Directly from 1988, it’s time to return to the role of the Hero to try to defeat the Ultra Demon Padramos once and for all. Announced over three years ago, Dragon Quest III HD-2D finally got a release date during the Nintendo Direct in June. Nostalgic for the golden age of JRPGs and new adventurers will be able to discover the remake from November 14, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam and Windows Store). Indulging the hopes of a large part of the public, Square Enix also took advantage of the Grande N branded event to confirm that further HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest I and II will be released in 2025.
In view of the numerous new features, we recently had the opportunity to test Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake first hand. Our test, carried out on Nintendo Switch, allowed us to spend about an hour in the game world. Based on our experience, preceded by a video message from the creative designer Yuji Horii and the producer Masaki Hayasakiwe are ready to share with you our first impressions of the project.
Tradition in HD-2D
Although published as Dragon Quest III, from a narrative point of view the JRPG precedes chapters I and II of the series and qualifies as the actual origin of the Erdrick trilogy. Precisely for this reason, Square Enix has chosen to start its work of remaking the entire saga from here. An approach that aims to transform Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake into the ideal access point for the imagery constructed by Yuji Horii between the Eighties and Nineties.
From a narrative point of view, the remake will stick to the original script. No upheavals therefore, but the authors have confirmed their desire to broaden the scope of the screenplay. To this end, the title will include some unreleased episodes, whose construction was personally supervised by Yuji Horii himself. However, at the moment we do not have more precise details on the number of additional sequences that will be included in the new Dragon Quest III nor on what their relevance will be within the overall economy of the story.
However, both the creative designer and the producer of the remake have repeatedly underlined the desire to preserve with extreme care the artistic sector of the trilogy, to the creation of which, as is known, the late mangaka also contributed Akira Toriyama. The debut of the new HD-2D aesthetic in the JRPG seems to us to have consistently satisfied this desire, generating a nostalgic and at the same time modern fantasy world. As already demonstrated by the Octopath Traveler series (here is the review of Octopath Traveler 2), HD-2D, if well used, allows you to give life to very suggestive views and settings and our feeling is that the Square Enix artists worked on the project with extreme passion.
During the test we were only able to venture into the initial stages of the journey, with a save set about half an hour after starting. In the role of the hero we were therefore able to visit an extremely limited number of locations, including a couple of small towns and a dungeon located in the depths of a mountain. Despite the time constraints, we can say that every single setting crossed had a high level of charm, in a well-thought-out combination of pixel art and three-dimensional backdrops. With darkness falling or entering a dark cave, i plays of light generated by the torches gave a magical charm to our party’s wanderings. A sensation that you can get a taste of thanks to the new trailer for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake published during the Nintendo Direct.
To accompany the experience, one soundtrack rearranged and performed from scratch by the talented musicians of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony.
And updated gameplay
Also on the gameplay front we feel like promoting the innovations introduced by Square Enix. In its new version, the JRPG offers more ways to use the combat system. Those looking for a smooth adventure will be able to opt for automatic combat, while the more savvy will be able to take control of each individual member of the party, deciding from time to time which attack to launch, which object to use or whether, instead, to adopt a defensive position.
Between these two extremes, we find the possibility of implementing some pre-set strategies, for example asking the fighters to save mana or to use every resource in the fight. Worth noting is the – highly recommended – function acceleration of the speed of battles, which at the “normal” pace risk being frustrating. In the portion of the game we faced, the The balance of difficulty seemed well thought out to us, with strictly random battles that are always stimulating and a rhythmic character progression system. With a completely redesigned interface, the management of equipment and inventory also convinced us, thanks to the introduction of new tutorials.
Certainly appreciable new save functionwhich allows heroes to record their progress within each church in the game world.
By speaking to the friendly nuns on site, it is possible to “confess” to secure the latest feats accomplished. However, there is no simplification regarding the resurrection options for comrades fallen in battle: should you encounter the unfortunate circumstance, your party will have to take on the macabre task of transporting the coffin containing the ally to the nearest place of worship.
With the aim of simplifying progress in the main quest, the team also equipped Dragon Quest III HD-2D with a mission indicator. By consulting the game world map or the new mini-mapthe function clearly highlights which destination to reach to continue with the adventure.
This is a feature that it can be activated and deactivated at will, depending on the preferences of the individual player. For our part, we can say that the use of indicators greatly reduces the charm of exploration and the urge to interact with the NPCs that populate it. The full freedom to adopt – or not – the instrument therefore seems to us to be a choice capable of satisfying every type of hero.
