Preview I played Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake… what if it was the ultimate version of one of the best RPGs of all time?

preview I played Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake… what if it was the ultimate version of one of the best RPGs of all time?

Dragon Quest III is certainly one of the most popular episodes of DQ fans. This is especially the case in Japan, where players love it for its adventure, job system, and emphasis on the storyline. When Square Enix announced a remake of this opus in 2021 with HD 2D sauce like Octopath Traveler, the community obviously had reason to rejoice.

After three long years of radio silence, The project is finally being talked about again, with the release scheduled for November 14th on PC, PS5, Xbox Series and of course Nintendo Switch. But long before that, I was able to play it during the Summer Game Fest in early June and I am convinced that this installment will delight both veterans and those who want to discover the prestigious Square Enix saga.

HD-2D continues to work wonders

As the name suggests, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is an updated version of DQIII. This is due to Graphics that combine 3D environments, visual effects and modern lighting with pixel art characters and monsters like in 90s RPGs. If this rendering was first used in Octopath Traveler, it has since been popularized by Square Enix. After Star Ocean, Dragon Quest is the second historical license of the Japanese publisher to experience such treatment. And what else can I tell you other than that it looks great? As for the characters, they benefit from more detailed sprites than ever before, their spells are the subject of special effects and, above all, they benefit from synchronization when they attack to seem more alive. But obviously it is the monsters that take the most spotlight in this updated version, with careful animations that make them even more believable in pixel art.

The world of Dragon Quest III has never seemed so alive as in this version, which resembles the embellished memory of the nostalgic people who discovered it back then. However, the task here is particularly difficult, namely to transcribe the atmosphere of the past while presenting it in a more modern light. But the developers from Team Asano, to whom we owe Octopath Traveler, TR IANGLE STRATEGY and Live a Live, have succeeded, at least from what I could see in the short session in which I was able to play it. In hindsight, you have to admit that Koichi Sugiyama’s orchestral compositions, which he composed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, contribute enormously to enhancing the mood of the title

An experience for veterans and beginners

The modernization of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is not only visual, but is also reflected in the gameplay. If we are still dealing with an RPG with old-fashioned turn-based combat, we find many comfort options that make the experience more enjoyable. Acceleration of combat speed, automation of confrontations, presence of an autosave, minimap or even tutorials, redesigned interface, better save system… everything comes together to make the experience more accessible. It is clear that it quickly becomes a chore to go through the fights very quickly, as they are slow to begin with.. But sometimes these options go even further…or even too far.

The most striking example is that the game tells you exactly where to go, either to talk to a character or to choose the right stairs to advance in a dungeon. Even if this support seems too much for veterans of the series who are crying out for a precariousness of their favorite series, a criticism already expressed about Dragon Quest XI, you can be sure that the developers have thought of youFirst of all, the accessibility options mentioned above can be disabled for better immersion. If you are looking for a challenge, the title offers a draconian, i.e. more difficult, mode to help you find your way around. Conversely, There is an easy mode included which is not for beginners as the difficulty of the time is still thereand in itself all the better.