As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Dragon Quest III HD-2D has managed to strike a delightful balance between nostalgia and modernity. Having played the original version on my old NES back in the day, I can attest to its genre-defining status, and the developers have done an excellent job in breathing new life into this classic.
You really can’t understate how historically important Dragon Quest III is. This is not just any JRPG–to players in Japan, it’s the defining JRPG, a game that set sales records and truly made Dragon Quest an inextricable part of Japanese pop culture. To this day, it’s recognized and referenced in all manner of media, and its wild success is the subject of both nostalgic fascination and urban legends.
Given its esteemed history, it’s not surprising that Square Enix has chosen to re-release Dragon Quest III multiple times, with the HD-2D Remake being the most extravagant version yet. It’s only fitting for a game like this to receive a grand premiere. However, unlike Final Fantasy which often modernizes its sequels and remakes, the traditional aspects of Dragon Quest’s gameplay remain unchanged regardless.
Indeed, what sets this remake apart, as its title indicates, is the application of Square Enix’s HD-2D artistic approach. Previous games employing this style, such as Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, and the reimagined Live A Live, have forged a distinct visual persona. They achieve this by combining 2D character sprites with 3D environments, along with clever scrolling and perspective techniques, to create a rich and cinematic aesthetic that truly distinguishes them.
In Dragon Quest III, the graphics are skillfully employed to breathe life into familiar settings. Cities and palaces abound with intricate details that echo their real-world counterparts. Darkened dungeons and caves are lined with narrow passages, swiftly scuttling creatures, and flickering torchlight. Shrines are adorned with elaborate embellishments that suggest hidden mysteries of yore. However, the graphics do fall short in certain aspects: Character sprites are limited outside of battle, the camera may occasionally malfunction, and on the Switch version, visually demanding locations can cause the game’s performance to stutter. Nevertheless, it would be challenging to find a more stunning representation of Dragon Quest III than this one.
As a gamer, I can tell you that the narrative in this remake is quite similar to Dragon Quest III’s initial release. It’s the kind of straightforward tale that many early RPGs spun, featuring an evil overlord, a chosen hero, and their motley crew of companions, all tailor-made for adventure. It’s pretty standard stuff, with most narrative advancements serving as a pretext for moving on to the next important location. However, this remake does spice up the story with some pizzazz, thanks to its witty, humorous localization and new flashbacks detailing Ortega, the hero-character’s father’s journey. It may be a bit cliché by today’s standards, but it’s still enjoyable to follow along, and there’s still that one massive surprise that left players utterly astounded when the game initially came out, waiting for those who haven’t experienced it yet.
Over time, multiple reissues of Dragon Quest III have incorporated numerous enhancements and additional features. This remake incorporates several of those advancements, yet the fundamental gameplay remains similar to the original. The essence of classic Dragon Quest is still present: turn-based combat, fixed character classes that acquire skills at specific levels, strategic item usage, and perilous journeys across the world map from one location to another. (Luckily, faster travel options like Chimaera Wings and Zoom are among the minor improvements made for convenience.)
What are the key improvements to gameplay? The most significant change could be the introduction of a new character type – the Monster Wrangler. This class, distinct from traditional Warriors, Priests, Merchants, and Gadabouts (who continue to be intentionally subpar), utilizes a diverse set of offensive, defensive, and supportive abilities derived from monsters.
In the world of DQIII, there are notable areas on the map that hide items and secret locations. These points of interest can often be quite distant from each other, so wandering around isn’t usually necessary unless you’re looking to gain levels through grinding. The remake encourages exploration by scattering numerous small secrets and valuable loot throughout the world. If you notice shimmering spots on the map, they usually contain items – these are typically consumables, old gear that can be sold for cash, or sometimes exceptional weapons and armor that seem too powerful for your current level. Strange-looking areas on the overworld might lead to a treasure trove with chests, recruitable monsters, and even friendly NPCs. These additions not only make exploring the overworld more enjoyable but also help you level up without needing to grind, as you’ll naturally encounter enemies along your journey.
The game offers numerous enhancements such as clearer quest markers, automatic healing upon leveling up, and more diverse abilities for traditional classes like Warrior. Unlike recent remakes such as Romancing SaGa 2, this version focuses on expanding the base of Dragon Quest III instead of modernizing key gameplay elements to preserve its traditional aspects. While it maintains fidelity to classic Dragon Quest elements well, there are drawbacks, particularly in combat which can be quite simplistic and may feel repetitive at times. The basic nature of turn-based combat is reminiscent of its 8-bit origins. However, simplicity might lead to a slower pace unless you have an unusual party setup or increased the game’s difficulty.
The game doesn’t lack customization options in character development: aside from the previously mentioned class-switching and stat-enhancing seeds, there’s also a personality system that influences each character’s stat progression. You can alter personality types by reading books or equipping special items. Unfortunately, this feature has been problematic since its initial release and remains so today.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D isn’t aiming to revolutionize itself; instead, it intends to elegantly present a timeless classic to the world in a visually appealing contemporary form. This dual purpose is to stir nostalgia among fans and demonstrate why this game has earned such affection. It manages this task quite effectively: The graphics are impressive, the gameplay remains true to the original (with thoughtful quality-of-life improvements), and the new features offer a delightful twist. However, its strong adherence to tradition means some imperfections persist; yet, when the entire package is so attractive, polished, and enjoyable, it’s challenging to dwell on those issues for long.
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2024-11-19 16:09