Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remakeis the latest iteration of the classic roleplaying game that first arrived in the States asDragon Warrior IIIback in 1992.The original game is widely considered one of the best RPGs of all time, and served as the blueprint for many RPGs that followed it. Since it debuted, there have been numerous versions - including remakes - on various platforms. That means there are a lot of versions ofDQ3to compare theHD-2D Remaketo - all while it contends with the original’s legacy.
DQ3is a game of almost mythical proportions. Its 1988 release in Japan was a zeitgeist moment that inspired one of the biggest myths in gaming - theDragon Quest Law- that suggested so many people skipped work and school to playDQ3thatfutureDragon Questgames were required by law to launch on weekends. From a Western perspective (whereDQhas traditionally struggled), it may be hard to explain just how influential the game was - and why it’s still held in such high regard, but therelease ofDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeimpressively lives up to the original.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakedoesn’t disappoint. The core premise - a young hero sets off to save the world from the Archiend - and many gameplay mechanics are the same,but there are additional content and quality-of-life improvements that help theHD-2D Remakestand out.
This Dragon Quest 3 Remake Has Plenty Of Surprises
Monster Wrangling, Secret Areas, & New Story Beats
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakecomes with plenty of great quality-of-life improvements like difficulty settings, auto-save features, and even hints that circle places on the world map to help navigate the more open-world portions of the game. However, it also includes new features that really add to the enjoyableness of this remake. Most notable are thenew Monster Wrangler vocationand the Monster Arena, both of which requirerecruiting friendly monsters to progress through. New story beats featuring Ortega, the hero’s warrior father, were another pre-launch selling point.
I kept a Monster Wrangler in my party since it was new, and while it’s slow to get going, I found it to be a nice additional vocation - although newcomers may wish to stick to the more balanced Warrior, Mage, Priest combo that the game recommends since it’s easier to grasp.
Dragon Quest 3 Remake’s Release Date Is Continuing My Favorite New DQ Trend
With the release date for Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake now being set for November, it’s continuing a recent DQ trend that I absolutely adore.
Likewise, finding monsters and recruiting them to the Monster Arena was something I thoroughly enjoyed - and found myself sinking a lot of extra time into it.As someone who’s played multiple versions ofDQ3already, this was great for helpingDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakefeel fresh and unique.
The new story beats centering on Ortega are less effective. They may get players more invested inDQ3’s fairly simple story, and certainly help give Ortega a larger presence, but compared to the rest of the new content, these felt underwhelming. Much like in the original game, this remake shines through its gameplay more than in its storytelling.
DQ3 Remake Can Sometimes Feel Too Much Like The Original
A New Art Style & Qualty-Of-Life Improvements Don’t Always Help
The new HD-2D art style and QoL improvements are all welcome, butthe main story ofDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakesometimes feels like it’s not offering anything new. There are enough changes to keep previous players on their toes, but the new content may not be enough to sell people on buying the game if they’ve already playedDQ3before. Comparatively, it feels like more new content wasadded toDragon Quest 11’s Definitive Editionfrom its vanilla version than what’s been added here, although that’s just a personal estimation.
That’s a minor complaint, though. The ostensible point ofDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis to introduce a new generation to one of the best RPGs of all time. If that’s the mission, then this game succeeds.This remake does the original justice and is every bit as good as you rememberDQ3being. While more additional content would’ve been nice, what’s included inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis excellent and feels well-worth its full price tag.
A Simple Story Saved By Excellent Vocations & Gameplay
DQ3 Is Still One Of The Best Dragon Quest Games
The originalDQ3’s story never reached the heights of its immediate successors,DQ4andDQ5, but it has remained one of the most fun entries in the franchise thanks in large part to its gameplay. Thankfully, that’s all still intact forDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.Vocations, the game’s job system, are varied, which means no two playthroughs will feel the same, especially when factoring in personalities and class-specific weapon/armor variety that are part ofDQ3’s character creation.
The largest portion ofDQ3is open-world, and it involves searching for six orbs.DQ3 HD-2D Remakewill circle spots on the map, which can streamline exploration and playtime, but it can be disabled for those who just want to explore and read NPC hints (and utilize the Recall feature). This collect-athon structure has been mimicked countless times since the original game launched (both within theDragon Questseriesand in other RPGs), but there’s still something nostalgic and enjoyable about it.
“A Standout RPG” - Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Review
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince gives backstory to one of DQ’s coolest villains and shows the best of what monster-wrangling games can offer.
At times, the story’s darker edges start to show - butthis is offset byDragon Quest’s trademark sense of humor, which often involves using puns. Just like in the original, there are parts ofDragon Quest HD-2D Remakethat drag (the Cave of Necrogond comes to mind here) but saving the world is a surprisingly relaxing affair. There’s never a rush to barrel through the towns, and the game encourages going off the beaten path and looking for secret areas, mini-medals, and stray monsters.
DQ3 Remake Is Perfect For Newcomers & Longtime Fans
This Upgrade Of The Classic RPG Is Worth Checking Out
Depending on how many versions ofDQ3you’ve played, you may be on the fence about this latest iteration. But, as someone who’s played these others,I believeDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis the best version of the game.
In terms of this specific remake, the encounter rate sometimes felt higher than usual and the balance sometimes felt off. For reference, I played in the normal “Dragon Quest” mode and thought it started way too easy. It then became much more difficult at a seemingly random time in the story that, while not as steep asDQ2’s infamous difficulty curve, did catch me off guard a bit.
There’s enough in here to keep longtime fans happy, and it’s an excellent starting point for those who want to experience one ofDragon Quest’s older entries. Despite the new art style and QoL improvements, the game still shows its age at times - mostly in its story structure and exploration. The originalDQ3is often hailed as an RPG masterpiece, andDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakehas breathed fresh air into it. One might even say it’s a new classic of an old classic.
Reviews on PlayStation 5
A game code for PS5 was provided toScreen Rantfor the purposes of this review.
