Okay, so I was at PAX East 2025, right? And I mentioned Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. But there was something else. Square Enix had another gem tucked away. Surprise! I got to dive into Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake ahead of the crowd. Now, I’ve always been a sucker for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, so trust me when I say, both veterans and newbies are gonna be in for a treat with this duo of RPG goodness.
So picture this: I’m handed a controller, and the press crew gives us the lowdown on how much of the gameplay we could explore. They were all, “Stick to the main path, don’t wander!”—apparently because there be monsters. Giant ones. You know the kind that could, like, swallow your party whole. If you’ve done the Dragon Quest III HD-2D thing, some bits here will feel familiar. Running on PlayStation 5? Smooth as butter, like 60 FPS kind of smooth. And hey, you can speed up battles till it’s lightning fast. Plus, no more thumb aches holding down the run button — just toggle it, simple.
Jumping into the nitty-gritty: Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake. Chronologically, it continues from III, which, honestly, is why they released ’em this way. You’re solo, a descendant of Erdrick—no allies. Just you against the Dragonlord. Talk about pressure, but they’ve recalibrated the old school NES-level tough. It’s still hard but not soul-crushing. Strategy? Oh man, you’ll need it. But by the end, you’re like a powerhouse. Ever feel like you could take on the world? Yeah, me neither, but close!
And then there’s Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake. Back to having a party! Each member has a personality and a special trick. Square Enix wasn’t spilling any beans about a class system, though. Kind of left us hanging, hinting at a possible four-member team. Decisions, decisions—you can either let the AI take the reins or micromanage every action. Found this neat feature: If a monster has a spell weakness, it tells you, assuming you’ve already tried it once.
Gearing up for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake was like a dream. The HD-2D look? Chef’s kiss—it’s like eye candy for gamers. And the music, freshly orchestrated. Goosebumps! Get ready for October 30, when this beauty hits Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. Can’t wait to hear what y’all think!