PAX West 2024 Spotlight: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a beautiful and faithful version of the RPG classic.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Credit: Square Enix
I kicked off my time at a very eventful PAX West this year by checking out some upcoming games from Square Enix. The first was the highly anticipated Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (DQ3HD-2D). Arriving on November 14, 2024, on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this was the first time I played the game personally, even though it’s been demoed at other events.
The graphics of DQ3HD-2D are the first thing that made an impression. The game is made in the same style that Square Enix pioneered with Octopath Traveller and Triangle Strategy, with 16-bit-style pixel art sprites that live in a semi-pixellated 3D world scaled to the proportions of classic RPGs. This is the best execution of the style to date, and it was simply stunning on the PS5.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Credit: Square Enix
The first part of the demo showcased the opening personality test—well-written and amusingly insulting—followed by a save file further into the game that showcased combat and exploration. The game is very much classic Dragon Quest through and through. The combat system and its presentation haven’t changed, though the animated pixel art for all the enemies and the attack effects are terrific. As in other recent Dragon Quest games, you can set your party members to act automatically, but I always opt to command them manually. Combat would have been tedious without the ability to speed it up; the default was far too slow.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Credit: Square Enix
Series tropes such as individual item inventories for each character remain, something I wish would be updated. Other things, like the classic sound effects the series is known for, are still there and are as charming as ever.
Though the game is very faithful to the original, Square Enix showcased some of the remake's new features before the demo. DQ3HD-2D includes new story scenes featuring the protagonist’s father, Ortega, that shed new light on the game’s backstory. They also showed off the recently announced Beast Wrangler class, which is new to this game version.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Credit: Square Enix
If you’re a Dragon Quest fan, DQ3HD-2D is a must-play. If you expect something entirely different from a classic Dragon Quest game or more modernization, you’ll be disappointed, as so far, the game is exactly what it says on the tin. I’m a big fan of Square Enix’s HD-2D games, so I’ll pick it up when it’s released.
