Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D preview: Yuji Horii on revisiting an all-time great

Dragon Quest III is, fair to say, easily one of the greatest games of all-time. If you’re not familiar with this 1988 classic, its aesthetic may fool you into thinking that the game is rather limited. And while it might be by today’s standards, Dragon Quest III was a hugely ambitious RPG at the time of its release, being one of the very first titles to push the boundaries of what it meant to boast an open-world.

I shouldn’t simply praise Dragon Quest III though for its contributions to the advancement of gaming as a medium. Dragon Quest III could also justify its place as an all-time great due to its sheer entertainment value. With a stellar story and a cast of unforgettable characters, it’s always surprised me that Dragon Quest, as a series, hasn’t quite gone on to achieve the same appreciation worldwide that we’ve seen with, say, Final Fantasy for example.

That could be due to its somewhat inaccessible nature. Dragon Quest III, which despite its naming marks the start of the series’ story, was ported to the Wii in 2009 but that port left something to be desired. All is about to change though. Finally, Yuji Horii’s original vision is set to be revisited in Square Enix’s Dragon Quest III HD-2D - a stunningly enhanced remake that expands upon the original game, all experienced via a beautiful HD-2D visual style popularised by Square Enix’s Octopath Traveller.

If you don’t know the premise, it’s this. The great hero Ortega once set out to defeat the villainous Baramos but unfortunately failed. The story picks up many years later when Ortega’s son, our unnamed hero, is summoned by the king of Aliahan on his 16th birthday. He’s entrusted with a quest of high importance: vanquishing Baramos for good. You’ve guessed it; it’s the player who will take on the role of the unnamed hero, backed up by a memorable group of travelling companions.

Take a look at Dragon Quest III HD-2D in action below.

If you’ve played Octopath Traveller, I won’t need to convince you that Dragon Quest III HD-2D’s visuals are stunning. You’ll believe me rather easily. It isn’t that the visuals simply look good, they wholeheartedly honour the 1988 original. This remake so easily could’ve undertaken a typically modern 3D approach but I feel that would’ve stripped away some of Dragon Quest III’s heart. For me, it was as if the HD-2D graphics had revised history. Having been hands-on with the game for around 30-minutes at this year's Gamescom, I was taken aback by just how familiar and welcoming the remake felt, despite being new. The visual style played a huge part in creating that sense of homecoming.

Those who are returning to the franchise will instantly feel that warmth, but so too is Dragon Quest III HD-2D intended to draw in new fans - and I’m thrilled at the prospect of that. The story has been ‘streamlined’ which should make for a more enjoyable experience for newcomers although given that I sampled such a short snippet, I can’t really comment on the revised wider narrative experience.

Conversely, so too has Dragon Quest III HD-2D been expanded upon alongside the streamlining of its narrative. Inspired by the likes of Breath of the Wild, as explained to me by producer Masaaki Hayasaka-san, the game’s world has been filled with new hidden treasures for players to locate. This is all, of course, possible thanks to the enhanced detail that the HD-2D artstyle permits. The map itself is largely unchanged, and yet it still feels totally fresh thanks to that aforementioned level of detail.

“We went through a process to end up with this new style,” Hayasaka-san explained, via a translator. “Visually, we have a bigger area to play with now, so we wanted to ensure the player had something to do.”

Credit / Square Enix

He continued, “We really took inspiration from a lot of games, particularly modern games. An example that I’m sure you’ll all understand is Breath of the Wild, one of the Zelda games. You see a building in the wider open world, and it makes you want to go there and travel in that direction. We wanted to capture that same feeling so if you see something sparkling in the distance, I hope players will want to go there.”

“This vast world, it’s really beautiful, so we wanted to make sure players could explore it and be rewarded with finding lots of different, and new, things.”

You won’t be able to travel far without stumbling into a few combat encounters. As for those turn-based battles, well, they largely play out the same as in the original but again enhanced. Gone are the days of playing out battles in a small pop out window. You’re now well and truly transported to a full-screen experience. I eliminated my fair share of the classics, including slimes and restless armour.

If you've never played a Dragon Quest game, the combat is incredibly accessible. Even those with little to no turn-based experience won’t struggle here. If HD-2D is anything like the original, it’ll increase in difficulty as the game develops but as far as the opening goes, which is what I was dropped into, it’s incredibly welcoming and gentle. I was pleased by that because you don’t feel too bogged down by randomised battles out in the open.

I’m certain that fans will delight in revisiting this classic, but I was eager to learn what the experience was like for the one who started it all, Yuji Horri-san, Dragon Quest’s creator. I was lucky enough to sit down with Horri-san at this year’s Gamescom.

Credit / Square Enix

“When we remember games, we tend to remember them more beautifully,” he told me, via a translator. “They look amazing in our minds and our memories. This remake is, you know, a remake of the original but now it actually looks like how I remember it in my mind.”

As for why Dragon Quest III has enduring popularity, Horii-san offered this response: “It turned everything on its head, and I think people still remember that shock. The other reason is that people look back on things they played as children, and think back to things they previously shared with friends. I think that’s why it’s sort of stuck with people.”

“There are people who have never played a Dragon Quest game though,” Horri-san added, “And this instalment is a really good entry point. Dragon Quest III HD-2D is a really easy one for people to pick up and play, and I hope it will be an enjoyable introduction to young, new players.”

With its delectable world, intriguing story, and accessible turn-based battles, Dragon Quest III is a game that I’ve always thought should be admired by many more than it is but alas, perhaps the game’s time to truly shine in the spotlight is now upon us. Dragon Quest III HD-2D is, from what I’ve experienced so far, a considered and honourable take on a classic. It’s understated, choosing to quietly enhance select features and areas but if you ask me, when you’ve already got a winning formula, that’s sometimes all it takes.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 14 November.