Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – A Faithful Reimagining with a Modern Twist

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings Square Enix’s 1988 classic into the modern era with stunning visual upgrades, while steadfastly maintaining its traditional roots. In this Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake review, we’ll take a deep dive into Square Enix’s ambitious reimagining of the classic Dragon Quest III, which blends stunning visual upgrades with a steadfast adherence to the game’s traditional roots.

Story and Characters

The game’s narrative follows a time-honored formula: you play as the child of the legendary warrior Ortega, who meets their fate before your character reaches maturity. Upon turning sixteen, you’re tasked by the King of Aliahan to embark on a quest to defeat Archfiend Baramos and save the world from demonic forces. While the plot remains fundamentally simple, serving primarily as a framework for the adventure, it’s worth noting that the lack of character development extends to both the protagonist and party members, who remain silent participants in a story driven entirely by NPCs.

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This design choice, while staying true to the original game’s storytelling approach, may disappoint players seeking more engaging and multifaceted characterizations. The straightforward narrative and minimal protagonist involvement, however, do allow for a greater focus on the gameplay and exploration aspects of the experience.

Visual Presentation

Where the remake truly shines is in its visual presentation. The HD-2D graphics create a stunning atmosphere with dynamic lighting effects and environmental depth that sets it apart from other games in the same style. The world feels remarkably alive, featuring smooth transitions between weather conditions and time-of-day changes that affect both exploration and combat. Towns transform from bustling centers of activity during daylight to quiet settlements at night, encouraging players to time their visits strategically.

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The attention to detail in the visual design is a true highlight of the remake, immersing players in a vibrant and believable fantasy world. The seamless integration of traditional 2D art with modern 3D elements results in a unique aesthetic that beautifully captures the essence of the original Dragon Quest while elevating the visuals to contemporary standards.

Combat System

The combat system, while faithful to the original, may prove divisive for modern players. The first-person battle perspective, though enhanced with party member visuals, feels somewhat limited in execution. Combat can feel particularly slow, though this is partially mitigated by included speed-up options. The system shows its age in certain aspects, such as the inability to target specific enemies in mixed groups and the absence of turn order indicators.

Dragon Quest III Remake Review — Image Credit: Square Enix

While the combat retains the classic Dragon Quest feel, players seeking more dynamic and responsive battles may find the experience to be a mixed bag. The methodical pacing and emphasis on strategic decision-making will appeal to fans of the series’ traditional approach, but those accustomed to more action-oriented combat may be left wanting. Nevertheless, the combat’s adherence to the franchise’s roots is undoubtedly a deliberate design choice that seeks to preserve the essence of the original experience.

Job System and Customization

The job system stands as one of the game’s strongest features, offering impressive depth and customization options. Players can build their party from various vocations, including the versatile Hero, combat-focused Martial Artist, spell-wielding Mage, money-making Merchant, and the new Monster Wrangler class. The system is further enhanced by personality traits that affect character growth and extensive customization options for appearance and voice.

This level of party building and personalization allows players to tailor their experience and experiment with different playstyles, adding significant longevity to the overall adventure. The depth and flexibility of the job system serve as a compelling counterpoint to the relative simplicity of the narrative, empowering players to shape their adventure in meaningful ways and invest deeply in the strategic aspects of the gameplay.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

Quality-of-life improvements have been implemented to enhance accessibility, including multiple difficulty settings, battle speed options, and a helpful Recall feature for reviewing story events. However, the difficulty balancing feels somewhat uneven, with the easiest mode essentially functioning as an invincibility toggle rather than a properly scaled experience.

While these features aim to modernize the experience and make it more approachable, the implementation could be more refined to ensure a balanced and engaging challenge across all difficulty levels. The inclusion of these quality-of-life enhancements demonstrates a commendable effort to cater to both longtime fans and newcomers, though the execution could be more nuanced in certain areas to strike the optimal balance between accessibility and challenge.

Audio Experience

The remake’s soundtrack deserves special mention, with newly arranged versions of classic tracks that enhance the adventuring experience. The overworld theme, in particular, stands out as a memorable piece that captures the essence of epic fantasy exploration. The audio production values contribute significantly to the game’s atmosphere, seamlessly blending nostalgic melodies with modern sound design to create a harmonious aural experience that complements the visual splendor.

The soundtrack’s ability to evoke a sense of adventure and wonder is a testament to the developers’ reverence for the original material and their desire to honor the franchise’s iconic musical legacy. This attention to the auditory experience helps to further immerse players in the world of Dragon Quest III, elevating the overall presentation to a level befitting of a beloved classic.

Challenges and Limitations

However, the game’s adherence to classic design elements creates some friction points. Random encounters occur frequently, making the extensive required grinding and backtracking more challenging. Resource management, particularly in the early game, can be punishing, with death penalties requiring substantial gold for resurrection at churches. These design choices, while staying true to the original game’s mechanics, may prove frustrating for some players accustomed to more streamlined progression and less punitive systems.

The combination of frequent random battles and the need to carefully manage resources can disrupt the sense of exploration and adventure, potentially leading to moments of tedium or frustration for those unwilling to embrace the classic JRPG grind. While these elements may appeal to devoted fans, they could also serve as a barrier for modern players seeking a more seamless and accessible experience.

Verdict

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake ultimately succeeds as a faithful recreation of a genre-defining classic, after review the dedication to tradition may not appeal to all modern players. While the stunning visuals, robust job system, and quality-of-life improvements make the game more accessible than its original version, the core gameplay mechanics and storytelling approach remain firmly rooted in its 1988 origins.

In our Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake review, we’ve explored the various aspects of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, from its captivating visual presentation to its adherence to classic JRPG mechanics. For JRPG veterans and series enthusiasts, this remake offers a beautifully crafted window into gaming history, but newcomers to the franchise might find Dragon Quest XI a more approachable entry point. The Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake strikes a balance between preserving the essence of the classic and incorporating modern sensibilities, resulting in an experience that will resonate most strongly with dedicated fans of the series.