Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake | Review Thread

[John Elden Ring]

Game Information​

Game Title: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake


Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Nov 14, 2024)
• PlayStation 5 (Nov 14, 2024)
• PC (Nov 14, 2024)
• Nintendo Switch (Nov 14, 2024)

Trailers:

• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake - Launch Trailer | PS5 Games
• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch
• DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake – Release Date Trailer – Nintendo Switch

Developers: Square Enix, ARTDINK

Review Aggregator:


OpenCritic - 86 average - 91% recommended - 18 reviews

MetaCritic - 82 average - PlayStation 5

Critic Reviews​

Checkpoint Gaming - Pedro Cooray - 9 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a triumphant remake of a classic. The new visuals and sound design are beautiful and elegant, with new systems updating just enough to keep it palatable to modern audiences while still keeping systems that make this game unique. Though some elements don't hold up to scrutiny, including some parts of the voice acting and writing, and enemy behaviour, they aren't enough to detract from how enjoyable this game is, now made more accessible than ever. With similar remakes of the first two Dragon Quests on the way, fans and new players are going to have a good time. The quality of Dragon Quest HD-2D Remakes hopefully inspires a higher quality of classic remakes to come.

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ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10

Square Enix and Artdink have gone above and beyond to make sure this has been modernized and enhanced so that first-time players will have just as magical an experience as those who played the original in 1988. That’s the sign of passion and exactly what a remake should be

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Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is an excellent remake. Despite some cumbersome traditional gameplay mechanics the series holds onto, like item and party management, the classical turn-based combat is well-paced and offers a fair challenge to everyone.

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Digitec Magazine - Kevin Hofer - German - 4 / 5

“Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake” does justice to the original in all respects. The visual and acoustic presentation is simply brilliant. The few additions to the story make sense and don't distort the spirit of the original – even if its storytelling feels a bit old-fashioned. The new quality of life features in the menus and during battle are a welcome addition. Though, I would have liked the option to switch off the random battles completely.

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Final Weapon - Angelus Victor - 4.5 / 5

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings the first of the Erdrick trilogy to a modern audience, and it manages to do so with beautiful graphics and various nice quality-of-life improvements that make the ageless RPG yet again a must-play for newbies or even veterans to the Dragon Quest franchise.

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GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a prime example of enhancing a classic without taking away the things that made it so endearing. It's a must-play experience and well worth diving into for fans of the original.

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Kakuchopurei - Alleef Ashaari - 80 / 100

While Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake doesn't offer a ludicrous 100-hour playtime like Persona, recent Final Fantasy games or even the franchise's own Dragon Quest XI Echoes Of An Elusive Age, it doesn't need to because a game doesn't need to be 100+ to be a rich and rewarding experience. These combinations of the old and new are what make the Dragon Quest franchise still so iconic and relevant to this day. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake continues that tradition, adhering it to a tee while also dishing out some welcome quality-of-life additions.

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Manual dos Games - Luiz Henrique Silva - Portuguese - 9.8 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a true masterclass in how to create a faithful remake of the original material, preserving all the magic of the 1988 game while making it accessible to a new audience through a series of quality-of-life improvements in combat and exploration. Just like the original game, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a must-play title for any fan of Japanese RPGs.

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MonsterVine - James Carr - 3.5 / 5

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake accomplishes its goal of bringing a decades old game to modern standards, offering a gorgeous art style and some quality-of-life additions. The tactical nature of the combat still works, although the lack of tactics during boss fights is disappointing. A chunk of battle animations could have used more love as it doesn't feel like complete remake. The story isn't as compelling as more focused modern RPGs, but it does still offer satisfying world-building and a few emotional beats. That said, the pros outweigh the cons for this remake, even if the remaking could have gone a bit further.

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Noisy Pixel - Bailey Seemangal - 8 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake gives this classic a fresh coat of paint with a gorgeous HD-2D look and smart gameplay tweaks that make revisiting it feel worthwhile. With quality-of-life improvements and a flexible job system, it sticks close to its roots but doesn’t shy away from modern touches. While the high encounter rate and straightforward story might feel like holdovers from the past, it’s a satisfying trip back to a genre staple for those who don’t mind a little grind along the way.

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One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 8 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake successfully balances the preservation of the original game while making it accessible to modern players. With features like autosave, a recall function, and difficulty selection, players can enjoy the classic game on their terms.
The graphical overhaul and fully orchestrated soundtrack enhance the visual and auditory experience, allowing players to appreciate the game as it was originally intended. However, there are minor issues such as the extremely slow pace of combat and uneven difficulty settings, which can easily turn off certain players.

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Pizza Fria - Lucas de Azevedo Soares - Portuguese - 8.6 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a true treat for longtime fans and a great starting point for new players. The combination of HD-2D visuals and fidelity to the source material are top-notch, creating an experience that balances nostalgia with modernity.

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ProjectN - Dudu Cavagnari - Portuguese - 94%

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake captures the essence of what a video game should be. It's a simple game, yet it has so much charm and personality that it invites you to play. The HD-2D graphical style and the soundtrack blend perfectly with the game's vision, combining nostalgia with the power of modern technology.
Though challenging and with demanding grinding, it's recommended for all audiences, serving as a love letter to the series' fans and a stunning gateway to the world of JRPGs, which are gaining increasing recognition. However, the lack of localization in some languages is a downside, limiting the recommendation for those without an advanced level in the available languages.

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RPG Site - Cullen Black - 9 / 10

Dragon Quest III returns with it's first new remake in years, recapturing the spirit of what made the original so special.

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Seasoned Gaming - Alex Segovia - 8 / 10

I really appreciate Square-Enix going the extra mile to ensure one of the JRPG genre’s most celebrated early examples is available with a lot of thought and effort put into it.

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The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 5 / 5

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the best way to play Dragon Quest III. It looks beautiful, sounds amazing, and is an extremely satisfying game to complete.

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TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 9 / 10

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a wonderful new version of perhaps the single most influential JRPG. It isn't a top-to-bottom remake or a surprising meta-retelling – it's classic Dragon Quest, brighter and better than ever.

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Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake is a charming and well-made update of one of the most classic RPGs of all time. It doesn't reinvent the mold and is too safe for its own measure, but at the same time, it's easily the most accessible and fun version of the game to date. You'll need to have some tolerance for dated design choices, but if you've ever wondered why people love the classic Dragon Quest so much, this is the game to play.

 

[ethomaz]

Few reviews yet but I expect high 80.

 

[Entropi]

Sweet! I can’t wait to play this.

 

[Gediminas]

no 1 or 2 remakes? straight to 3rd?

 

[ethomaz]

Man there are only 2 scores below 80.
One of them is ridiculous bad.

 

[ethomaz]

no 1 or 2 remakes? straight to 3rd?

1 and 2 are coming in early 2025.
The creator always wanted the players to experience the story in the chronological order so they are releasing them in that order.

DQ3 tells you the original Hero’s story… the one used in the legends in DQ1 and DQ2.

 

[Entropi]

no 1 or 2 remakes? straight to 3rd?

DQ 1 and 2 remakes are coming next year. DQ 3 is chronologically before 1 and 2. I guess that's why they started there.

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

This seems about right for a DQ remake. I really liked what Square Enix did with the FF remasters, so I'm hoping to try these out at some point.

 

[anonpuffs]

Looks like the scores are settling around 85. Happy to see the remake getting good scores.

 

[quest4441]

DQ 5 and 8 are the best ones and I hope we get them. The Erdrick trilogy (1,2 and 3) is a fantastic entry point for newcomers so buy buy buy people