Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake launched worldwide on November 14, 2024, bringing the 1988 role-playing game to modern platforms. Developed originally by Chunsoft and published by Enix, the remake is published by Square Enix and is available on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Engine and Visual Style
The remake utilizes Unreal EngineUnreal Engine. A widely-used commercial game engine from Epic Games; powers many large-studio (AAA) games. UE5 is the current generation. 4 to recreate the classic title using the HD-2D graphical style. This visual approach combines 2D pixel-art characters with 3D environments, a technique introduced in Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler in 2018.
Development History
Square Enix announced the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake in 2021 to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the Dragon Quest franchise. The original game, Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation, was initially released on the Family Computer in Japan and later the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America, where it was initially titled Dragon Warrior III.
Narrative and Gameplay Structure
Dragon Quest III is the third installment in the main series and serves as a distant prequel to the first two games, collectively known as the “Erdrick” trilogy. Players control the Hero, who must gather a party of companions to defeat the archfiend Baramos.
The game features standard role-playing mechanics, including a turn-based battle system, experience-based leveling, and equipment management. It introduces a highly open-world structure and a day/night cycle that affects the availability of certain items, characters, and quests. Players can recruit party members of various classes at a local tavern, with only four active members in the party at any given time.
Class System
The game implements a class system where characters can be assigned specific roles such as Soldier, Fighter, Pilgrim, Wizard, Merchant, Goof-Off, Sage, Thief, and Monster Wrangler. Upon reaching Level 20, characters can change classes at the Temple of Dhama. This process halves their stats and resets their level to 1, but they retain learned spells and personality traits, allowing for customized character builds.