Games worth discovering
My Thoughts on Dragon Quest I + II HD‑2D and Dragon Quest III HD‑2D
79 View2025-11-04I’ve been checking out the reviews and previews for the HD‑2D remakes of Dragon Quest I + II and Dragon Quest III, and after playing them, here’s my take in plain, casual player talk.
⸻
1. Classic Feel Meets Modern Touch
For me, the biggest charm of these HD‑2D remakes is being able to relive the nostalgia of the original games while enjoying modern conveniences and upgraded visuals. It’s like wearing your favorite old clothes made with better fabric and added pockets—familiar, but pleasantly surprising.
In I + II, I was curious about how they’d spice up combat, especially since the original I was pretty basic. The previews mentioned multi-enemy battles, which really piqued my interest. At the same time, I was worried that too many changes might ruin the classic feel.
III HD‑2D struck a better balance: keeping the simple, heroic adventure vibe while adding quality-of-life improvements like faster battles, auto-save, and voice acting.
⸻
2. Story and Immersion
If you’re used to complex stories, the simple plots here might seem “lightweight.” But I’ve come to appreciate the “simplicity is beauty” approach. The classics were always about the chosen hero, saving the world, and defeating the big bad guy.
In I + II, especially I, the story is straightforward. Some players say, “Don’t expect anything deep—just defeat the enemies and save the world.” Adding small side quests or tweaking narrative pacing could boost immersion without losing the original charm.
III offers a richer world, with job classes, day/night cycles, and exploration that give more freedom. Exploring this world and building a party still feels exciting.
⸻
3. Combat and Systems
Combat is a big deal for me. The remakes did a good job improving it.
• In III, combat feels more flexible, and speeding up battles reduces grind fatigue.
• The job system remains, and switching classes or combining skills is still engaging.
• In I + II, introducing multi-enemy battles in I shows the developers’ willingness to rethink classic mechanics, which I really appreciate.
Of course, some old-school limitations show up, like running repetitive encounters or grinding for levels, which can feel tedious at times.
⸻
4. Visuals, Audio, and Art
The HD‑2D style combines pixel characters with modern lighting, depth, and layered environments, giving the world more “weight.” III is widely praised as the most beautiful in the HD‑2D series.
Monster animations, combat effects, shadows, and environmental lighting all add a nice touch. Music and sound effects are faithful to the originals but remastered with modern instrumentation, and the addition of voice acting makes key dialogues more immersive.
⸻
5. Minor Gripes and Hopes
Even though I enjoyed both remakes, here are a few things I hope could be improved:
1. Richer story / side content – More side quests or character interactions would make the world feel even more alive.
2. Deeper system complexity – For players who love strategy, class combos, and skill trees, more depth would be nice.
3. Random encounters – Some areas can feel grindy; fewer encounters or visible monsters could help.
4. Platform / performance optimization – Handheld versions should run smoothly, with minimal loading and good visuals.
5. Cross-save / upgrade options – I + II remakes currently lack cross-platform save support, which could be inconvenient for future hardware migration.
⸻
6. Overall Thoughts
Overall, these HD‑2D remakes are highly worth checking out, especially for nostalgic players or anyone who loves classic RPGs.
• If you missed the originals, these remakes are an excellent entry point: modern visuals, smooth gameplay, and friendly mechanics.
• If you’re a long-time fan, it’s rewarding to see the classics come to life while respecting the original vision.
• If you prefer complex narratives or extremely deep systems, some parts might feel light—but the remakes strike a solid balance of classic charm and modern convenience.
In short: Dragon Quest III HD‑2D feels like the most polished and mature entry in the series so far, while I + II HD‑2D is a bold attempt to modernize the classics.
If you enjoy this type of game or classic RPGs, these remakes are definitely worth trying. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve played them too 🙂
⸻
1. Classic Feel Meets Modern Touch
For me, the biggest charm of these HD‑2D remakes is being able to relive the nostalgia of the original games while enjoying modern conveniences and upgraded visuals. It’s like wearing your favorite old clothes made with better fabric and added pockets—familiar, but pleasantly surprising.
In I + II, I was curious about how they’d spice up combat, especially since the original I was pretty basic. The previews mentioned multi-enemy battles, which really piqued my interest. At the same time, I was worried that too many changes might ruin the classic feel.
III HD‑2D struck a better balance: keeping the simple, heroic adventure vibe while adding quality-of-life improvements like faster battles, auto-save, and voice acting.
⸻
2. Story and Immersion
If you’re used to complex stories, the simple plots here might seem “lightweight.” But I’ve come to appreciate the “simplicity is beauty” approach. The classics were always about the chosen hero, saving the world, and defeating the big bad guy.
In I + II, especially I, the story is straightforward. Some players say, “Don’t expect anything deep—just defeat the enemies and save the world.” Adding small side quests or tweaking narrative pacing could boost immersion without losing the original charm.
III offers a richer world, with job classes, day/night cycles, and exploration that give more freedom. Exploring this world and building a party still feels exciting.
⸻
3. Combat and Systems
Combat is a big deal for me. The remakes did a good job improving it.
• In III, combat feels more flexible, and speeding up battles reduces grind fatigue.
• The job system remains, and switching classes or combining skills is still engaging.
• In I + II, introducing multi-enemy battles in I shows the developers’ willingness to rethink classic mechanics, which I really appreciate.
Of course, some old-school limitations show up, like running repetitive encounters or grinding for levels, which can feel tedious at times.
⸻
4. Visuals, Audio, and Art
The HD‑2D style combines pixel characters with modern lighting, depth, and layered environments, giving the world more “weight.” III is widely praised as the most beautiful in the HD‑2D series.
Monster animations, combat effects, shadows, and environmental lighting all add a nice touch. Music and sound effects are faithful to the originals but remastered with modern instrumentation, and the addition of voice acting makes key dialogues more immersive.
⸻
5. Minor Gripes and Hopes
Even though I enjoyed both remakes, here are a few things I hope could be improved:
1. Richer story / side content – More side quests or character interactions would make the world feel even more alive.
2. Deeper system complexity – For players who love strategy, class combos, and skill trees, more depth would be nice.
3. Random encounters – Some areas can feel grindy; fewer encounters or visible monsters could help.
4. Platform / performance optimization – Handheld versions should run smoothly, with minimal loading and good visuals.
5. Cross-save / upgrade options – I + II remakes currently lack cross-platform save support, which could be inconvenient for future hardware migration.
⸻
6. Overall Thoughts
Overall, these HD‑2D remakes are highly worth checking out, especially for nostalgic players or anyone who loves classic RPGs.
• If you missed the originals, these remakes are an excellent entry point: modern visuals, smooth gameplay, and friendly mechanics.
• If you’re a long-time fan, it’s rewarding to see the classics come to life while respecting the original vision.
• If you prefer complex narratives or extremely deep systems, some parts might feel light—but the remakes strike a solid balance of classic charm and modern convenience.
In short: Dragon Quest III HD‑2D feels like the most polished and mature entry in the series so far, while I + II HD‑2D is a bold attempt to modernize the classics.
If you enjoy this type of game or classic RPGs, these remakes are definitely worth trying. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve played them too 🙂
View desktop siteTapTap looks better
on the app 
