There’s something special about revisiting the past – whether it’s through nostalgia or experiencing something you missed the first time. My first Dragon Quest was Sentinels of the Starry Skies, and to this day, it’s my favorite in the series. It’s the only one I’ve ever gone back and fully completed again, and I think that says a lot. So, when Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was announced, I knew I had to play it. Not because I had some deep connection to the original, honestly, I didn’t. It was because it was Dragon Quest. And sometimes, that’s all the reason I need.
But what I didn’t expect was how much this game would remind me of being a kid again, watching my dad play JRPGs back when he still did. Dragon Quest III gave me so many of those “child-like wonder” moments, the ones that make you stop and appreciate just how much fun a game can be. And that’s what I love about remakes like this. I’ll always try to play the originals when I can, but if a remake makes a game easier to access, I’ll jump in without hesitation. And honestly? I’m glad I jumped into this one.
Welcome to Backlog Worthy, let’s talk about Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
Combat That Feels Familiar (and Sometimes Too Easy)
Turn-based combat is my bread and butter, and Dragon Quest has always been my go-to for it. The combat in Dragon Quest III HD-2D sticks to the series’ roots, which I appreciated, but there were a few things that kept it from feeling as fresh as I’d hoped. The automatic combat for party members was a nice touch up until I had to actually strategize for bosses or grind my way through hundreds of Metal Slimes and Liquid Metal Slimes just for a single level-up.
I really enjoyed the class system, but by the late game, I ended up cheesing it by making my entire party go through the Monster Wrangler class. It was fun, but it also made things feel a little too easy. What held it back the most, though, was the lack of visual feedback in battles. I wish I could actually see my characters attack rather than just watching the effects play out, it reminded me of early RPG Maker games where your party members are just invisible damage dealers.
A World That Draws You In
I’ll be honest, part of what drew me into the world of Dragon Quest III was the graphics. I’m a sucker for pixel art games, and I feel like I say that every time I review one, but it’s true. That said, the game is more than just a pretty face. With only Dragon Quest VII, VIII, IX, and XI under my belt, I wasn’t sure how III would compare, but something about it really stood out. Maybe it was the HD-2D aesthetic, maybe it was the way the world felt alive. Whatever it was, it worked.
The story kept me engaged enough to push through, to spend as much time in this world as I could before the inevitable happened – I 100%’d it and had to move on to another game. That took me 77 hours. The new art style made me appreciate everything even more. I found myself stopping just to watch the ocean shimmer in the light. It’s one of those games where I feel like the visuals will stick with me, though that might be because this is my first real experience with 2.5D graphics.
Characters That Leave You Thinking
Silent protagonists aren’t really my thing. I get why they exist, they let you step into the character’s shoes, but I always feel like they take away from the story rather than adding to it. In Dragon Quest III, we don’t get to know what the Hero is thinking, and on top of that, the rest of the party barely speaks outside of one specific cutscene I remember getting while trying to 100% the game.
Strangely enough, I found myself more drawn to the bosses, especially the main antagonist, because they actually had a voice. Their presence added weight to the story in a way that the main cast never really could.
A Feast for the Eyes and Ears
The graphics and music in Dragon Quest III HD-2D are, simply put, stunning. The 2.5D presentation is brilliantly showcased throughout the game. From the smallest details like the ocean shimmering, to the way battles play out against even the most basic enemies like Slimes. The art direction here is a thing of beauty.
As for the music, I have to admit – this is where my Dragon Quest bias kicks in. This series is one of my all-time favorites, and hearing the classic tracks again just felt right. There’s something comforting about loading up a Dragon Quest game and being greeted by the familiar overture. It’s like the game is welcoming you back, letting you know exactly what kind of adventure you’re in for.
Final Thoughts: A Remake that Resonates
What kept this from being a perfect 10 for me was the lack of a real connection with the main characters. So much of the emotional weight in Dragon Quest III comes from the world and the side characters rather than your own party. I also wish there was a bit more variety in combat, but I understand why they stuck to the original design.
Would I recommend this game? Absolutely. Dragon Quest III is a great starting point for newcomers, being the first game in the Zenithian trilogy. And as a longtime Dragon Quest fan, I had a fantastic time with it. Now I just can’t wait for the next games in the trilogy to get the same treatment.
Play Every Pixel 