Taking classic titles and giving them the HD-2D remake seems to be a sure-fire recipe for success, and Square Enix is taking advantage of this fact. Outside of games like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy, Live a Live is a great example of breathing new life to a game lost in the passing of time.

The next one on the list is Dragon Quest 3, and ahead of its launch on November 14, I got a chance to play 3 hours of this stellar remake that has me wanting more due to its blend of classic turn-based RPG gameplay mixed with a visual overhaul that plays as great as it looks.

HD-2D Goodness

Visually, there’s really not much you can ask for as Square Enix have successfully translated the game to the HD-2D style that we’ve come to know and love. Dragon Quest 3 fits perfectly in this style – its picturesque views, pixel-art characters, and everything that comes with. It looks fantastic, and is something that will surely make Dragon Quest fans want more.

Playing on a PS5, I’m not quite sure if it makes use (at all) of the power provided by the current-gen console, but what it does is give the game a rock-solid 60fps while keeping the visuals vibrant and lively. In fact, Dragon Quest 3 remake has a graphics and performance mode, weirdly enough, and while both maintain the steady frame rates, the graphics mode offers slightly enhanced textures in the world that’s hardly recognizable to the average joe.

I’d like to think that the Switch and the Steam Deck could run this game with no problems, and even without trying it out on both handhelds, I feel confident saying that Dragon Quest 3 remake would feel right at home, as its gameplay and overall structure works best when you can just pick it up and play whenever you choose to in small chunks, without the hassle of powering up your full console setup.

The remake also faithfully translates the original’s monsters, blending classic elements with modern enhancements. Some monsters feature simple sprites and attack animations, while others are more detailed, standing out against the high-resolution backdrop.

It’s Party Time!

The first part of the hands-on experience allowed me to start off from the very beginning, which included “creating” my character, giving myself a personality (which changes how quickly certain attributes increase when they level up), and more. Personalities can be changed with a rare item in the game, so don’t fret if you don’t immediately get what you want unless you are min-maxing your run.

Interestingly enough, the option to start off with a full party in Dragon Quest 3 remake is there thanks to Patty’s Party Planning Place, which is where you can recruit members who have registered with her. When choosing, I was offered a mage, priest, and warrior, making for a decent starting party composition, but I knew I wanted to see what the new remake-exclusive Monster Wrangler vocation was all about.

Alternatively, there’s an NPC that offers players a way to “create” their own party members as they literally choose what vocation they want to recruit, along with their appearance. Basic stuff, but a nice touch that gives players a bit of freedom to define their preferred party when they start the game.

Taking this party all the way to the top of Skyfell Tower was tougher than expected, as the encounter rate felt pretty high up there, where random encounters would pop up after just a few steps. This felt as 90s as it could be, and old-school RPG fans would definitely appreciate it.

Combat was also as old-school as it could get in Dragon Quest 3 remake as players will provide commands like attack, spell, abilities, and much more to each member of their party. The remake adds much welcome speed up options to battles, and this is much appreciated because the overall pace felt way too slow, and it does get tiring after a few battles to have these sequences feel padded because everything unfolded at a slow pace, especially when there’s an insane amount of additional text notifications for many actions and results that the game could do without.

Should you get tired of battles, Dragon Quest 3 remake also offers players a way to provide tactics to the team. While everyone can be controlled manually at any time, tactics can be changed to No Mercy (going all out without regard for MP), Focus on Healing (best used for healers!), and more. This way, fodder enemies can be disposed of quickly almost like an auto-battle mode, but boss battles may require more thought as players switch back to a manual approach, especially since the game is not a cake walk.

Let Them Fight

Monster Arenas is another feature in Dragon Quest 3 remake, where players can rescue monsters while exploring the world and build them up to join them in tournaments for great rewards.

Players can get in on the action, as they can go as far as to giving their monsters tactics (similar to party battles), but just short of fully controlling their every move. It’s a great addition to the game that could prove to be a worthwhile side-activity because the rewards across the many Monster Arenas scattered throughout the world are quite useful.

Overall, Dragon Quest 3 remake is shaping up to be another fantastic effort and another installment in the growing list of HD-2D games that Square Enix has in their bag. The essence of the original title is still there, just dressed up in modern trappings that make playing through the game a great experience that isn’t fully bogged down by dated decisions.

Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Remake is scheduled to launch on November 14, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC. The Steam Version is launching on November 15, 2024.