Dragon Quest was released in 1986 in Japan and 1989 as Dragon Warrior in North America. Thus began the Dragon Quest series, one of the most important RPG franchises of all time that is still active to this day. Along with its sequel, Dragon Quest 2: Luminaries of the Legendary Line, both games can now be enjoyed on modern consoles thanks to Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake.
How Long to Beat All Missions in Dragon Quest 1 & 2 Remake
A complete list of all missions in both Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D remakes, and how long it will take to beat them both individually.
It’s obvious to say that a lot has changed in the decades since these games were first released, and this isn’t even the first upgrade either game has received. However, thanks to these changes in Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, they are accessible now more than ever, and RPG fans should pounce on the chance to play them.
The Difficulty Modes
Go Hard Or Invincible
The difficulty options from Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake return in both games in this collection. Players can switch between Dracky Quest, Dragon Quest, and Draconian Quest difficulty settings, which also includes an invincibility mode that prevents characters from dying in battle.
This is a godsend for the first game, especially since the Hero is a one-man army. Other assist features include autosaves after nearly every action, from entering rooms to ending battles, and manual saves still exist too. Also, there is a guide feature on the world map that helps speed up story progression for those who need it.
The Expanded Story
And Voice Acting
The graphics, of course, look good in the collection as Square Enix has really nailed their HD-2D style at this point. Along with that, the story has been expanded in both games, most notably in the second game.
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Both games feature voice acting, but the characters come alive in Dragon Quest 2 Remake since there is a party system. The voice acting is well-performed and enhanced thanks to the classic music. The only downside is that both Hero characters are silent, but at least Dragon Quest 1 Remake's Hero emotes akin to Link in the Zelda games.
The Hero Faces Many New Challenges
Improved Combat
While Dragon Quest 2 Remake is the bigger game, there are some things about Dragon Quest 1 Remake that are better, or at least more interesting. In the original version, players faced one monster at a time to keep things fairer. In the remake, players now have to face just as many enemies as they do in the second game, which is more thrilling.
Thankfully, the Hero of Dragon Quest 1 Remake is stronger this time around with new abilities to destroy his foes. Also, there are the difficulty modes, which again are a godsend for new RPG players to rely on. Also, even though the game is shorter with a simplified story, it is fun to return to a classic like Dragon Quest 1 Remake.
Sigils Are Now More Than Key Items
Upgraded Attacks And Boosts
In the original version of the second game, there were key items called Sigils. Now, collecting them will boost certain aspects of the game. The Water Sigil, for example, will boost the effect of items. The Soul Sigil is the most interesting addition because characters at lower health can now transform attacks into more powerful ones.
They’re kind of like Limit Breaks from the Final Fantasy series, which have existed in the Dragon Quest series before do like the Coup de Grace attacks from Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Sigils appear in Dragon Quest 1 Remake as well, which is an example of how combat has evolved for the lone Hero.
Mini-Medals Appear In Both Games
A Carryover From Four
Mini-Medals first appeared in Dragon Quest 4: Chapters of the Chosen. They were added in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, and Mini-Medals have been added to Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake. Collecting Mini-Medals can be tricky, as they can be hidden in chests, barrels, or even lying on the ground.
They are worth it, though, because the items and gear players can exchange them for are rare. There’s also Tombola, a sort of Powerball system, that lets players obtain rare loot. Both games in the collection don’t have much in the way of side quests, so Mini-Medals and Tombola help expand their scopes in meaningful ways.
The Ship Upgrades
Unda Da Sea
Both games feature new characters, dungeons, and monsters, which should be a standard for remakes. Of the two, the second game has a bigger new addition via the Ocean Floor. About halfway through Dragon Quest 2 Remake, players can upgrade their ship to go underwater.
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Players can explore an entirely new overworld map, complete with dungeons and a mermaid town. It’s kind of like how The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom added an underground area and a sky area to the Hyrule featured in its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Expanding The Party In Two
Here Comes Matilda
The Dragon Quest series began with one playable character, and then that expanded to three characters in the sequel, and then four characters in the third entry. This became the standard in most Dragon Quest entries going forward, and Dragon Quest 2 Remake retroactively added a fourth character via Matilda.
She is the sister of Caradoc, who appeared in the original version, but she was just an NPC. Matilda appears first as a temporary party member before joining right around the time players can go underwater. Getting a fourth party member makes the game easier, no matter what difficulty players are on, plus she’s just a fun character to have around.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
