Neal: Dragon Quest is a storied Japanese RPG sequence on the earth of video video games, closing in on its fortieth anniversary in 2026. The gaps between essential entries, particularly within the final 30 years have been farther and farther aside (it has been greater than eight years since Dragon Quest XI). In these gaps, Sq. Enix has gotten right into a behavior of constructing remakes of older video games. And now it’s time to return to the start. Sizzling on the heels of final yr’s wonderful HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III comes Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. All three of those video games make up the Erdrick Trilogy and have a related story and world between them. That makes the pairing of Dragon Quest I and II in a single sport make sense. They stand alone, however they’re related. As a substitute of standing alone on this overview, Jordan Rudek and I (Neal Ronaghan) are going to hitch forces to combat the Dragonlord in a twin overview. So Jordan let’s begin with the primary sport right here: what’s your historical past with Dragon Quest I and the way do you are feeling concerning the new remake?
Jordan: I’d be ashamed to confess that I by no means completed Dragon Warrior/Quest on the NES, regardless of being an avid fan and enjoyer of the OG Last Fantasy, if it weren’t for the way approachable and polished the HD Remake of Dragon Quest 1 is. I’ve additionally dabbled within the Sport Boy Shade model and the cellular port that got here to Change in 2019. It was the DS and 3DS video games that basically pushed into Dragon Quest fanhood, and my love for the sequence has solely grown. You’ll be able to depend me amongst those that are thrilled to have trendy iterations of the Erdrick Trilogy, and after totally having fun with the Dragon Quest 3 remake final yr, my physique was prepared for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. After lastly ending the primary sport, a protracted standing quest of my very own, I’m smack dab within the cozy center of RPG nation. It feels each devoted but in addition fleshed out and polished to an HD-2D shine. If I recall appropriately, we additionally partnered up in reviewing the cellular trilogy that I touched on earlier, however how did you discover the Dragon Quest 1 remake?
Neal: I used to be a type of younger youngsters who simply knew it as Dragon Warrior, because the NES cartridge for the unique Western launch made it into my assortment within the early ‘90s. I ultimately completed it whereas I acquired older, however it was actually a sport the place I discovered quite a lot of early Japanese RPG mechanics, even when the style didn’t totally click on with me initially. It’s been a very long time since I touched Dragon Quest I earlier than the brand new remake and I legitimately needed to double-check that the sport didn’t simply wholesale change all the sport due to how fleshed out and full the sport felt. A ton of story and lore is peppered in all through what was initially a extra cut-and-dry expertise.
Dragon Quest I’s HD-2D remake remains to be the unique sport by way of and thru, however it makes it extremely approachable and trendy. They didn’t go for a shot-for-shot remake right here, however this doesn’t change the vibes and fundamentals. The traditional story, conventional turn-based fight, and memorable rating are all there, emboldened by new expertise and improvement. It’s not with out its warts. The fight with a single occasion member can put on skinny and irritating over time. However general, the unique Dragon Quest is a massively essential online game and that is an unbelievable option to expertise that historical past. Additionally I like the various problem settings. You’ll be able to rock a standard problem or make it simpler or tougher. It’s good to have choices. The rest so as to add on the Dragon Quest I remake?
Jordan: I’ll simply throw in that I beloved feeling like an absolute powerhouse of a unit by the tip of the sport; my thoroughness in trying to find scrolls and treasure chests all through the journey was a worthwhile reward. The best way that the characters you encounter actually revere, admire, and love you actually acquired to me by the point I had rolled credit.
However now we get to show our consideration to the Dragon Quest 2 remake, and I can safely say I’ve even much less expertise with this sport. This meant that going by way of the remake was successfully a maiden voyage for me. Perhaps you possibly can fill in a few of the background right here for us?
Neal: My solely expertise with Dragon Quest II was within the Change port again in 2019. I appreciated the chance to play the sport again then, however I believe I summed it finest once I ended the overview with “Dragon Quest II isn’t a foul sport; it’s simply 32 years outdated and could be the weakest entry in one of the crucial legendary RPG franchises of all time.”
Do you continue to discover that to be the case with the brand new HD-2D Remake?
