DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Review – Elevated Classics

Dragon Quest 1&2 HD Remaster Review

I’m slightly obsessed with Dragon Quest 1. So I approached this remake with a critical, exacting gaze. That first game is balanced rather delicately, and any changes made could have catastrophic results. Well, there were some significant changes made, and the game still hangs together quite nicely. It turns out such a simple yet refined structure is perfect for expansion, if you’re clever about it.

I’ve played Dragon Quest 1 at least a dozen times on almost as many different platforms. This new version is the hardest one since the original release on the NES. Which rules, honestly. It was a refreshing challenge. I had to run that final boss fight twenty times or more before I cracked it. For players who’ve more or less memorized this timeless classic, this will be a terrific new experience.

Harder Than Ever (Complimentary)

Plus, you’ve got new cutscenes, voiced dialogue, new mechanics, and a need for new strategies. For example! It used to be that every fight in Dragon Quest 1 was 1v1. You were never outnumbered, only outgunned and overwhelmed. Conversely, the HD-2D remake has you facing off against multiple opponents in most battles. Just like that, all the old strategies are pretty much useless. It’s such a simple change that blows the game wide open.

The games are also kitted out with a host of useful modern touches. The Zoom spell costs nothing at all, and has a shortcut built directly into the world map. Autosave runs after every battle, which means death doesn’t cost you much progress. There’s new voice acting, new scenes, expanded dungeons, and access to more spells for every character. On top of all that, the autobattle feels better than ever. I just wish the battle speed toggles were more robust. Combat at regular speed feels like you’re moving in slow motion for no good reason. I changed it to max speed, and the fights immediately felt more manageable. Not too fast, to be clear. Just fast enough for you to actually sit through.

Autobattle Improvements Abound

I trash-talk autobattle all the time, and with good reason. But it’s not the same mindless panacea in these games. You’re either burning through mana with reckless abandon, or you’re eating a fatal dose of damage in short order. No, this time around, you’ve got to be clever and deliberate if you want to survive. It’s a massive improvement over the old hyper-powered behemoth you became in previous Dragon Quest games.

I’ve always loved the plots in these games. It’s a classic setting built on timeless archetypes with expert precision. Even so, these remakes feel like an upgrade in terms of their narrative. Dragon Quest 2 has a powerful, affecting story. It wasn’t until this new version that I really felt that power, however. The princess of Moonbrooke is handed the rawest of deals, right from the jump. She grieves for this catastrophic loss, and her cousins… are also present. Okay, it’s not prestige TV, but it’s an excellent start. I got a little emotional watching it all play out, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

Suddenly Powerful Story

Even the first game hits a little harder than I was expecting. It’s downright incredible what a few well-placed musical cues can do. Mix in some of that elevated, high fantasy dialogue, and you’ve got yourself a rather touching tale at times. I gained a newfound appreciation for the threat the Dragonlord represents, and for the stakes of this epic conflict.

Having an elevated challenge level is a double-edged blade. While I welcome a thrilling fight in a Dragon Quest game, there’s a delicate balance to maintain. Especially in the first one. It’s sometimes a little too easy for your hero to get overwhelmed. After all, you can only take so many actions per turn, and you’re so often outnumbered. I found myself frequently messing with the difficulty. After all, you don’t want things to get too easy, either. That’s an insidious curse all on its own.

Some Nasty Boss Battles

Like Dragon Quest III, the visuals are a mix of pixel art and polygons. It feels retro at first, but the blend is pretty seamless. Character animations are limited, although you still see a lot of different expressions built around simple body language. It’s a natural extension of the old pixel art animation style, one that feels like an incremental evolution of the old graphics. The point is, these games look excellent. They capture that classic Dragon Quest feel while moving beyond what players are used to with previous versions.

If you’ve never played the first two Dragon Quest games before, this is the absolute best time to start. They’re crammed with modern upgrades, while the original vibe is still nicely preserved. And if you’ve played them a dozen times, even better. This is a significant departure from the original formula, at least for the first one. Dragon Quest II was a little more fully cooked, hence it needed fewer modern improvements. The upgraded difficulty is great and awful at the same time. I’m thrilled the games are harder now, but like, be prepared for that. The high-speed battles could be a lot faster, but you get used to it quickly. Either way, this collection of remakes should be an easy decision for any Dragon Quest fan.

***A PS5 code was provided by the publisher***