Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake was one of the quiet highlights of the Tokyo Game Show 2025 – a nostalgic yet surprisingly modern reimagining of the first two entries that birthed an entire genre. While Square Enix’s decision to release the third game first seemed strange last year, it now feels almost poetic. 
Chronologically, Dragon Quest III tells the story of Erdrick, the mythical hero whose legacy echoes across generations. The upcoming I+II HD-2D Remake continues that legacy, closing the loop and completing the trilogy that started nearly forty years ago.
Our hands-on demo at TGS 2025 offered a brief yet memorable glimpse into the early chapters of both games. It’s fascinating to see how distinct their tones remain despite sharing the same visual framework. The first Dragon Quest is a lonely pilgrimage – a single hero against a world of monsters, venturing forth to gather the sacred relics of Erdrick and confront the Dragonlord threatening to engulf Alefgard in darkness. There’s a purity to this premise, one that reminds us how JRPGs began: simple quests, quiet courage, and an unshakable sense of purpose.
Dragon Quest II, meanwhile, widens the scope dramatically. Set a century later, it brings together three descendants of the original hero – a band of royal Luminairies bound by blood and destiny. The tonal shift from solitude to fellowship makes it a perfect counterbalance to its predecessor. Yet, in true Dragon Quest fashion, the adventure still feels deeply human. Players journey across seas, discover lost kingdoms, and watch the rise and fall of courage within families. One can only hope Square Enix finally grants the Prince of Cannock better armor than his infamous coffin-like getup.
The developers at Square Enix and Armor Project have given both games the same HD-2D makeover that dazzled players in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. This new engine blends pixel nostalgia with lush lighting, hand-painted backdrops, and cinematic flourishes that breathe life into every village and dungeon. Yet, there’s an underlying irony here – the remake’s unified look risks erasing some of the original trilogy’s quirky individuality. Still, what it loses in texture it gains in coherence, especially for newcomers experiencing the saga as a continuous tale.
In the original NES era, the first Dragon Quest (or Dragon Warrior in the West) could be completed in under ten hours – a short, linear journey by modern RPG standards. Now, with the remake’s additions, the adventure feels richer. New storylines flow seamlessly into the core narrative. One standout moment in our demo involved retrieving the Thief’s Key, which gets stolen by the mischievous Robbin’ ‘Ood – a returning rogue whose charm and humor echo throughout the series. This clever addition expands on the lore and rewards exploration in ways that feel both new and nostalgic.
Dragon Quest II has received an even more substantial overhaul. Once notorious for its uneven pacing and brutal difficulty spikes, the remake now introduces entirely new content: a mysterious underwater region tied to Lorelai’s Harp, a whimsical lottery minigame, and several rebalanced encounters. These changes don’t just modernize the experience; they finally allow the sequel to stand tall alongside its siblings. Longtime fans will appreciate how Square Enix has addressed old pain points while preserving the charm of the original dialogue and music, now beautifully orchestrated.
With a release date set for October 30, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch (both generations), Xbox Series S|X, and PC, Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake feels like a love letter to the origins of RPG storytelling. In a year dominated by massive open worlds and endless live-service titles, this remake dares to celebrate simplicity – courage, companionship, and the cyclical nature of legend. For players new to Alefgard, it’s the ideal moment to start with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and then witness how the tale of Erdrick’s descendants unfolds with beauty and balance.
Square Enix’s return to the roots of Dragon Quest isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s a reminder that the heart of every epic lies in the small, personal struggles of its heroes – and in how legends never truly end, they simply begin anew.
1 comment
Hope the soundtrack is as good as DQ3 remake, that was pure nostalgia 💙