Summary
- Director Yuji Horii teases a surprise at the end of Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D without revealing details.
- The trilogy starts with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D.
- Players speculate they may need to save data from the 1 and 2 remakes to unlock the surprise.
Director Yuji Horii said players will be in for a surprise if they play the Dragon Quest HD-2D remakes chronologically. Horii didn't give any hints about the surprise, and despite what each installment numbering suggests, Dragon Quest's chronological order begins with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, a prequel, and ends with Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a remade version of the classic Dragon Quest 3, initially released for the NES in 1988. The third title in the Dragon Quest franchise has seen numerous re-releases and ports, culminating in the announcement of a full-fledged remake in 2021. Since then, Square Enix has shared a wealth of information and has introduced all the new features in Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake, such as vocations, story content, and quality-of-life improvements.
Every Improvement in Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Remake Revealed So Far
Square Enix finally revealed more details about the previously announced Dragon Quest 3 remake, and there's a lot that's changed over the original.
In an interview with Famitsu, Yuji Horii mentioned that players can expect a surprise if they follow the entire Dragon Quest HD-2D remake trilogy chronologically. The Erdrick trilogy begins with Dragon Quest 3, continues with Dragon Quest 1, and finally concludes with Dragon Quest 2. Horii stated that the surprise would be found at the end of Dragon Quest 2. It's speculated that players will need to save data from the previous games on their chosen platform to unlock this surprise.
Players Will Receive a Surprise At the End of Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake
Horii only teased the surprise without revealing any details about what it might be. Fans were ecstatic when the remakes of Dragon Quest 1 and 2 were announced using the same HD-2D engine. However, the fanbase had some questions regarding those remakes. When the three games were initially released, their gameplay mechanics evolved clearly from one to the next. The first game had players controlling only one character, the second introduced a 3-members party, and the third presented vocations, a system akin to classes.
Starting the remake with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D makes sense chronologically, but gameplay-wise, it seems that Square Enix might need to reinvent the wheel for the first two games so that their gameplay isn't as barebones as the original versions. This is especially true for players who start their journey with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D and then try the other remakes, which won't be released until 2025.
Even so, Square Enix claims they have been doing everything possible to remake the RPG by adding modern features without removing what made it a classic. Many consider Dragon Quest to be the forefather of JRPGs, and the publisher has said that it will respect everything that made Dragon Quest 3 a masterpiece. With just a month until the official release of the RPG, players will soon get hands-on experience to see if these promises are fulfilled.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- November 14, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy.
Story:
Years ago, the great hero Ortega bid farewell to his wife and child as he set off on a quest to defeat the villainous Archfiend, Baramos. Ortega failed his quest, and Baramos still threatens the world. Now, on their sixteenth birthday, Ortega’s only child is summoned by the king of Aliahan and entrusted with a mission of the highest import: to take on Ortega’s quest, vanquish Baramos, and save the world.
A fully modernized remake of the original:
Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.
Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles:
A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.
Immersive world:
Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Dragon Quest
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
