Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a more expansive reimagining than I expected

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I remember playing the original Dragon Quest I all the way through in a single sitting – about eight hours on my Game Boy Color. It’s a really well-made, concise game. Dragon Quest II always felt like the overly ambitious sequel in the Erdrick Trilogy, and I’ve always enjoyed it, though I’ve never quite managed to complete it. While I appreciate and respect Dragon Quest III, I’ve always found Dragon Quest II to be the more captivating game.

I’ve spent about 50 hours playing Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – 20 hours to finish the first game and 30 hours into the second. While these are great RPGs, as a longtime fan, what really stands out is how much these feel like completely new games, built using the foundations of the originals. Dragon Quest III HD-2D gave us a glimpse of this approach – a blend of classic and modern gameplay – but it felt like just a preview. I had a feeling they were planning something even bigger, and these remakes of I and II prove it. They’re expansive and reimagined versions of the games we knew.

Square Enix and Artdink have significantly expanded both games, at least doubling their length, by adding more engaging storylines and characters. The remake of Dragon Quest I now features a cast of recurring side characters with their own dedicated cutscenes, making the world feel more alive. The updated version also leans into the original hero’s classic, self-reliant adventurer archetype – a trait he always possessed, considering he completed the entire quest alone while his ancestor required a party of three.

Dragon Quest II HD-2D delivers on its promise and exceeds expectations. I believed this remake approach would work best for Dragon Quest II out of the original three games, and it absolutely does. The game now feels like a definitive conclusion to a trilogy, a significant improvement over its previous awkward position as the middle game. It’s clearly received the most care and attention in this collection, featuring more cutscenes, voice acting, and a memorable cast of characters who actually interact with each other – a welcome change from the solitary hero of Dragon Quest I and the customizable party of Dragon Quest III. There’s a particular moment in Dragon Quest II that really highlighted how special this game is.

Once you reach Rippleport with your party, there’s a touching moment where everyone reflects on whether they can still find joy in their journey, considering how serious their mission has become. After that, the game settles into a classic Dragon Quest experience – you’ll get to know and love the characters while freely exploring the world, just like the old days. I’m really enjoying it, and I’m confident this will become my favorite of the remade trilogy. The main goal shifts to simply traveling the land and helping people, which perfectly captures the spirit of Dragon Quest. It’s a great feeling!

Beyond the much longer stories, these games simply offer more content. Both titles feature new areas, bigger maps to discover, and a generally grander scale that makes the worlds feel more immersive than before. Dragon Quest II even adds a whole new underwater area to explore, complete with extra dungeons. Plus, both games are surprisingly challenging, even on the normal difficulty setting. It feels like the developers increased the difficulty compared to Dragon Quest III, which was a bit easier. I’ve struggled with both of these games quite a bit, and I’m really enjoying the challenge.

I’m really enjoying these games, but I do miss the simpler, more lighthearted feel of the first two. The remake of III still felt true to the original, even if a little more focused. I especially liked how DQI used NPCs to tell the story – it worked well for a single-player game. However, by adding so much story, many optional moments have become required scenes. These remakes have changed Dragon Quest I and II quite a bit, which might surprise longtime fans.

While the original Dragon Quest 2 had a certain charm, it now feels a little empty compared to modern games. The characters didn’t feel as developed back in the day. Thankfully, this remake does a great job of fixing that. By adding more story and focusing on character development, it feels more like the later Dragon Quest games and offers a fresh, engaging way to play a classic.

I’m still about 10-20 hours into Dragon Quest II HD-2D and eager to see how Square Enix wraps up this reimagined trilogy. While the first remake, Dragon Quest I, felt a bit lengthy, that hasn’t been an issue with this version of DQ2. The small changes they’ve made feel like they’re finally realizing the game’s full potential and giving it a more impactful feel. I’m not even sure how much more gameplay is left as I sail the seas searching for a way to defeat Hargon. It makes me wonder, though – if these are being called ‘remakes,’ what direction will they take with Dragon Quest VII next year?

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2025-10-29 18:00