I somehow ended up at PAX East 2025 playing Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. While wandering around, I stumbled upon something else—Square Enix was quietly showing off another game. Well, not just one game, but a two-pack, if you will: Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. “Oh, this’ll be good,” I thought, given how much I loved the Dragon Quest III remake. You know when you’re so excited it’s hard to sit still? Yep, that was me.
In the midst of all this, I was told, “Hey, try not to wander too far because those high-level monsters will eat you alive.” (Not literally, but you know what I mean.) If you’ve played Dragon Quest III HD-2D, you know what I’m talking about. Fast-moving battles, stuff lying around that you can pick up—pretty much treasure—while you’re cruising on the PS5 at a slick 60 FPS. Oh, and thank goodness you can toggle the run button, so no more finger cramps.
Now, about Dragon Quest I. It’s set right after III, which I find a bit strange, but who am I to question the great minds? This time, you’re solo. It’s just you and your quest to kick the Dragonlord’s butt. I mean, what’s with the original being so hard? It was madness! But fear not—they patched things up, so it’s a bit kinder on the nerves now. You’re gonna be making some mighty strategic moves and by the end, you’ll feel like a superhero—or so they say. And honestly, who doesn’t want to feel like a superhero?
Then there’s Dragon Quest II. Back to having a crew, thank goodness. People with names and unique skills—imagine that. The details were scarce, though. Could there be four in your party as you level up in the game? Maybe. Maybe not. They kind of left us hanging. But here’s a cool tidbit—if you’ve cast a spell on a creature before, the game remembers and lets you know if it’ll work again. It’s like the game’s looking out for you. Sweet, right?
Honestly, I can’t wait for the launch of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on October 30. There’s something about that HD-2D style—it’s like pixel art had a glow-up and just feels right. The music? Get ready for those beloved tunes to hit your ears with fresh orchestrations. Seriously, mark your calendars. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC—take your pick.
