DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake
Last updated: 2025-03-15
- Stunning HD-2D graphics and excellent sound.
- Many quality-of-life improvements enhance gameplay.
- Classic JRPG with freedom and nostalgia.
- Fun monster collecting minigame added.
- Tedious exploration due to high encounter rate.
- Poor combat and enemy scaling issues.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 2000
- Helpful reviews
- 76%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 21%
- Protest reviews
- 3%
- 75%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 25%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 3289
- Negative points
- 3238
- Gameplay points
- 676
- Perf. points
- 100
- Rec. points
- 1333
- Misc points
- 247
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Stunning HD-2D graphics and sound | The remake boasts stunning HD-2D graphics, blending retro pixel art with modern 3D environments, lighting, and animations. This visual overhaul enhances exploration, battles, and cutscenes, creating a vibrant and immersive world. The re-orchestrated music and voice acting further contribute to the game's impressive presentation. | 97% |
| Many quality-of-life improvements | The remake incorporates numerous quality-of-life improvements, making it more accessible and enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the Dragon Quest series. These enhancements streamline gameplay, reduce tedium, and add depth to the overall experience. Many reviewers express that the remake is the definitive edition of Dragon Quest 3. | 46% |
| Classic JRPG with freedom | The game offers a classic JRPG experience with a semi-open world, a flexible class system, and strategic turn-based combat. Players have the freedom to explore the map, customize their party, and tackle objectives in their preferred order. The game strikes a balance between complexity and simplicity, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore RPG fans. | 26% |
| Fun, addictive, and balanced difficulty | The game offers a balanced and adjustable difficulty, making it accessible to a wide range of players. It provides a fun and addictive experience with a charming art style and engaging gameplay. The game's design allows for both casual relaxation and strategic challenges, catering to different playstyles. | 21% |
| Evokes strong sense of nostalgia | The remake successfully evokes nostalgia for the original game, reminding players of their childhood experiences and the classic era of RPGs. The game retains the charm and feel of the original while modernizing the graphics and gameplay. This blend of nostalgia and innovation provides a satisfying experience for long-time fans. | 16% |
| Excellent and nostalgic music | The game features an excellent soundtrack, with re-orchestrated versions of classic tunes that enhance the overall experience. The music is described as beautiful, nostalgic, and perfectly fitting for the game's world and atmosphere. The high quality of the BGM is a standout feature for many reviewers. | 16% |
| Easier and less grindy than original | The remake is generally easier and less grindy than the original NES version, with quality-of-life improvements and new abilities that enhance player utility. The game retains the feel of the SFC version while being adjusted to be very easy to play. The reviewer appreciates the increased availability of stat seeds, allowing for more strategic character development. | 12% |
| Modern conveniences improve gameplay | The game incorporates modern conveniences such as auto-saving, adjustable battle speed, and clear objectives, making it more accessible and enjoyable for newcomers. These quality-of-life improvements streamline gameplay and reduce tedium. The game also includes detailed settings, such as battle speed, allowing players to customize their experience. | 10% |
| Fun monster collecting minigame added | The addition of the Monster Wrangler class and the Monster Arena provides a fun and engaging creature-collecting minigame. This new content adds variety to the class system and provides a rewarding side-quest for players to enjoy. The Monster Wrangler class is often described as overpowered but fun to play. | 9% |
| A must-play classic JRPG | The game is considered a classic JRPG and a must-play for fans of the genre. It is praised as one of the best remakes of a genre-defining RPG, offering an authentic and enjoyable experience. The game's classic gameplay and well-established RPG format continue to provide a wonderful and fun experience many years after its original release. | 7% |
| Faithful remake with added content | The remake is true to the original game while adding new content and features. It is aimed at both newcomers and veterans, offering a mix of nostalgia and freshness. The remake is praised for being done properly and showing love and appreciation for the original. | 7% |
| Customizable characters and voice acting | The game allows players to customize the appearance of their characters, including names, genders, voices, and hair colors. This character creation element is a welcome addition, enhancing individuality and attachment. The inclusion of voice acting in key scenes and battles further enhances the experience. | 6% |
| Detailed and enjoyable town exploration | Exploring towns is enjoyable due to their detailed environments and the art, time, and effort put into each environment. The town scenery is beautiful and uplifting, matching well with the orchestral music. The game world's height differences, depth, and various town objects create a sense of regional atmosphere and life. | 6% |
| Expanded story, especially Ortega's | Additional story elements have been added without major contradictions, especially regarding Ortega. The game features a fleshed-out perspective for Ortega, which was absent in the original. The added depth to Ortega's story is a positive change, highlighting his struggles and sacrifices during his 16-year battle. | 6% |
| Beautiful HD-2D graphics enhance locations | The HD-2D graphics are beautiful, with areas like Jipang with its cherry blossoms looking wonderful. The HD-2D art style combines pixel art characters with detailed, dynamic environments, creating a blend of nostalgia and modern aesthetics. The 2D sprites in a 3D world give the game a unique charm. | 6% |
| Well-made additional story content | The additional content is well-made, especially the story content featuring Ortega. Extra-hard post-game content provides a challenge. The added story elements and the ending were exciting and enjoyable for fans of the series. The post-game content is a well-executed mashup of SNES/Mobile/GBC content with new additions. | 6% |