Neal: Dragon Quest is a storied Japanese RPG sequence on this planet of video video games, closing in on its fortieth anniversary in 2026. The gaps between foremost 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 12 months’s glorious 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 an alternative of standing alone on this evaluation, Jordan Rudek and I (Neal Ronaghan) are going to hitch forces to battle the Dragonlord in a twin evaluation. 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’re 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 cell port that got here to Change in 2019. It was the DS and 3DS video games that actually pushed into Dragon Quest fanhood, and my love for the sequence has solely grown. You may depend me amongst those that are thrilled to have trendy iterations of the Erdrick Trilogy, and after completely having fun with the Dragon Quest 3 remake final 12 months, 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 trustworthy but additionally fleshed out and polished to an HD-2D shine. If I recall accurately, we additionally partnered up in reviewing the cell trilogy that I touched on earlier, however how did you discover the Dragon Quest 1 remake?
Neal: I used to be a kind of younger children who simply knew it as Dragon Warrior, for the reason that NES cartridge for the unique Western launch made it into my assortment within the early ‘90s. I finally completed it whereas I bought older, however it was actually a sport the place I discovered numerous 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 the whole 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 continues to be the unique sport by 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 celebration member can put on skinny and irritating over time. However general, the unique Dragon Quest is a massively vital online game and that is an unbelievable solution to expertise that historical past. Additionally I really like the numerous problem settings. You may rock a standard problem or make it simpler or more durable. It’s good to have choices. Anything 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 top of the sport; my thoroughness in looking for scrolls and treasure chests all through the journey became a worthwhile reward. The way in which that the characters you encounter actually revere, admire, and love you actually bought 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 the remake was successfully a maiden voyage for me. Possibly you’ll be able to fill in among 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 greatest once I ended the evaluation with “Dragon Quest II isn’t a nasty sport; it’s simply 32 years outdated and could be the weakest entry in one of the vital 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 embody Mini-Medals, ability-granting scrolls, and the Tombola mini-game, all of that are welcome modifications. An undersea space accessed later within the sport brings welcome depth, pun meant, to the world and story. The way in which this remake has been handled seems to acknowledge the tough edges of the unique and situate that imperfect form inside a fuller, extra enticing 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 while you evaluate it in opposition to the primary and third video games within the sequence, there’s no denying that the remake therapy 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 seemed like I’ve cut up personalities right here. Did the additions and modifications 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 largest complaints I had with the unique sport. Because of the bells and whistles (and choices) of the remake, the again half of the sport doesn’t disintegrate. The problem shouldn’t be as steep and also you aren’t required to take notes or slavishly observe a information. Even when Dragon Quest II didn’t rocket to the highest of my franchise greatest checklist, the kind of remake Sq. Enix put collectively for it’s precisely what I might have needed. This can be very consultant of what this sport was when it initially got here out, however the tough elements are polished as much as make it much more pleasant.
What had been the elements that had you cheering and booing in Dragon Quest II?
Jordan: Sure segments of the sport have a maddeningly excessive encounter charge, the place you’re working into enemies each few steps. It’s one thing I don’t have numerous 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 facet of that’s that the quantity of expertise you acquire from these battles units you up properly for some actually robust finish sport fights. What at all times introduced a smile to my face, although, was when townsfolk would consult with occasions from the primary sport. There’s a satisfying sense of continuity between the three entries within the trilogy, and it might 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 shocked 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 Nineteen Eighties at their core, however all of the story expansions, visible prospers, and gameplay refinement make them really feel recent. These are the forms 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 mentioned, you’re 100% proper at among the encounter charges, particularly in Dragon Quest II. Possibly I’m simply spoiled by different remasters and remakes making encounter charge 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 modifications, even when I assume you’ll be able to 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 vital RPGs. A number of the warts are simply what these video games had been after they had been made almost 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 generally. Such as you mentioned, the modifications 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 12 months for Dragon Quest VII, we’re experiencing a humiliation of riches through the lengthy await Dragon Quest XII, however it’s simple to be affected person with Sq. Enix hitting it out of the park with these HD-2D variations.
It’s a simple suggestion 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, pricey reader, already know the rating. Anyway, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a good package deal. Collectively I nonetheless assume final 12 months’s remake of Dragon Quest III is stronger, however this can be a incredible companion and nicely price diving into whether or not you have performed the video games earlier than or simply wish to know the historical past and legacy.
