Earlier this month, I found myself tangled up with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on my Switch. Strange, right? Never played the original, so had no idea what to expect. But here’s what hit me: those sprites? Wow. Just wow. And then there’s the grind. Oh, the grind. It’s like the game’s stuck in the past with how much you have to slog through. But Dracky Mode? Lifesaver. Couldn’t resist.
This all followed a whirlwind 25-minute demo of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on PS5 at PAX East 2025. Needed some context before pen hit paper—well, keyboard, actually. This writeup’s not your typical deep dive since, truth be told, the mechanics aren’t screaming for attention. What they’re doing conceptually, though? That’s where it gets intriguing.
So, picture this: in Dragon Quest I, you’re leaving your cozy starting town, wandering fields, and spelunking in caves. Battles happen, you meander around, and new features? Not super obvious. But the look? Gorgeous. Multiple monster fights? Smart move for adding depth.
Dragon Quest II, equally stunning, feels like a cousin to the III remake—same kind of low-angle overworld and voiced cutscenes, which, frankly, suits the sequel’s vibe since it’s got its share of fans and critics. Polarizing much? Totally. It’s like it can’t decide if it wants to be stressfully grindy or more spread out like III.
You know, a few minutes with a game doesn’t reveal much, but if Square Enix recrafted II like III—faster battles, more difficulty modes, all-around smoother gameplay—it could be just the ticket for those with mixed feelings about it.
What’s really intriguing? The remake’s devs are tying I & II to III as if they’re one big saga, given, well, III’s a prequel and all. Visuals, style—everything matches up, and then they toss in fresh story bits to weave it all together. It’s like they want you to slide from III to I to II without blinking.
Chatted with a Square Enix person who mentioned playing I & II packs the same punch as III from last year—solid 30-40 hours on normal difficulty, if that’s your jam. They perked up when I suggested II could become a smoother ride; seems they’ve really zoned in on making it less of a slog.
Today—funnily enough, Dragon Quest Day—Square Enix dropped the bomb that I & II HD-2D Remake’s hitting shelves (and Switch 2!) on October 30. On the surface, it’s like, “Hey, looks like they nailed it again just like with III!” But digging deeper, it’s obvious they’re aiming high with these remakes. Definitely something to keep tabs on.
