Following the success of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, ARTDINK and Square Enix are heading even farther back in time with the release of Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D.
See whether this two-for-one special is worthy of all Heroes with our review…
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Review
Where the series began, Dragon Quest I provides an interesting experience.
For one, it’s the only Dragon Quest entry that doesn’t grant a party to aid you. While it’s great to freely use seeds on one’s self and get super buff, one wrong status effect means death.
While Dragon Quest I is one of the hardest entries in the series, it is also the shortest.
The story in Dragon Quest I is as simple as they come – as the heir to Eldrick (the hero of Dragon Quest III!), players will set out to save the world from the Dragonlord.
A very straightforward quest, Dragon Quest I will have players traveling the lands, rescuing the princess, and ultimately facing off with the big bad.
Meanwhile, Dragon Quest II starts with a bang with the city completely destroyed by an army of monsters.
Playing as another heir of Eldrick, players will get a party – one of multiple heirs of Eldrick!
With said sudden invasion of monsters from seemingly nowhere, these Heroes have to set out to figure out the mystery and stop them from taking any more cities in what amounts to a pretty meaty JRPG.
A collection of JRPGs, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake’s combat is turn-based – albeit with a lot of improvements from their original releases.
For starters, one can speed up combat at any point, making trash battles go quicker. Heroes can also give allies tactics as they let the game play things out. It works for the most part – albeit with AI using a ton of MP in the process.
One can even let the AI control the main player, having it do all combat!
Rather put the sweat equity in yourself? It’s still really simple!
Players can perform basic attacks, magic and skill attacks, or can use items.
Battles in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake feature a hefty amount of strategy, as one should take out certain enemies sooner rather than later.
For instance, if one foe puts players to sleep, they’ll want to drop them before the whole party is sleeping and dies in the process.
That being said, those that keep up on gear and levels will find the game pretty easy on its normal difficulty.
Getting the good gear in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake can be hard in and of itself.
First off, Dragon Quest I has cursed gear – equipping it drains HP, and you can’t take it off until seeing a cleric – take heed.
Secondly, the economy in this game is very balanced. While easy to farm gold and EXP with the auto battle system, top-tier weapons are expensive.
It doesn’t prove to be a problem in Dragon Quest I with its one character – players can simply spend everything on him.
However, in Dragon Quest II, players will need to spread the love – or end busted up by later bosses.
Thankfully, on top of grinding enemies, both games have great exploration and plenty of secrets to find.
Like the remake of Dragon Quest III, new areas have been added to the overworld.
Those that take the time to check these spots are often rewarded with a good piece of gear or a seed.
Seeds will give you a straight-up stat boost to whoever eats them, proving to be very valuable.
There are also random boxes throughout the world that randomly loot, from healing items and cash to even rare gear.
Be sure to check every nook and cranny in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake!
Do note that there aren’t too many side quests to take on, but Mini Medals do make their return.
While searching dungeons, the world, and its different towns, players can sometimes come across these little gold medals.
As players stack them, more and more rewards will become available to the player.
We found ourselves going back every few hours to turn more in for more rewards, since fast travel is so easy in these remakes.
Just cast a spell or use a Chimera Wing, and one can go back to any spot visited before.
Players need not fear any bugs or crashes – Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is pristine.
Just be mindful of its cursed items – nothing a little healing item and spell spamming can’t fix.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake’s collection of JRPGs provides a truly excellent nostalgia trip. For those seeking a cozy fall, be sure to swap out one’s pumpkin spice lattes for its signature turn-based action.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Review
Reviewed On: PlayStation 5 (A digital code was provided)
Release Date: October 30, 2025
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Aggregate Scores: Metacritic / CriticDB / OpenCritic
While greatly enjoyable on its own, PowerWash Simulator 2 is one of those games that is better together with friends. If you have a buddy in tow, don’t hesitate to get washing!
Jurassic World Evolution 3 is the single best entry in the series to date – and it’s not even close.
The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian Entertainment’s best work to date – a perfect RPG for those seeking an old-school approach, one with more substance than expanse.
While we thoroughly enjoy Dispatch’s gameplay and story, its cliffhangers will have you desperately begging for the rest of its content.
BALL X PIT is one of the most satisfying and engaging games we’ve played all year. No matter what type of gamer you are, BALL X PIT is a must-play.
Short and sweet, Candy Rangers’ pick-up-and-play arcade action is just the thing for those looking for a quick sugar rush this fall season.
The post Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.