As a huge lover of JRPGs, I have to respect Dragon Quest as the one that started it all. Despite this historic status though, it wasn’t until last year that I completed my first mainline Dragon Quest game. I’d always respected the series charm and style, but usually never quite managed to see the credits without being distracted. Last year though saw the release of the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, and I was sucked in by its new quality of life features and gorgeous visuals. It left me prepared to take on the very start of the series too, and now that Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is here I can do just that.
Initially I thought it was bizarre that these fancy new remakes were releasing out of order, but now I’m a Dragon Quest expert I understand that it’s chronological. In Dragon Quest I you play as the descendant of the great hero in Dragon Quest III, who has no proof of his lineage and has to save the day from a big bad to prove himself. Dragon Quest II takes place generations later, when his descendants who have founded three kingdoms must unite against a great evil. It’s a really engaging setup that makes these adventures feel way more connected than I expected, especially to say some of these games originally came out before I was born.
Because I’m not a maniac, I began with Dragon Quest I, and was greeted by a uniquely old school RPG experience. You see in Dragon Quest I you only ever have a single party member, the descendant of the great hero. You’d think this would make for a more dull experience, but it actually makes the combat quite thoughtful. If you’re low on health you can’t just rely on a healer and keep attacking, you have to actually pay attention and look after yourself. If a status effect hits you then you’ll really know about it, because that dazzle means you’ll miss almost all of your attacks now. There’s a chance that for a full on thirty hour epic that the single party combat would get a bit dull, but the ten or so hours it takes to complete Dragon Quest I is perfect for this.
After completing Dragon Quest I, its sequel suddenly feels like a huge evolution. Four whole party members with different abilities and spells makes for compelling turn based combat. Having multiple characters also means you’ve got more opportunity for storytelling, which is perfect for a game that’s around three times longer than its predecessor. Dragon Quest I and II both have a lot of appeal, and this remake ensures the magic is captured without too much old school grind.
These games are still incredibly traditional though, and you’ll see that from your very first battle against Slimes and Drackys. Turn-based battles work exactly as you’d expect, with you telling your characters to attack or use a spell on their turn and watching the drama unfold. Especially early on in these games this would be a bit underwhelming if not for the ability to speed up battles to breakneck speed, which is just wonderful. It doesn’t take too long for fights to become more intense either, and boss fights especially require a whole lot of thought and maybe even a few consumables to overcome.
As much as I loved taking advantage of spells that buff and abilities that grant bonus actions in battle, it’s the exploration of this duo of Dragon Quest games that I loved the most. Wandering the world map and finding new settlements is just pure RPG nostalgia for me, and scouring every pot and barrel for stat boosting seeds and mini medals is so rewarding. I never tired of searching the gorgeous environments for goodies, especially because I found so many great bits of gear at a lovely rate.
While I have far more history with the other giant RPG monolith Final Fantasy, the charm of Dragon Quest appeals to me so much more. The silly enemies with ridiculous pun names are just fantastic, and the sensational designs of the late great Akira Toriyama are absolutely timeless. There’s just a childlike whimsy to these RPGs that no other series can quite capture, and I can’t stop smiling while I battle my way through them.
Although I don’t actually have any experience playing the original versions of Dragon Quest I & II, it’s incredibly easy to notice all the modern improvements that have been made. For example in the original Dragon Quest you only ever fought a single monster at a time, and that’s not at all the case now. That’s one of dozens of new wonderful additions too, ranging from the added mini medals to collect to map markers that can be turned on if you don’t want to get lost. Alongside this you obviously have the outstanding HD-2D visuals, voice acting and a modernised soundtrack, all of which are exquisite. These two games provide the exact Dragon Quest experience that I wanted in 2025, feeling retro but not necessarily dated with it.
As much as I enjoyed my time with Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, I can’t pretend it’ll appeal to everyone. Random battles can feel oppressive, you’ll be sent back and forth between locations constantly, and the difficulty often amps up incredibly quickly. In some ways it wouldn’t feel like Dragon Quest without these aspects, but it’s hard to deny that modern RPGs have overcome these particular issues rather significantly.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a nostalgic package full of classic RPG goodness. The quality of life perks make them a joy to play in 2025, and their charm is as undeniable now as it was when they first released. Finishing off this retro trilogy of JRPGs was a highlight of my gaming year, and made me long for even more Dragon Quest to come my way.
