Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Relake is as beautiful as DQ3, but plays very differently

The Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake is one of my favorite games last year. I Score 9 in my commentDiscover it is a shiny example of how to remake a classic RPG. Square Enix masters everything that makes Dragon Quest 3 a historical favorite, and tends to retain its classic sensitivity with a modern retelling: satisfying turn-based battles, a classic story full of hearts, and gorgeous towns and dungeons. Now, Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Relake hopes to follow in the footsteps of 3's excellent execution, and if there's any signs of my hours spent in the upcoming pair of remakes, they seem to have recreated with the same love and quality as last year's hits.

To get rid of any initial confusion, the original Dragon Quest 3 is a prequel to Dragon Quest 1 and 2. When Square Enix tried to reshape the original NES trilogy, it decided to go chronologically, starting with Dragon Quest 3 leading to 1 and 2.

My hands-on hours are evenly distributed between 1 and 2 and they are sold as a combination package where you can choose which game you can choose from the introductory menu. I caught a glimpse of the early towns and dungeons of Dragon Quest 1. The tall, intimidating towers in Dragon Quest 2; and a healthy crossing of the world in both games; and it’s nice to find that the gorgeous HD-2D art style seen in games like Octopus Traveler and Triangle Strategy is still perfect for the comfortable, welcoming atmosphere of Dragon Quest. Simply tell stories with its familiar melody and traditional RPG, simply exists in the world of Dragon Quest. The 1&2 HD-2D remake looks and works great in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch 2, which is sure to be where I play the full version later this year.

However, apart from its graphic enhancement, the Dragon Quest 1 is significantly older than 3, even in reshaping form. Dragon Quest 3 is recognized as one of the godfathers of the RPG type, setting a framework for political parties-based RPGs over the past 35 years. For my own reasons, the edges of 1 and 2 are a bit rough around, and while I wholeheartedly respect the decision to keep the original skeleton intact, the result is that the setup is a much bigger hardcore RPG experience.

The main reason for this is that Dragon Quest 1 has a playable character throughout the journey. There are no party members to recruit, so there is no help on the battlefield – just you. As I ventured out of the roadside hotel from Overld in Dragon Quest 1 for a series of “Red-on-the-Thief Robbin”, I found that I had to fight differently because I was totally alone. The move that made my character escape, a move I never chose in Dragon Quest 3 suddenly felt essential. Normally, my hero will just go all out and the therapist will make sure he stands up, but in this solo show I have to keep myself alive while also doing as much damage as possible. After using all the healing items completely, I beat Robbin'Ood, which was a satisfying nail victory. I might prefer to host a different character that includes unique courses, but I'm glad to play different RPG styles.

Dragon Quest 2, on the other hand, does give you a full party of four characters on the battlefield, the fresh air after the intense isolation of Dragon Quest 1 battles. Here, Square Enix hopes to challenge us in this preview event, introducing us to the towering dungeons we obviously lacked. My team stomped properly, but I can indeed check out some new combat options that were added specifically in 1 and 2. The 3 remake introduces many fantastic battle choices, including the choice to speed up the battle, letting your character make decisions on your own based on the list of strategies you choose, and a simple mode called Dracky Quest where your character cannot die. 1&2 brings back all of these options and introduces new options like the ability to still play in simple mode but without the last mandatory invincible option. However, the most notable addition is an option to highlight which moves and spells are powerful on every enemy type you fight. This can be turned on or off at any time and will surely make exp grinding sessions smoother or get new players to adopt the best choice crash course.

Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake Preview Screenshot