In the age of the remake, several developers have been combing through their libraries and breathing new life into either much-loved or overlooked titles. While some of these remakes are complete re-imaginings of titles using modern hardware, others are welcome quality-of-life improvements that aim to keep the original game's DNA intact but reintroduce it to a new audience. One studio that has been regularly updating its impressive library of titles is Square Enix, which recently announced a remake of Dragon Quest 3 as part of its slate of upcoming titles in the franchise. Counter to what Square Enix has done with Final Fantasy 7, the remake of Dragon Quest 3 looks to retain more of the original's blueprint.
Dragon Quest 3 (released in North America as Dragon Warrior 3) represented a huge leap forward for Japanese-developed RPGs at its time of release. With the Dragon Quest series often cited as inventing the qualities and gameplay mechanics synonymous with JRPGs, the third entry pushed the genre further by implementing a large and open world that featured non-linear storylines and a full day/night cycle. As one of the best turn-based RPGs from the era of the genre's origins, fans have just as much reason to be excited about the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake as they do the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy.
Dragon Quest 3 Remake Will Please RPG Purists
For those that lament the loss of turn-based combat in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D will be a welcome return to the classic trappings of the RPG genre. While not many specifics about the remake are known, what was revealed in the announcement trailer indicates that the game is largely staying true to its original form. Instead of a complete overhaul of the original game, the Dragon Quest 3 remake is receiving a visual makeover updating its presentation to the same perspective used in Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy while keeping the core gameplay intact.
While many welcomed the changes made to the gameplay in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, some were upset at the tweaks made to such a beloved game. While not nearly as popular of a title as Final Fantasy 7, Dragon Quest 3 is still a much-loved RPG in another legendary genre franchise. By keeping the remake largely the same as the original but giving it a graphical facelift, RPG purists are sure to be pleased with the remake maintaining the integrity of a franchise classic.
The Success of Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Could Open the Door for Other Remakes
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is not the first Square Enix title to receive a visual update using the 2D-3D style popularized by Octopath Traveler. Last year, Square Enix remade Live-A-Live, a lesser-known game from their library that retains cult-classic status among fans, bringing the game to Western audiences for the first time. The critical and fan reception of the Live-A-Live remake may have served as inspiration for Square Enix to give the same visual update to other titles in their vast library of quality games, giving rise to the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake.
It stands to reason, then, that the Dragon Quest 3 remake's success may pave the way for other legendary titles in the Square Enix canon to receive the same visual upgrade while keeping most of the original gameplay intact. Both the Live-A-Live and Dragon Quest 3 remakes using the Octopath Traveler graphical style were very close to the originals, only updated through visual presentation and the inclusion of quality-of-life features that improve the player experience. With the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy franchises, Mana series, and Chrono Trigger all titles in Square Enix's library available for the same visual upgrade, fans have more reason to be excited about Dragon Quest 3's remake than just the game itself.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is currently in development.