Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is a wonderful way to start your journey | Hands-on preview

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is a wonderful way to start your journey | Hands-on preview

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with a soft spot for the golden age of JRPGs, I can confidently say that my recent journey through Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has been nothing short of delightful. Though I was late to the party of Slime-filled adventures, this remake has made me realize what an oversight it was on my part.


When discussing the beginnings of JRPGs, many people often think first of Final Fantasy. Although this franchise is undeniably impactful, it’s essential to acknowledge that Dragon Quest came before it. As someone who grew up engrossed in Final Fantasy, I must confess that I overlooked the realm of Slimes for quite some time. However, now as a mature individual, I feel it’s high time to experience a mainline Dragon Quest game from start to finish. With that intention, what could be a better starting point than the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, which I have now invested approximately five hours into.

In essence, Dragon Quest 3 is a reboot of a game that’s been around for thirty-six years, and its narrative setup is straightforward yet engaging. You assume the role of the offspring of a legendary hero, whose father sacrificed his life on a grand quest while you were still an infant. Having come of age, you embark on your own journey to follow in your father’s footsteps, battling evil and restoring peace to the realm. Accompanied by the king, a motley crew of mages and warriors, this epic odyssey will take you across various continents. Despite its apparent simplicity, there’s an endearing quality to the tale that ensures you won’t spend the initial hours of gameplay watching cutscenes.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is a wonderful way to start your journey | Hands-on preview

Simplicity is the name of the game in combat too, which is that traditional turn-based style we all know and love. Each turn your party can choose to attack or use a spell/ability, and before you know it you’ll have taken out a big group of anteaters and earned a nice chunk of experience. Chucking boomerangs and slinging Fizz and Woosh spells is as compelling as it ever was, and although it’s not a particularly complex battle system the speed of it (when you turn it up with the shoulder buttons anyway) is so rapid that it actually feels fairly modern.

In Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, your first mission is to assemble a team before heading into battle. There’s a tavern nearby where you can find three pre-made characters – a warrior, mage, and priest. However, if you prefer to create your own squad, you certainly can! Intrigued by the opportunity to customize, I decided to make my own party, consisting of a thief, a priest, and a unique class called Monster Wrangler.

In Dragon Quest 3, most professions are rather predictable – the warrior delivers powerful blows, the thief is swift and nabs extra loot, while the priest focuses on healing and boosting for everyone’s safety. However, the Monster Wrangler stands out as unique, with a diverse set of skills based on the creatures that plague our world. In the early stages, my Monster Wrangler, Bimmy, proved invaluable with his mass healing skill and useful offensive abilities, making him an indispensable addition to my party.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is a wonderful way to start your journey | Hands-on preview

In your leisure moments when you’re not engaged in battles against slimes and bunnies, you’ll find yourself wandering through the vast open landscapes and hidden dungeons of this world. With a swift running pace, it’s delightful to scour every nook and cranny for hidden loot and quest-progressing items. However, some players might find the occasional random encounters a bit outdated.

In terms of gameplay, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake delivers a classic RPG feel, but the updated graphics are far from traditional. The HD-2D visuals remain as stunning as ever, with Akira Toriyama’s iconic art style beautifully enhanced by captivating lighting effects. The enchanting realm of Dragon Quest has never appeared more beautiful.

The HD-2D Remake of Dragon Quest 3 will attract both longtime fans and new players, offering traditional turn-based battles combined with contemporary user-friendly improvements. No other game series has managed to encapsulate the quirky, endearing appeal of the original Enix title quite like this one, making it an excellent introduction for those who haven’t yet explored the world of JRPGs through the lens of Dragon Quest 3’s updated remake.

The “Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake” is scheduled for release on November 14, 2024, available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox consoles, and personal computers through Steam.

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2024-11-01 01:16