Square Enix recently had a special broadcast for the 35th anniversary of the Dragon Quest series, as it revealed a number of upcoming games and remakes. One of the biggest announcements was that Dragon Quest 3 would be getting a modernized remake in the style of Octopath Traveler. Often regarded as one of the best entries in the series, the remake will be titled Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and will be developed in the same engine as Octopath Traveler.
With the announcement of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, fans are undoubtedly excited about the potential of other classic RPGs being remade in the same style. While the 16-bit art styles have aged well, the HD-2D style modernizes the visuals while retaining the balance with the games' initial appeal. There's also a massive catalog of old-school RPGs that have never received a proper remake or remaster that could benefit from the updated high-quality sprites with the 3D visual depth. Here are a few other games that would make great use of the modernized visuals that retain the charm of the pixel art style.
Final Fantasy 6
It's a little surprising to see that Final Fantasy 6 hasn't received a remake from Square Enix given its popularity and influence on the RPG genre as a whole. While there have been a few ports and remakes, fans weren't pleased with the art style change and the PC version has often been criticized.
However, this problem could be easily resolved with the Octopath Traveler aesthetic to combine the SNES-era sprites together with updated environments. Maintaining the original sprites helps retain Final Fantasy 6's charm but giving it a visual overhaul would be a fantastic way to introduce this classic to a new audience. In fact, Octopath Traveler was originally created as an evolution of Final Fantasy 6's mechanics and feels like a natural extension of how a modernized Final Fantasy 6 would play.
Chrono Trigger
Much like Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger is another old-school Square Enix RPG that deserves a proper high-definition remake. Chrono Trigger was influential for its time travel mechanics, multiple endings, and coining the term "New Game Plus". While it has also received numerous ports and resolution upgrades over the years, none of them manage to modernize the retro graphics effectively.
Chrono Trigger has aged gracefully over the years, so it doesn't necessarily need a remake, but it remains one of the essential SNES-era RPGs, and an HD-2D remake would be an incredible way to modernize the game. While it might be risky for Square Enix to attempt a Chrono Trigger remake, there's a lot of potential in bridging the retro visuals with the modern Octopath Traveler engine.
Golden Sun
Although Golden Sun isn't quite as old as the other NES/SNES-era JRPGs on the list, its 20th anniversary is coming up and it remains one of the most beloved RPGs from the Gameboy Advance. With an intricate class system that revolves around collecting and equipping Djinns on characters, Golden Sun offers an interesting twist on the traditional RPG formula.
Furthermore, puzzles are often included in the environmental design and require players to make use of Psynergy, the game's magic spells in order to solve them. A high-definition remake of Golden Sun would benefit greatly from the added depth of the world as players explore and discover the game's puzzles.
Earthbound
Earthbound has received critical acclaim for its subversion of RPG traditions through its use of a real-world setting, eccentric humor, and surreal battle sequences. Over the years, fans have lobbied for a remake of the game as the Mother series has been neglected by Nintendo in North America. Although some fans have wanted to see Earthbound in full 3D, it might fare better with a HD-2D upgrade like Dragon Quest 3.
Earthbound's appeal stems from its kooky yet charming 2D world design and having a modernized graphical overhaul that retains its 2D environments would help breathe new life into the game without removing its original allure. While such a remake is improbable since Nintendo clearly thinks it wouldn't attract a large enough audience, Earthbound's unique art style could do a lot with an HD upgrade.
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, often simply titled as Fire Emblem 4, is a classic in the tactical RPG genre and is an obvious choice to receive a graphical update. The most popular Fire Emblem entry in Japan, Fire Emblem 4 refined a number of mechanics that would appear in later games such as the Weapons Triangle, an explorable base, and Support conversations between party members. With the success of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, a Fire Emblem 4 remake would feel like a natural extension of that experience and the game's lush environments would look incredible rendered in high-definition.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Of course, just because the Octopath Traveler art style is called HD-2D doesn't mean it's limited to 2D games. There's plenty of potential in taking games like Final Fantasy Tactics with isometric 3D environments and applying a visual upgrade to the bitmap sprites while enhancing the fidelity of the world design.
Final Fantasy Tactics is a cult classic and has become one of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy series for its unique spin on the tactical RPG genre. Although there have been a few re-releases and an updated PSP version, these versions are still a far cry from a potential high-definition remake in the style of Octopath Traveler.
Terranigma
Terranigma was one of the greatest and most ambitious RPGs conceived for the SNES, but it never made it to North American shores. The top-down perspective with the action-based real-time combat makes it a perfect candidate to get an HD-2D revival. One of the best aspects of Terranigma was its mysterious allure in its narrative.
Players were given hints on how to progress the story but the big picture was always obscured and players were left to discover the world on their own. With the exploration of new lands, meeting new people, and effectively changing the world itself, Terranigma was an experience like no other and its vast world design would benefit greatly from a HD-2D modernization.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is currently in development.