We're in a pretty good time for sprawling, complex RPGs. New releases like Metaphor: ReFantasia and Dragon Age Absolutionalong with older titles like Elden Ring (including this year's expansion), Cyberpunk 2077and Baldur's Gate 3 They have absorbed millions of people into their expansive worlds. They can be all-consuming experiences that offer players all kinds of freedom to explore their worlds and characters. But honestly? Sometimes I don't want to worry about conversation wheels or making difficult decisions that alter the narrative. I just want to go on a big adventure and slowly become an overpowered monster-fighting hero, and that's where the excellent remake of dragon quest 3 come in.
The game originally came out back in 1988 (it was initially called Dragon Warrior 3 in North America) and has a refreshingly simple premise: you're on a quest to kill a great evil that your father failed to destroy many years before. There are some colorful characters, but there's not much beyond a quest for revenge. This is not a game you play for the story. Instead, it's about going on adventures, exploring strange and dangerous places, and killing lots of cute blue slimes.
That simplicity has stood the test of time quite well, with systems that are easy to understand while also offering a challenge (even if regular battles can get tedious). This is good, because the remake doesn't change much. Exploration and turn-based battles still feel largely the same as before. This means that the game follows a largely predictable path, as you go from dungeon to dungeon, visiting cities in between to rest and prepare for the next challenge. There are a few additions, such as a new character class that allows you to collect monsters, along with additional story scenes to develop the basic narrative.
Although it is virtually the same as the original, there are important changes to the presentation and some notable quality of life features. To start, this version of dragon quest 3 It seems incredible. It uses the same visual style as games like Octopatch Traveler and Triangular strategywhich Square Enix awkwardly calls “HD 2D.” Basically, they're still games with pixel art characters, but they explore incredibly detailed worlds. The developers then add a tilt shift effect that gives the set a diorama look. The result is a game that feels decidedly old school, but in a sleek and modern way. I especially love the adorable animations of monsters in battle. There is also an updated orchestral score performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, along with all-new voice performances.
However, it's more than just a cosmetic overhaul. He dragon quest 3 The remake also makes some very clever adjustments that often make playing less frustrating. These include a more useful map that makes it easier to find where you're going, an option to speed up battles so you can advance faster, and a handful of difficulty options. These may seem small, but they are the kind of modern conveniences that can make many older games difficult to play, especially ones that rely on repetitive combat like a classic RPG. Smoothing out those few rough edges has a big impact on the overall feel of a game like dragon quest 3.
Although technically the third game in the series, this version of Dragon Search It's also a great place for newcomers to see what the series is about (and really, things haven't changed much over the years). It's a nice, accessible way to experience an epic quest without feeling overwhelmed by the story or features. It's just you, some swords and magic, and a bunch of monsters to defeat. Sometimes, that's all you really need.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D It is now available on Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
