Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Review
Don’t Go It Alone
The Dragon Quest series is barreling headfirst into its upcoming 40th anniversary, and has been doing so by celebrating and refreshing its past. Late last year, Square Enix and series creator Yuji Horii released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and now, between the release of that game and the upcoming Dragon Quest VII Reimagined early next year, we have Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. As the name suggests, the games look and sound much like the remake of Dragon Quest III, and despite being clouded with some uneven changes, they make for a highly worthwhile update of the series’ origins.
The story of the original Dragon Quest is that of a solo adventurer, a distant descendant of the hero from Dragon Quest III, who is pressed into service when the Kingdom of Tantegel’s Princess Gwaelin is kidnapped and the realm threatened by the evil Dragonlord. Weaving a tale of elves, ruffians, princesses, and goddesses, Dragon Quest I's hero works to save the realm of Alefgard. The remake adds a great multitude of new story beats, quests, bosses, and skills while preserving the core essence of the original, which has defined the identity of JRPGs.
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While it offers a whole host of improvements, the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake experiences end up being quite different. Dragon Quest I's remake offers an amazing story upgrade but has frustrating battles throughout, while Dragon Quest II's remake is one of the most amazing and memorable Dragon Quest experiences there is. Together with the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake released a year ago, they do make a definitive trilogy that all Dragon Quest fans and those new to the series should explore. It was a worthwhile return to the games that made middle school me the RPGamer I am today.
Score: 4/5