Jordan: Sure and no. I discover my enjoyment of the sport coming in waves; at factors the pacing is fairly terrible, however there are some genuinely touching moments, and the brand new character–the Princess of Cannock–is pleasant. Different new options embrace Mini-Medals, ability-granting scrolls, and the Tombola mini-game, all of that are welcome adjustments. An undersea space accessed later within the sport brings welcome depth, pun meant, to the world and story. The best way this remake has been handled seems to acknowledge the tough edges of the unique and situate that imperfect form inside a fuller, extra engaging shell–not simply lipstick on a pig, however extra like a complete makeover of a pig. Whereas it’s simpler to see the failings of the sport once you evaluate it towards the primary and third video games within the sequence, there’s no denying that the remake remedy makes it a greater than competent RPG. I’m trying forward a bit, however sure moments, just like the post-game, had me cheering and booing in equal measure.
I believe I simply appeared like I’ve cut up personalities right here. Did the additions and adjustments of the remake assist redeem Dragon Quest 2 in your eyes?
Neal: It’s nonetheless the lowpoint of the Erdrick Trilogy for me very soundly, however the hole between this sport and the primary and third sport is far narrower now. The remake erases the most important complaints I had with the unique sport. Due to the bells and whistles (and choices) of the remake, the again half of the sport doesn’t disintegrate. The problem isn’t as steep and also you aren’t required to take notes or slavishly comply with a information. Even when Dragon Quest II didn’t rocket to the highest of my franchise finest listing, the kind of remake Sq. Enix put collectively for it’s precisely what I’d have wished. This can be very consultant of what this sport was when it initially got here out, however the tough points are polished as much as make it much more gratifying.
What had been the components that had you cheering and booing in Dragon Quest II?
Jordan: Sure segments of the sport have a maddeningly excessive encounter fee, the place you’re working into enemies each few steps. It’s one thing I don’t have quite a lot of endurance for as of late, and one of many causes I haven’t gone again to the primary two Breath of Hearth video games, as an example. The flip aspect of that’s that the quantity of expertise you achieve from these battles units you up properly for some actually robust finish sport fights. What all the time introduced a smile to my face, although, was when townsfolk would seek advice from occasions from the primary sport. There’s a satisfying sense of continuity between the three entries within the trilogy, and it could be that enjoying Dragon Quest II proper after I–the place you may need probably the most appreciation for shifting from a crew of 1 to a crew of 4–is the perfect expertise.
Is there one thing particular concerning the two remakes right here that stunned or disenchanted you?
Neal: The largest shock is how a lot these video games really feel model new. They’re nonetheless the unique video games from the Eighties at their core, however all of the story expansions, visible thrives, and gameplay refinement make them really feel contemporary. These are the varieties of remakes and revisits I wish to see. It’s not altering what these video games had been, however it’s updating them and making them extra palpable to a wider trendy viewers.
That being stated, you’re 100% proper at a few of the encounter charges, particularly in Dragon Quest II. Perhaps I’m simply spoiled by different remasters and remakes making encounter fee versatile or toggleable, however it was a really classic outdated RPG “go to battle seemingly each two steps.” That stands out amidst the ocean of different adjustments, even when I assume you possibly can kick it to Dracky Quest (the simplest problem that makes it so that you by no means die) to treatment a few of that.
These remakes are nonetheless unbelievable for what they’re: a loving replace to 2 massively essential RPGs. A number of the warts are simply what these video games had been after they had been made practically 40 years in the past.
Any parting ideas on Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D?
Jordan: Even when Dragon Quest III is the narrative start line for the trilogy, it was Dragon Quest I that got here out first–nearly 40 years in the past–and the remake is an unbelievable entry level for the sequence and for RPGs normally. Such as you stated, the adjustments and refinements are considerate and significant, making it so longtime followers can also see the reverence that the builders have for the unique video games. With one other remake coming early subsequent yr for Dragon Quest VII, we’re experiencing a humiliation of riches through the lengthy anticipate Dragon Quest XII, however it’s straightforward to be affected person with Sq. Enix hitting it out of the park with these HD-2D variations.
It’s a simple advice for me for the explanations we’ve mentioned.
Neal: If this had been the video model, we might have a flashy reveal of the rating, however you, expensive reader, already know the rating. Anyway, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a good bundle. Collectively I nonetheless assume final yr’s remake of Dragon Quest III is stronger, however it is a unbelievable companion and effectively price diving into whether or not you have performed the video games earlier than or simply wish to know the historical past and legacy.
