Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review: Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Features

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings one of the most beloved JRPGs to modern consoles with some fresh modernization that feels natural enough.

The legendary series that first debuted in 1986 in Japan (localized in 1989 as Dragon Warrior in the United States) and now spans 11 main entries, this third entry was long hailed as one of the landmark moments before the 90s began.

Now, in 2024, it gets an Octopath Traveler-inspired presentation update along with some gameplay options and smaller new additions to help it better mesh with the times.

Like any remake, reception hinges heavily on how well the changes respect the original vision while bringing it forward to a new generation.

Graphics and Gameplay

When it comes to remakes bringing an all-timer of a classic forward, it doesn't get much better than this.

This remake brings the fantastic classical sound design forward. And while the visuals will get all of the attention, it can't be understated how impressive it is that there is now full English and Japanese voice acting to breathe new life into the experience.

But yes, those visuals are of the jaw-dropping variety. The watercolor painting feel of Octopath Traveler is here, but is merely used to complement the original designs of Dragon Ball legend Akira Toriyama and others.

The colorful, HD-2D romp is vibrant and adds a sense of depth and meaning to what used to otherwise be even mundane battle screens and locales. It's a treat on the eyes and done so well that, frankly, many fans will probably leave this one thinking of it as the only way to bring classic RPG games to the new era. Full 3D remakes are cool, but this approach amplifies the spirit and detail of the original with very little risk.

There are some new animations longtime fans will notice, but for the most part, this is a faithful and impressive effort from start to finish. And yes, just looking at a side-by-side of the original compared to this is downright mind-blowing.

Combat itself gets some smooth modernization passes, too. The tried-and-true turn-based stuff is here as players formulate teams and balance classes in order to succeed. Queuing up a healer as support and experimenting with compositions and strategies has stood the test of time and inspired countless future releases since the late 80s for a reason.

But the new stuff is interesting. For those who just want to go along for the ride and not fret over combat, there's a modern-feeling auto-battler. There are also adjustable battle speeds with the simple press of a button

It's hard to undersell just how important this is. The tandem of auto-battling and speeding up encounters is something that takes an almost daunting turn-based RPG experience and lets it fit more types of players. Somebody who might not want to risk the time investment otherwise can take this on the Nintendo Switch's handheld mode and experience it in bite-sized bursts.

Story and More

By now, longtime fans know the story, while modern players won't be blown away by the familiar-feeling effort.

Just know this tale probably came first, for what it's worth. In short, players control Ortega's child and must save the world from the big villain Baramos. Simple enough, but only in summary—memorable characters and locales from this game have stood the test of time for a reason.

This remake does arrive with the promise that narrative tweaks better loop in the happenings of the prior two games—an important thing to do, considering Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake projects to launch in 2025.

That's not the only new addition to the narrative, either, as this reprised story offers more context to the protagonist's father, Ortega. Any update and further context, even after all this time, is always welcome, of course.

Overall progression does get a slight tweak compared to the classic entry, too, with a new Monster Wrangler vocation added to the mix. Impressively, this feels like a natural fit, which is good because going overboard all these years later with new vocations would probably not feel right.

This ties nicely into a new world addition called Monster Arenas, which is exactly what it sounds like. There, players can battle with monsters they have recruited throughout the journey. Maybe it's not new, as betting on monster fights was a thing in the old games.

But this time? Players can set the combat strategies of various teams they assemble. It's an auto-battler simulation at heart, but the number of team compositions makes it an hours-stealing bit of fun side content as one experiments with teams and strategies while entering tournaments.

Actually finding these monsters is a fun little addition to the overarching experience that makes exploration more rewarding. That's the obvious goal, considering players can find them not just in places like dungeons, but towns, too.

Patty's Party Planning Place lets players design their own party members, too, permitting the player to self-insert into a party, should they want to do so.

A new auto-save feature is one of the many modern quality-of-life updates alongside the robust suite of options. The game launches with three difficulty modes, performance is good and while the more hardcore older fans will cry foul, there's even the ability to turn on an objective marker to make things smoother.

Conclusion

Somehow, this remake manages to innovate for the entire genre, too, providing a good example as to why auto-battling and fast-forwarding options could open games with lengthy time investments to much broader audiences.

It's also done in such a way that the mind begins to wander as to whether similar classics should get this very same treatment (coughChronoTriggercough).

As a standalone, Dragon Quest III's arrival to a new generation is a triumphant one and veteran players will find a tactful, measured improvement to the original that still respects and preserves the roots that gave life to classic.