Summary
After a multi-year wait between its initial reveal and the most recent release date trailer, JRPG fans will finally get their hands on Square Enix’sDragon Quest 3 HD-2Dremake in November. Originally announced as part ofDragon Quest’s 35th anniversary celebration in 2021,Dragon Quest 3 HD-2Dwould get a teaser trailer in 2023 only to go silent again for the better part of a year. The recent release date announcement for theDragon Quest 3remake brought with it the confirmation that Square Enix are also giving the same HD-2D treatment toDragon QuestandDragon Quest 2, bringing the Erdrick Trilogy into the modern era.
Therelease schedule for theDragon QuestremakesseesDragon Quest 3arriving a full year ahead of the remakes of the first two games in the series, which might seem odd but actually makes perfect sense for both the franchise’s history andDragon Quest 3’s narrative.Dragon Quest 3is where the series transcended levels of popularity in Japan, going from being a well-received JRPG to a cultural phenomenon. The best-selling game in the franchise prior toDragon Quest 7,Dragon Quest 3has a long history of remakes before the most recent HD-2D update, but the quality of life features in this most recent remake promise to make it the definitive version of a formative JRPG.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is the Fourth Remake of Dragon Quest 3
The originalDragon Quest 3was released on the Famicom and NES (asDragon Warrior 3) in 1988. This version of the game is free of any alterations or additions that future remakes and updates would make. The first remake of the game would come courtesy of the Super Famicom release in 1996, never making its way to the West due to Enix’s ceasing of publishing operations in the territory. As the firstremake ofDragon Quest 3, the Super Famicom version is mostly noteworthy for its upgraded visuals, though it does introduce several new elements that would become standard across subsequent remakes.
The most important of these is the addition of the Thief class toDragon Quest 3’s class system, as well as an improved localization and translation that more accurately reflects the game’s original story. The Game Boy Color release ofDragon Quest 3is based on the Super Famicom version and retains all of its improvements while also adding in new mini-games, Monster Medals to collect (and trade via the Link Cable), and animations during battles. The Nintendo Switch version ofDragon Quest 3is the most recent console release of the title prior to this year’s upcoming HD-2D remake and is based on the mobile port of the game for Android and iOS devices.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D’s New Features Position It as the Definitive Version
Outside its captivating visual style previously used ingames likeOctopath Travelerand theLive-A-Liveremake,Dragon Quest 3 HD-2Dintroduces a slew of quality-of-life improvements to usher the classic JRPG into the modern era. There are the expected inclusions of the ability to save anywhere and change the speed of both dialogue and battles, butDragon Quest 3 HD-2Dis taking things a step further to make the newest remake of the game the definitive version of the title. The following are each of the features Square Enix has confirmed will be available inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D:
Cumulatively, each of these quality-of-life updates should help to makeDragon Quest 3 HD-2Dan enjoyable experience for modern players, despite the fact that the title is 36 years old.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
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.
