Revamping a game that has been beloved for decades poses significant challenges, especially when it holds a treasured place in gaming history. The Dragon Quest franchise has held a prominent status in Japan, but it’s truly Dragon Quest III that elevated it to an iconic level that resonates even today. As such, this installment has already undergone multiple remakes, creating an additional obstacle for the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. The essential question remains: How does one honor the original game while implementing enough innovations to differentiate it from previous editions? Based on my experience with the early hours of the PC version, it seems Square Enix may have found a way to strike that balance effectively.
The most significant change in this iteration is its visual presentation. True to its name, the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake adopts the HD-2D aesthetic that made its debut in Octopath Traveler, a style that has since appeared in various other titles. For a franchise that deeply respects its roots, this modern visual update is a fantastic choice for revitalizing its sprite-based legacy. Even the most straightforward locations are rendered beautifully, allowing for enhanced complexity and vivid detail in nearly every setting. The castles exude grandeur, towns are more animated and colorful, and caves evoke a sense of confinement and mystery. It’s a remarkable evolution.
While the combat doesn’t benefit as much from this graphical overhaul, the more intricate backdrops and striking lighting effects do enhance the experience. The monsters are more animated than ever, and I was particularly impressed by the new death animations. Staying true to its heritage, battles are primarily viewed from a first-person perspective, with your party members visible only during turns. Given the detailed nature of the sprites—showing equipped weapons, for example—it’s somewhat disappointing we can’t see the party in action during conflicts.
Having journeyed through Dragon Quest III multiple times over the years, I was eager to uncover what new elements this remake might hold. Predictably, the expanded areas invite exploration; in towns and dungeons, this means more visually rich environments enriched with additional lootable items like pots and barrels. The overall maps remain largely in line with the original layouts, and I would be surprised if significant changes appeared later. However, navigating these larger settings is now streamlined by the ability to run at the press of a button.
In contrast, the overworld map invites greater exploration. With larger terrains, the need to veer off the main pathways is now more appealing than ever. Currently, exploration yields two key rewards: glaringly bright sparkling spots that lead to item caches and gear, and more elusive Secret Spots, where peculiar landscape features may hide valuable treasures or informative NPCs.
Another exciting addition is the new vocation: the Monster Wrangler. I set aside my standard Fighter in favor of this intriguing character class. Strong and efficient in battle, the Monster Wrangler offers unique abilities that develop as you befriend more monsters. However, this recruiting system differs from past games, as players will encounter friendly creatures in preset locations rather than through combat, requiring either approach or stealth to win them over.
Once you’ve made a friend, they will automatically join the Monster Arena—a feature that previously allowed for betting on monster fights. In this remake, players take on a more hands-on role where you can create a team from your collected friendly monsters and coach them through multi-round tournaments. Victories yield rewards such as money and prizes. So far in the game, only a few tournaments are available, but given how closely monster collection ties to enhancing the Monster Wrangler, it’s likely that the Monster Arenas will have a significantly larger presence than they did in earlier versions.
In just the initial hours of play, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake proves to be quite impressive. It seems that long-time fans will discover numerous fresh features, while newcomers are treated to a classic reimagined with stunning visuals and enhanced quality-of-life improvements. If the rest of the game lives up to this opening experience, JRPG enthusiasts are indeed in for an exceptional adventure.
Look forward to the release of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S on November 14th, 2024.
Images Credit: Siliconera.com
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