Hands-on: Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake is a perfect entry point for newcomers

When we received an invite from Square Enix HQ to play a mystery 2D-HD remake, I was utterly convinced that it was going to be Chrono Trigger.

Despite being 16-bit and 29 years old, Chrono Trigger – the lovechild of, among others, Final Fantasy veteran Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama – is still talked about with the kind of hushed reverence usually reserved for holy scripture.

Yet, upon arrival at Square’s London HQ, I was greeted instead by a banner emblazoned with a very different spiky haired RPG protagonist. It turns out I was about to embark on an adventure born of the other beloved Akira Toriyama RPG collaboration – 1988’s Dragon Quest 3.

Released on the lovably chonky NES, Dragon Quest 3 is heralded as one of the pixel art pioneers of the RPG genre. One of the first games to introduce a day and night system, as well as a game that popularised the ‘job system’ and boasted a remarkably non-linear approach to exploration, Dragon Quest 3 rightly holds a special place in many players’ hearts.

As a ‘90s baby, Dragon Quest 3 and everything pre-PS1 passed me by. Despite dalliances with Dragon Quest Monsters on Game Boy, Dragon Quest Builders and regularly humiliating my friends as ‘Hero’ in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Dragon Quest is a franchise that has somehow eluded me.

Now, Square Enix is hoping that this lovingly made remake will entice curious players (like me) to take their first plunge into one of Japan’s most beloved games.

Putting players in the pointed leather shoes of the originally named ‘Hero’, this third entry’s medieval tale turns back the clock to the beginning of Square’s seminal saga, making Dragon Quest 3 the series’ perfect entry point.

Booting the Switch and diving into Aliahan’s newly enchanting HD-2D world, I felt a wave of warm, comforting nostalgia wash over me. Despite never venturing into this strange land, Dragon Quest 3 – like the best remake projects – effortlessly captures the cosy feel of the 16-bit classic while simultaneously overhauling it with the level of production values and gameplay quirks that modern players expect.

The opening hour of this shiny new version of Dragon Quest 3 is an absolute blast to play. As I sprinted around a bustling town, barging into home after home uninvited, my early game exploits were lent an air of heroism by the brilliantly-revamped orchestral soundtrack. Performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, these crisp new arrangements of the original soundtrack from late series composer Koichi Suigyama absolutely slap.

Much like the blending of ye old sprite work with fancy lighting and modern environments, the soundscape leans knowingly on its 8-bit roots. I couldn’t help but smile every time I was treated to that classic bit-crushed shuffle sound when I entered a new building, or when the sweeping string section was interrupted by the nostalgic warble of bleeps and blips that follow each new line of dialogue.

Despite this remake also hitting PlayStation, Xbox and PC, I opted to experience the pioneering JRPG in the cosiest way possible – on a Nintendo Switch in handheld mode.

Boasting a pixel-art approximation of our own real world map, as I took my first steps into sprawling castle towns based on mediaeval Europe, this charming fantasy realm felt  pleasingly familiar. Even at this lower resolution, the game world shines, with impressive lighting bringing the seamless mesh of pixel art and high definition environments roaring to life.

The varying locales that were once limited by 8-bit hardware look varied and atmospheric in the new light of the 2D-HD engine, with director Koichi Nakamura stating that the tech finally allowed him to realise his original artistic vision for the setting.

“The varying locales that were once limited by 8-bit hardware look varied and atmospheric in the new light of the 2D-HD engine, with director Koichi Nakamura stating that the tech finally allowed him to realise his original artistic vision for the setting.”

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake actually marks the second time that this tale has been remade – it was initially brought to the Game Boy Color as Dragon Warrior 3. After a joyous hour, it’s easy to see why Square is so keen to return to it.

From its chatty innkeepers to castles littered with hidden items, Dragon Quest 3 is as comfortingly archetypal as RPGs come. As I grinded battles in the overworld and saved up for pricey new weapons for my party, my brain was flooded with soothing serotonin as the rousing score congratulated me for making a sea of numbers go up.

Alongside the obvious visual overhaul, there are a whole host of quality of life changes awaiting players in the revamped adventure. From adding the kind of merciful UI improvements and quest markets that you appreciate but don’t notice, to completely overhauling the saving system, this remake removes all the hurdles to enjoying the core adventure.

That, of course, extends to its many clashes of swords, like any RPG worth its salt, Dragon Quest 3 is littered with turn-based battles, and despite the combat system being three decades old, slaying monsters feels as fun as ever. Led by your magic-imbued, sword clutching hero, your party is completed by a mage, healer and DPS character, with attacks being dished out in classic first-person Dragon Quest style.

In a nice touch, you can set your party members’ tactics, allowing them to auto-battle to certain set strategies, be it focusing on healing, conserving MP, defending the player, or going all out in a setting called ‘show no mercy’. You can also opt to choose their individual attacks and mix and match the tempo of each showdown with an adjustable battle speed, allowing you to make short work of monsters at ultra fast speed.

The main game difficulty can also be tweaked at any point with a press of Start and switching the slider from ‘Dracky Quest’ to ‘Dragon Quest’ or the amusingly named ‘Draconian Quest’ as you see fit. It’s not all old news, however, as returning players can expect expanded story beats created under the watchful eye of the game’s original director, Koichi Nakamura.

I came away from my time with Dragon Quest 3 raring to embark on another beloved retro-tinged adventure. With Dragon Quest approaching its 40th anniversary, this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate a beloved series that, is too often overlooked in the west.

While this lacks the rabid fanfare (on our shores, at least) that would accompany a Chrono Trigger remake, Square seems to have pulled out all the stops for this long anticipated celebration. Like the best remakes, Dragon Quest 3 looks to masterfully tow the line between capturing the classic gaming feel of yore while still adding all the modern niceties that players have grown accustomed to.

The November release date works in its favour, too, with Dragon Quest 3’s cosy questing tailor-made for seeing players through the Christmas lull. Sign me up for slaying monsters on the sofa, with my Switch screen hoisted above my head and a belly full of food.