Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review – A Legend Re-Told

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Review

Remakes are a little different than most games. They don’t just need to be good, they need to be the superior version to succeed. I had the chance to play Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, and it achieves this goal. But the game still has a couple of flaws. Changing the battle speed is super handy, but I’m less enamored with the auto-battle system. I love the modern touches, but this is still a decidedly retro game. Don’t get me wrong, I love that retro design! Whether it’s right for you is another matter.

Dragon Quest III is the final installment in the Erdrick Trilogy, though it takes place before the other two games. You play a child taking up your lost father’s quest to defeat the great evil threatening the land. There are some kingdoms to save, some MacGuffins to retrieve, all that good stuff. While the plot is pretty simple, I somehow don’t mind? Dragon Quest stories feel more like mythic archetypes than actual narratives. You know this story by heart, it’s been told in so many ways. Also, unlike most Dragon Quest games, you can just hire the rest of your party at the local pub. You can even choose their classes beforehand, which I appreciate.

A Classic Tale

The HD-2D Remake takes a few steps to enhance this simple narrative wherever it can. Important moments get cutscenes that ratchet up the emotional intensity. Voice acting is used to draw you into the dialogue. But the bulk of my playthrough still felt pretty sparse, story-wise. Which again, is totally fine! When it comes to retro RPGs like this, I’m really here for the mechanics, for the prime gameplay loop. Which has also been given some 21st-century upgrades.

First of all, there’s a difficulty setting you can tweak. I didn’t mess with it at all, but I’m glad it’s there. Quests have navigation markers that can be activated, and your movement speed can be toggled. The actual battle speed can be adjusted, and there’s a ‘handy heal all’ button in the main menu. I made good use of these little fixes without hesitation. But the auto-battle system is different.

The Temptation of Auto-Battle

See, the trouble with auto-battle is that it’s too effective. The CPU uses things like heal spells and buffs that I never would have considered. The stupid system was teaching me how to play the game properly, at least in the beginning. Maybe hard mode invalidates the auto-battle technique, but the standard difficulty does not. I tried not to use it, but it’s perfect for level grinding. so I wasn’t able to avoid the temptation as much as I would have liked. You don’t have to use it, of course. But when you’re trying to speed through a game for a review? Oooh, it comes in super handy.

It’s not just mechanical features that make the HD-2D Remake feel more modern. The visuals and the music are also extremely slick. The world you explore is a mix of sprites and polygons. Both styles blend nicely together, giving off an ‘old yet new’ vibe I really like. All the monster sprites are fluid and crisp, and your party’s models are crammed with detail. The end result is an aesthetic that feels like the old games, while still being a massive upgrade compared to the original release.

Crisp New Sprites

I have to say, the music in the remake doesn’t achieve the same effect for me. The old soundtrack is evocative but antiquated, and the new arrangements can’t escape this. I kept the sound on during my playthrough for about four hours before I gave up. I just can’t connect to these old songs, no matter what form they take. This further cements the game as a perfect podcast companion in my mind. Grinding levels while learning about history’s greatest monsters? Sign me up!

When you’re not leaning hard on the auto-battle system, the combat in the HD-2D Remake is both approachable and intense. Death comes quickly if you’re not prepared, and bringing people back isn’t easy. Powerful spellcasters can turn the tides, while other classes are their own hard mode if deployed. Although even if you fall in battle, you’ve got a lot of flexibility in where you start again. Once, a game over just meant a lecture from a priest and a dent in your wallet. Now you can avoid even those consequences if you so desire.

Make no mistake, this is definitely the superior version of Dragon Quest III. The modern mechanics and slick visuals strike that balance between retro and modern sensibilities. Combat is as easy or as difficult as you need it to be. I wish the auto-battle system was less powerful, but it’s still an optional mechanic. Beyond all my gripes about it, playing this game was still a relaxing, compelling experience. I love level grinding, scouring dungeons, and taking down nasty monsters. The story is simple, but in a sweeping, grand fashion perfectly suited for Dragon Quest. Whether or not you’ve played the original, you’ll have a great time with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

***A Playstation 5 code was provided by the publisher***