Experiencing Double Vision: DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remakes

I was at PAX East 2025, and yeah, I talked about playing Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, but here’s the twist—I didn’t spill the beans that Square Enix had another gem up its sleeve. So, let me confess now to the gaming crowd: I snagged a chance to dive into the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. And wow, if you’re into the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, I bet folks new and old in the RPG scene are gonna dig this double whammy.

Okay, picture this: the press gang, including me, gets a list of do’s and don’ts on how much we can roam in the game. Clearly, we’re told to stick to primary goals. Why? Because straying too far means stumbling upon beefed-up monsters that’ll squash your squad like a pancake. If you’ve fiddled with Dragon Quest III HD-2D, you’re kind of in the know. It rolls at a smooth 60 FPS on PS5, you can snag cool loot scattered across the overworld, speed through battles, and yes, there’s a toggle for running, so your thumb can just chill.

Moving on—wait, scratch that, diving into details now. Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake slots in right after III, which is why they’re dropping it now (arbitrary, or clever? You decide). You’re Erdrick’s descendant on this solo quest to takedown the Dragonlord. No sidekick, nada. Originally on NES, it was crazily tough. Luckily, they’ve re-tweaked the difficulty to be, let’s say, challenging—but not hair-pulling. Strategizing feels more intense compared to others, and yeah, by the end, you’ll probably feel like you could punch through walls. Felt like a superhero yet?

Now for Part Deux, Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake does a flip and brings back the party system. Unlike III, this time you’ve got characters with names and quirks. Everyone’s got some “specialty” thing going, although Square Enix played coy on whether you’ll be juggling classes or not. There was a whisper, though, that your party could grow to four. You can let AI run the show for your mates or take the reins yourself. Oh, and here’s a neat bit: once you’ve zapped a creature with a spell, the game remembers if it worked like a charm for next time.

Honestly, can’t wait for the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. It’s stunning in the HD-2D style, tying the trilogy together into a neat, shiny package. And the tunes? Total ear candy with fresh orchestrations of the classic beats. Mark your calendar for October 30—it’s dropping for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. Get ready!