Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Preview
I’ve put several hours into Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake at this point. I’m having a lot of fun so far, but! There is one little wrinkle I can’t stop thinking about. You see, square Enix recently added an auto-battle system to this series. It turns out having a combat system so easy to automate gets you thinking about the game in a whole new way. Not a good way, but definitely a new one.
In some ways, I totally get it. Level grinding is best when you can second-screen it. Maybe put on a sitcom or a podcast or a movie series you’ve almost memorized. But I’ve used this mechanic on multiple boss fights and encountered very little friction doing so. Healing, spells, and abilities are all used at the perfect opportunity, more or less every time. It just feels like the game is playing itself, which is a bummer.
To be clear, I control what buttons I press. This could all be solved by me never using this insidious system ever again. But level grinding is just, so perfect for automation. It’s impossible to resist! I just wish it wasn’t also smart enough to play better than I do, sometimes. On the flip side, the rest of my experience so far has been very positive.
Resist That Siren Call
This version of Dragon Quest III looks amazing so far. The stages are lush, dense, and packed with fascinating details. Sunsets and ocean waves are bursting with color. Even the overworld feels vibrant and alive. Not to mention the characters! Everyone is done up in this retro pixel style that still feels distinctly modern. Individual animations are expressive and memorable. But it still feels just like Dragon Quest III should. The two eras meet in the middle with nearly perfect synchronicity.
There’s a whole lot of voice acting, which is always a nice touch. Most of it is pretty decent as well. I’m not sure when the Dragon Quest series decided to lean so hard into fantasy Britain, but I’m totally here for it. The written dialogue reflects this same decision, with certain lines peppered with neat little exclamations and whatnot. It all feels just a bit more authentic, is what I’m saying. I’m hopeful that this continues throughout the rest of the game.
It’s been well over twenty years since I played the original Dragon Quest III. In other words, I’m utterly in the dark about how this all turns out. I’m very hopeful, at least based on what I’ve played so far. How big does this adventure get? What new features have I yet to encounter? And will there come a time when the auto-battle system is no longer viable? In spite of my struggles with certain modern mechanics, I’m having a lot of fun with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. I’m psyched to play the whole thing, and I suggest you keep an eye on it as well. If you’re a fan of classic Dragon Quest, I think this one just might be a winner.
