Square Enix uses its HD-2D technology to breathe new life into the most popular RPG franchise in Japan, but do the first two entries in the series stand the test of time?

For Japanese fans there is probably no game more important than 1986’s Dragon Quest. It was by no means the first Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) but it popularised the genre to such a degree that the entire franchise is now considered a national treasure, despite being little known in the West (the first entry to be released in Europe wasn’t until Dragon Quest 8 in 2006).

Those who played the first of Square Enix’s HD-2D Dragon Quest remakes – 2024’s reimagining of 1988’s Dragon Quest 3, a prequel which chronologically preceded the rest of the series – should have a fair idea of what to expect from Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake. Namely, that both games have been completely remade in Unreal Engine 4, rather than just given a light remaster.

New areas and dungeons have been added, the storylines have been expanded, and countless quality-of-life improvements have been made – such as the addition of autosaves, which essentially act as checkpoints. By the time the original Dragon Quest 3 came out its battle system had acquired extra sophistication and its that, with some extra refinements, which is also the foundation of this Remake compilation.

Visually, the games looks great, as while Square Enix’s HD-2D technology tends to seem rather dark and dreary in the Octopath Traveler games, here the game world is just as bright and colourful as the original. The remakes also preserve something close to the classic top-down viewpoint, but with 2D character moving across 3D backgrounds. It’s a great looking game in its own right but also a perfect blend of old and new visual styles.

Jumping into the remake of the first game, one aspect that instantly strikes you is how Zelda-like it is in terms of plot (the original The Legend Of Zelda predates Dragon Quest by three months). Playing a descendant of the great warrior Erdrick, you must save the kingdom of Alefgard from the evil Dragonlord, who has unleashed monsters everywhere and kidnapped the Princess Gwaelin. So, your first task is to – you guessed it – rescue the princess.

The second game takes place a couple of generations later, in a new world containing three kingdoms founded by descendants of your character from the first game. One of those kingdoms is invaded by the evil Hargon and his minions, and four scions of the ruling families form a battlegroup to rectify the situation.

Both stories have a good-versus-evil style innocence to them, as well as a surprising willingness to deviate from the linear; you often have several quests on offer, which you can pick off in any order. While gameplay and general production values may have moved on significantly since the late 80s, games made in those days could still offer something similar to the layered story arcs we see today.

The turn-based combat, where your characters line-up politely opposite their opponents, is very old-fashioned but it’s proven so influential to the genre that games such as Persona are still using a similar system today, with many calling for franchises such as Final Fantasy to get back to their roots as well.

There is one chief difference between the remakes of Dragon Quest 1 and 2: in the first game, you play as a solo battler (occasionally being joined by the odd ally), whereas in the second game you control a group with complementary skills, as seen in most modern JRPGs.

Battles are so polite in Dragon Quest (Square Enix)

One effect of that is to make the first game more challenging to play through; you really have to work hard to defeat bosses and even mini-bosses. But playing the two games in chronological order certainly gets you in the correct tactical frame of mind.

One aspect that helps immeasurably, is that in the Dragon Quest 1 remake you can now use abilities as well as spells, which wasn’t originally the case. The former are effectively spells but tend to use up less magic points and some of the more defensive abilities are particularly useful against bosses, once you work out their attack patterns.

The end result is, if nothing else, a fascinating chance to experience the very origins of the JRPG. But both games are also great fun to play in their own right and hardly any less complex or interesting than many modern examples of the genre. It’s not Metaphor: ReFantazio (even if there are clear evolutionary connections), but it’s certainly more entertaining than many other recent examples of the genre, including Final Fantasy 16.

There’s no pretending either the story or gameplay is as complex as top tier examples of the genre, but both games are much more involving than their age would imply. They’re also pretty meaty, with each containing 15 to 20 hours of main storyline. Nostalgia is the driving force behind these remakes but at the same time these are historically important titles, whose charming simplicity makes them enjoyable even if you’ve never heard of the franchise before.

Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Price: £59.99
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Artdink (original: Chunsoft)
Release Date: 30th October 2025
Age Rating: 12

So much colour! (Square Enix)

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.