The Dragon Quest 3 remake delivers classic RPG comfort food with an ‘HD-2D’ sheen

The Dragon Quest games have stayed true to tradition over the past forty years. Series creator Yuji Horii, inspired by Ultimate And Wizardryintended to bring roleplaying games to the masses with simplicity and a smile. The same philosophy is applied there Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remakea new version of the 1988 original that keeps the game’s classic turn-based combat and random encounters, but softens the dated edges and gives the game a better-than-ever coat of paint.

Square Enix’s latest game in the HD-2D family isn’t concerned about Dragon Quest’s simplicity and accessibility. However, it makes it easier to play than ever and gives long-time fans a few new things to do. Dragon mission 3 after all, it has been repackaged and rereleased multiple times across console generations. This version is among the best.

Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake tells much the same story as its inspiration: players take on the role of a hero, the offspring of a long-lost warrior named Ortega, who is tasked by the king with dispatching an evil, world-conquering entity known as Baramos. The hero gathers a team of allies, each with their own callings and personalities, and sets off on a classic hero’s journey with at least one fun twist.

Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake is reassuring that way. I knew what to expect throughout the experience: I would fight a long list of Akira Toriyama-designed monsters in random encounters, level up my hero and his party, earn gold and experience, and grow increasingly stronger in my quest to avenge my father.

Square Enix and developer Artdink are helping to modernize this outdated experience with a few concessions. There are three difficulty levels from the start, and battles can be sped up to “ultra-fast” speed so they last just a few seconds. Thank goodness, because you come across it randomly So many monsters. Movement through the world is also rapid; I feel like I’m always in control of a fast forward button.

Combat is relatively simplistic by modern RPG standards, but it offers a degree of tactical control. By default, I can control my character however I want – cast spells, fight with weapons, defend, etc. – and have my party members attack automatically. In addition, there are a handful of behavior settings for group members; I can order them to attack aggressively, conserve mana, focus on healing, or play defensively. Or I can take full control of each of my party members and, turn by turn, choose the specific tactics I want to focus on to win a battle.

There is surprising depth to it Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remakewhich is full of weapons, spells, callings and personalities. Party members can be rotated at Patty’s Party Planning Place in town, so building a party suited to the task is easy. (It’s also guilt-free, as you have little personal connection with your crew. It’s all about the hero.)

Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake gives the original game a massive graphical overhaul in HD-2D style, combining 16-bit-style pixelated characters with richly rendered 3D backgrounds. The HD-2D continues to run Dragon mission 3 Deviates from the appearance seen in previous entries. Instead of the dark vignetting of Octopath traveler or the graphically varied and sturdy Live a life, Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake is cheerfully bright and soft. However, the developers have gone too far in that regard: the stylistic gap between the pixelated characters and the full 3D backgrounds is too pronounced. I would have preferred a look that retains some degree of pixelization in the game environments.

However, I can’t fault the game’s pixel work. Toriyama’s monsters look beautiful Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remakethanks to the rich detail in their attacks and dying animations in turn-based battles. Every time an enemy slime wiggles on the screen it makes me smile. The same goes for the classic Dragon Quest themes and sound effects in this remake, which are as gloriously vintage as the gameplay.

Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake introduces some compelling new additions to the original and its remakes. That also applies to the Monster Arena, a monster car battle tournament that feels slightly Pokémon-inspired. That mechanic is accompanied by a new calling, Monster Wrangler – a hybrid attack/healing class that helps you collect the rare friendly monsters you encounter. You can send your friendly monsters into the battle arena, providing a fun, light tactical distraction to the adventure. Additionally, the friendlier monsters you collect, the stronger your Wrangler class becomes, making the Calling an incredibly well-designed addition.

For the Dragon Quest curious, Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake offers a sleek new entry into the venerable RPG franchise. It’s a solid starting point, thanks to its relative simplicity and ease of play. It’s also chronologically the very first Dragon Quest game, setting up the story for next year Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD 2D Remake. So if you’ve ever been enamored with Dragon Quest’s Slimes but weren’t sure where to start your adventure, this is, oddly enough, the glossy remake of the third installment in the franchise.

Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake will be released on November 14 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed on PS5 using a pre-release download code from Square Enix. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.