Review | Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

A Dragon Quest review x2

Do you even know when the first Dragon Quest came out? Dragon Quest, titled Dragon Warrior, is a 1986 role-playing video game developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix for the Nintendo Entertainment System. I can't even calculate the gap, let alone picture myself playing the original. What's fun about it is the fact that Dragon Quest was one of the first JRPG games ever made, serving as a blueprint for every next game we play and love in the genre.

I don't want to spend much time on the past, so let's start with the remake.

• Review | Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

This one is a bundle that consists of 2 games — Dragon Quest I and II. They all happen after Dragon Quest III (story-wise). The game works perfectly — no issues, no bugs — it's a whole package ready to be finished. It's a full 2D-HD title like the 3rd in the series, and it even looks better. If you love pixel art, I can't really think of a better way to recommend it, as this is the peak of that visual representation.

This review will talk about both games in all the segments below, so hopefully I can tie up everything in categories. Before that though, keep in mind that all games come with a bunch of quality-of-life improvements like speeding up fights, conversations, autosave... There is a lot you can tune as you see fit, and I salute that. It's a well-done remake for sure.

You can choose which game you want to play and start your journey that started it all.

Story and the characters

What's next in the line of the Erdrick family tree? In the first game, it's a story about a single hero who will take on the resurrecting evil, while the second title finally introduces a playable cast of 4 characters. I say finally because I don't like random party members, nor the single protagonist (who is mute, of course); so the second game shines in every category where others fall short.

I can't really say that the story in Dragon Quest is mind-blowing. It's mostly about the journey, the exploration, the conversations... everything a role-playing game usually offers, plus the turn-based combat and skills. I do love that — it doesn't fall short here either. The thing is, the story in the first game is nothing special, but the premise of having a party of people important to the story in the second (they are all descendants of Erdrick) — well, that is a lot of fun.

If you don't mind straightforward storytelling where you mostly know what will happen and what the plot is, you will enjoy the game, as everything else is the dot that binds it all. I think the second title is better than the third game, and maybe even some later in the series, but the fact that some parts of the world repeat in all 3 games is a bit disappointing for me. I don't like revisiting previous worlds, but there is enough to keep things fresh in terms of what's new in every game.

A lot of effort was put into the visuals and the music. It's all well done, and there is no better way to experience these games.

Game design, exploration

First, I would like to emphasize the balance in both games. The difficulty spikes are unreal. On the middle difficulty (out of 3), I've found so much frustration in the first game. You have only the hero, and the hero is worthless when 3 enemies attack and they all use Twack (instant-kill spells). Some boss fights are entirely luck-dependent, and that really sucks. The second game is much better, but I've also found some issues at times.

Don't even feel bad about lowering the difficulty (you can even turn on invincibility mode, but that is no fun if you ask me). The lower difficulties grant more experience and they feel balanced. It's for casual enjoyment, and that is just fine. I don't get why we get less EXP at higher difficulties — it feels like a grindfest that way.

So, for the most part of the game, it's about reaching your goals, collecting 3 major keys to open doors and chests, finding everything there is, and surviving. The first game offers walking, while the second one features a full world map, a ship, and so much to do. You can guess which one was my favourite. Also, good luck finding everything without a guide (although there are some spells that can help you out, but the world is just too big).

Yes, there are random encounters and they are really annoying at times, but as you explore you can turn them off by using a certain spell.

Combat

When it comes to combat, I do love it, but it's pretty straightforward. You level up, get new skills (or learn them via scrolls), heal, and attack. Of course, it's more than that, but you get the point. Some spells and skills are useless, but some hit really hard. You need to find the balance, and that is easier said than done for the first game. The second game doubles the skills and everything, and having 4 party members opens a lot of strategic advantages.

I loved boss fights, although only in the second game. I had to grind like crazy in the first one to even beat some bosses, and even then it was luck-dependent. I think both games need a bit more balancing in this segment.

I do love one new improvement — skill morph. Both games have it, and basically it's about morphing your spells and skills into devastating upgraded ones. When your health drops below 50%, you get to hold a button to morph a skill. This I loved. Also, there are some other perks that come when you collect story sigils, and that is a great addition for the remake.

If you expect a lot of changes between all 3 games — you will not get them. You will basically play 3 similar games when it comes to combat, but combine a lot of equipment and quite basic systems, and you can still draw a lot of fun from it.

The best part is exploring the world, its newly added secret spots and item spots, and, well... enjoying what you see and what you steal.

Side Content

Your exploring is your side content. Both games rely on collecting hidden items in pots, barrels, or in the middle of nowhere. When you find mini-medals, you can give them to a certain character for rewards.

The rest of the content is about some NPCs and their storylines, and that is probably my favourite variation. I wish there was more. I mean, the whole game is one large side quest where you need to find where to go, find towns and locations, and explore them. Many players are maybe not into that, but you can turn on quest markers and enjoy as you see fit. I've always loved Dragon Quest for its loose storytelling and main progress, and this is no different.

The first game doesn't offer post-game, but the second does, and if you're not satisfied after 20-ish and 30-ish hours in both games, you can easily spend 10+ hours for the post-game in the second game. You can also play at the highest difficulty, but I don't really see the point. Just role-play and create your own progress.

The voice acting is great, but not all scenes are voiced. It's mostly about reading a lot of text, but good luck understanding everything.

Conclusion

If you want to experience how the series started and what game started it all, I can't really think of a better way than to recommend all 3 Erdrick titles (the first 3 Dragon Quest games). They all have a bunch of quality-of-life improvements and are the best way to experience them, but they still follow the same formula that you either love or hate. I prefer earlier FF games, but I do love Dragon Quest. I only wish the translation were different — this ancient English is hard to understand and follow. The rest? Good stuff. If I was to rate both games separately, Dragon Quest I would rate it 72-73, and the second 80-81 (and I do think the second game "weights" more).

It's a good RPG with its limits, but mostly it's about kicking evil's ass, and who am I to skip that?