Square Enix Is Nervous About Flooding The Market with HD-2D Games

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Square Enix‘s embrace of the HD-2D art style has truly brought a breath of fresh air to the JRPG genre. The blend of old-school charm and modern graphics is simply enchanting, and it’s been a delight to play games like Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

Square Enix has been adopting the High Definition 2D (HD-2D) artistic approach in their JRPGs lately. This can be seen in both new series, like the Octopath Traveler, and remakes, such as the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III. This style beautifully blends the nostalgic charm of traditional visuals with the crisp beauty of contemporary graphics.

However, the famed developer is cautious about excessively using the art style.

Masaaki Hayasaka, who is known for producing the “Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake”, recently talked with Bloomberg on the occasion of the game’s launch. He shared that work on the game started in 2018, after the debut of “Octopath Traveler”. This new JRPG series boasts a distinctive art style, referred to as “HD-2D”, which merges two-dimensional characters with stunning 3D backdrops and high-definition detailing. Given this art style, it’s no surprise that it fits perfectly for remakes of classic RPGs like “Dragon Quest III”.

The popularity of the game Octopath Traveler paved the way for a sequel in 2023, and the Dragon Quest team decided to use the same art style for remakes of the first three games in their series. The Dragon Quest III H2-2D Remake has already been released, while the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is scheduled for release in 2025.

Despite Its Popularity, Square Enix Doesn’t Want Gamers To Tire of the HD-2D Art Style

Fans of Dragon Quest eagerly anticipate additional installments of the beloved series being remastered, and Hayaska is contemplating this possibility. Yet, he’s mindful to avoid flooding the market with an excessive number of HD-2D games.

He explained to Bloomberg that if we flood the market with games too quickly, people might get tired of them. Conversely, waiting too long between releases could make the series appear less lively or strong. It’s a delicate matter, one that even my bosses are often contemplating and uncertain about.

At first glance, Square Enix doesn’t seem to have produced a lot of HD-2D games. However, remember we’re talking about the video game industry here – it’s known for jumping on popular trends and often flooding the market with them. A clear illustration is the surge of live service games that have dominated the scene over the past ten years. Square Enix appears to understand that this particular art style works best when it fits the context. So, we’ll have to wait and see how this might impact the future of the Dragon Quest series if they decide to remake more games from the series.

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2024-11-25 00:08