Dragon Quest is one of the most representative sagas in the history of the RPG genre in the world of video games. Although, in the West, it has always lived in the shadow of Final Fantasy, in Japan, it was one of the franchises that managed to stand up to Squaresoft's saga at the time. Enix, the company in charge of its development, emerged as the Japanese giant's main rival before merging into Square Enix that we know today, uniting the forces of two of the most legendary RPG franchises in the interactive entertainment sector.

While waiting for the release of Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, the Japanese company wants modern gamers to discover the franchise from its beginnings, which is why it's developing the remake of the first three games that follow the adventures of the hero Erdrick. Chronologically, the first installment is Dragon Quest III, which serves as a prequel to the two titles that precede it. This is why Square Enix has decided to release it first in a new format with improved graphics and greater accessibility so that younger players can get closer to the saga after the tremendous success of the last installment to date, Dragon Quest XI.

So, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake comes to the market as a way to bring back one of the most legendary games in the series and showcase the reasons why it was once capable of challenging Final Fantasy's dominance. While the graphical makeover is its main asset, this remake has much more to offer to those who enjoyed the adventure on its original release almost 40 years ago.

A new graphical format in the beautiful HD-2D

The HD-2D graphic style is becoming very popular among RPG video games. Since Octopath Traveler's release, which adopts this format, more and more titles are trying to rescue the essence of the classic, but with a new flavor. The fact that a franchise as well known as Dragon Quest does it is surprising, but it shows that it's a technique that the public favors, and it seems to be a way of allowing classic titles to shine in this era without losing what made them successful. In this way, its visuals can please veterans and newcomers alike.

In these four decades, times have changed for video games, and Square Enix hasn't only had to adapt the graphic style of the original NES title, but it's also had to include some gameplay options that allow for a lighter progress through the adventure, adapting the gameplay to the present day. Therefore, a quick combat mode is included to make leveling up tasks lighter. The same is true for the handling of the group itself, as groups can use player-defined tactics, without the need to select every attack in every turn of a fight. Simplicity and accessibility are the big news for the revival of this game, as will be the case with the remakes of Dragon Quest I and Dragon Quest II, which have already been officially announced.

The exploration of the world doesn't change too much from the original game. Square Enix's idea is to bring the classic experience closer without betraying purists, so no excessive changes have been made to the approach or the story. The intention is to make it easier to access for players with a little less patience and who are used to more fast-paced gameplay, something that clashes head-on with the excessive pause that starred in the combat and exploration of 40 years ago. The mix of the two is the key to the success the studio has devised for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

The return of a legend from the ground up

This remake of Dragon Quest III may be the perfect opportunity for Square Enix to do something similar to what's expected to happen with Final Fantasy. Through a different format, the initial Dragon Quest games could return to provide a complete compendium for current generations, which, thanks to the backward compatibility of systems, makes it possible to enjoy video games from previous consoles through subscription services or digital format. In this way, the goal of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake may be to set a precedent that will allow the series to resurface over the next few years until the release of the twelfth installment.

At least as far as 2D games are concerned, as the golden age of Dragon Quest in the West began with its leap to 3D, delivering some formidable games such as Dragon Quest VIII, which managed to make its way into the PS2 catalog as one of the console's most representative RPGs. At the moment, it might be too early to determine this direction, but the original trilogy will return to tell the world Erdrick's story, which may leave a legacy to remember.