Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake evaluation – reanimated basic

Square Enix’s HD-2D know-how breathes new life into one of the influential classics within the JRPG style.

While 1988’s Dragon Quest 3 was an undoubted basic, that went a great distance in the direction of cementing the format of the Japanese role-playing sport as we all know it, I wouldn’t fancy taking part in it nowadays. Originally launched on the NES (however solely within the US and Japan), its wispy sprites on blocky, pixellated backgrounds would really feel unacceptably fundamental at this time. However, Square Enix has an answer for that, within the type of its intelligent HD-2D know-how, which provides historic video games trendy visuals, retaining an overhead view and a pixel artwork really feel however including strong 3D backgrounds.

Graphically talking, I discovered Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake to be greater than acceptable when considered as a twenty first century sport. Unlike within the authentic, I now not had to make use of my creativeness to decipher textures like stone, sand or water, or results like flames. Square Enix has additionally endowed it with a vibrant color palette, with greens, reds, and purples that generally verge on the fluorescent, so it appears to be like each bit as cheery and upbeat as its common underlying vibe.

So, because of that HD-2D know-how, which was pioneered in retro homage Octopath Traveler and 2022’s remake of Live A Live (in addition to Dragon Quest 1 and a pair of – this one is popping out first as a result of it’s chronologically the primary entry within the collection) this will now be considered when it comes to its gaming benefit, slightly than as a shonky-looking curiosity. And gameplay-wise, it’s fairly fascinating – a type of archaeological artefact that charts the second when Japanese role-players developed conventions and methods that may nonetheless be seen in motion at this time.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D’s battle system is turn-based and you may draw a straight line from it to, say, the equally turn-based Metaphor: ReFantazio. Sure, at first its battling appears trivially straightforward, because the 4 character occasion tackle quite a lot of cutely named however simply dispatched enemies, however I discovered that it rapidly advanced into one thing more difficult and tactical, as my characters levelled up and commenced encountering bosses.

I even needed to scrap my mage, who simply wasn’t gaining sufficient hit factors as she levelled up, after which swapped in a spell-casting alternative. That wasn’t as a lot of chore because it sounds, since Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D accommodates quite a lot of non-obligatory aspect missions and has a surprisingly massive map (which, admittedly, Square Enix has expanded for the remake) that rewards exploration. Overall, it supplies greater than 20 hours of gameplay – greater than I anticipated from such an outdated title.

Story-wise, it tends in the direction of Zelda model cuteness and whimsy, with a touch of underlying darkness. Its protagonist is the 16-year-old son of the legendary warrior who, as he comes of age, is tasked by the king of his hometown Aliahan (the sport world may be very a lot of the medieval fantasy ilk) with discovering and defeating the arch-fiend Baramos, a activity his father perished whereas making an attempt to finish.

Cue a quest that sends the occasion to all corners of the various kingdom, first seeking keys to unlock new areas, then on the path of Baramos. Pretty normal stuff within the context of recent medieval-style Japanese role-players, however pretty revolutionary within the late 80s; particularly since every new metropolis you go to has a definite vibe as a port or desert oasis, and the locals converse in accents recognisable as, for instance, Italian or Arabic.

There are some odd quirks, however I discovered them largely endearing: church buildings, for instance, play a big half, as they’re the one locations the place it can save you the sport (though random nuns will often carry out that service – a brand new concession for the remake). They additionally allow you to resurrect lifeless occasion members (hilariously represented as coffins, after they fall in battle) and raise curses.

The sport makes you press a button after essential story-advancing conversations with characters, as a way to protect these conversations for later reference, which is a bit odd. But it’s additionally potential to teleport across the map and I amassed an unlimited quantity of helpful objects and gear, resembling seeds which buff particular person attributes (resembling energy, knowledge, or luck) and can be utilized to deal with occasion members’ particular deficiencies.

There’s additionally an incredible buying and selling system – handily, since having the perfect equipment can tip the steadiness when battling – which has additionally been rendered extra logical because the authentic sport. Deciding whether or not to equip characters with single-hit weapons that pack an added punch, or weapons that may assault a number of enemies per flip additionally performs into the tactical nature of the fight.

Square Enix’s refined however essential updates to Dragon Quest 3’s gameplay assist to create a sport which feels surprisingly coherent and acquainted, when it comes to the conventions of the style. While its gameplay is fairly simple – no person would anticipate a close to 40-year-old sport to innovate – it feels completely logical and the extra I progressed within the sport, the extra depth I perceived within the gameplay. Which is what Japanese role-players, even now, are all about.

Sure, Dragon Quest 3I HD-2D Remake is a curiosity – an 8-bit sport dragged into the twenty first century purely on the idea of nostalgia (the remake grew to become the best-selling sport of 2024 in Japan inside per week, solely due to how fondly the unique is remembered). But it’s far more enjoyable to play than that background would possibly counsel.

Whether something about Dragon Quest or not this affords a satisfyingly meaty expertise and is endowed with a sweetly harmless vibe. Anyone who’s curious in regards to the origins of the style ought to discover Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake fascinating; it’s nonetheless extra entertaining than many trendy equivalents and plenty of occasions extra charming.

Formats: Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC
Price: £59.99
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Artdink (authentic: Chunsoft)
Release Date: 14th November 2024
Age Rating: 12

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, go away a remark under, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our publication.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features extra simply, with out the necessity to ship an electronic mail, simply use our Submit Stuff web page right here.

For extra tales like this, examine our Gaming web page.

MORE: Guilty Gear Strive punishes gamers who lookup characters’ skirts

MORE: PS5 consoles get large reductions in PlayStation Black Friday 2024 sale

MORE: Games Inbox: What are the perfect Black Friday online game offers?