weight of those expectations!

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – Square Enix Breathes New Life into an RPG Classic

Kicks off the heartwarming reimagining of an RPG legend that debuted in 1988 – Dragon Quest III is rightfully considered a cornerstone in the genre, and proper homage is paid to Chunsoft’s three-decade-old masterpiece. Equipped with several contemporary features such as save states, auto battle, and adjustable battle speed, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake doesn’t quite feel like a modern RPG, but it’s a significantly altered game compared to the original. By combining charming 2D sprites with stunningly detailed 3D landscapes, this new adaptation of DQ3 not only looks the part but plays rather smoothly as well.

Journeying with your companions, you’ll traverse a vast world, completing tasks for the inhabitants of towns and settlements along the way. You’ll find yourself picking up and delivering many items, and encountering numerous surprises. Moving about the map can sometimes feel tedious, even with the fast-travel option, as you often run into groups of enemies slowing your advance. However, you can escape from battles, although it’s not always successful. As an experienced RPG player will tell you, these encounters are essential for gaining experience points and leveling up.

In Dragon Quest III, expect the challenges to ramp up quite significantly, which might lead to some of your allies meeting untimely and unforeseen demises during the game’s combat sequences that occur on a turn-by-turn basis. To progress, it’s important to grind for experience points and carefully select your team of three companions for your adventure. You have the freedom to recruit and switch out these companions whenever you desire. However, if you’ve invested time in leveling up your current group, you might hesitate to start over with a new member. That being said, there’s always the opportunity to try out various character classes, should you wish to do so.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – Square Enix Breathes New Life into an RPG Classic

Regardless of how you look at it, the game’s turn-based combat might appear somewhat outdated compared to modern standards, given its limited depth. Essentially, you pick an attack or spell to throw at any foe, heal or buff your allies, and adjust the tactics for your AI-controlled teammates. The default setting seems sufficient, as you can customize their strategies to focus on healing, aggressive attacks, or sensible fighting. Additionally, there are weapons, armor pieces like helmets and body armor, shields, and support items that allow for an optimal build tailored for each member of your party.

In addition to typical characters such as the Hero, Mage, Sage, Warrior, Thief, and Priest, you’ll encounter distinctive roles like the Merchant, Martial Artist, and the less effective vagabond, the Monster Wrangler class has been introduced. This role allows you to catch peaceful monsters and use them in Monster Arenas against other creatures. The Monster Wrangler also boasts terrifying, monstrous abilities for combat, making it a valuable addition to your team. Plus, the character designs by the late, great Akira Toriyama remain impressive, with more personality added through beautifully redrawn sprites compared to the late ’80s versions.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – Square Enix Breathes New Life into an RPG Classic

While it’s true that encountering the same enemies repeatedly with minor changes like name puns such as ‘rottenweiler’, ‘batterfly’, ‘rumble bee’, ‘scornet’, ‘vladiator’, and ‘raven lunatic’ can grow monotonous, the game overall is generally enjoyable. It’s important to note that a rottenweiler is a more powerful version of the bullmustiff and a putrefido, similar to how a toady serves as a weaker variant of a toxic toad and an overtoad. This pattern becomes somewhat predictable after multiple instances of being disturbed during exploration and fighting the same creatures repeatedly. Despite this repetition in battles, the game’s nostalgic visuals are so appealing that it’s easy to keep moving forward on Dragon Quest III’s engaging adventure, even with prolonged exposure.

This game, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, offers a captivating journey through RPG history, showcasing how Square established many of the beloved aspects and figures (slimes being a notable example) that define the series. Whether you’re an RPG enthusiast or simply a fan of Dragon Quest, this remake will satisfy your cravings for both.

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2024-11-13 18:12

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