It’s easy to look at the upcoming Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake and think, "Again?" We’ve had these games on the NES, the Super Famicom, the Game Boy Color, mobile phones, and the Switch already. But honestly, the HD-2D treatment changes the math entirely. This isn't just another port; it’s Square Enix finally giving the foundational blocks of the entire JRPG genre the respect they deserve in a modern engine.
The first time I booted up the original Dragon Quest—or Dragon Warrior, if you’re old enough to remember the NES localization—it felt like a lonely, brutal grind. You were one sprite, walking across a tiled map, fighting one monster at a time. It was primitive. It was slow. And yet, it was the spark. By the time Dragon Quest 2: Luminaries of the Legendary Line hit, the scope exploded. You had a party. You had a boat. You had a world map that felt impossibly big. Seeing these two titles rebuilt in the same engine as Octopath Traveler and the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a weirdly emotional experience for long-time fans.
What the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 Remake Changes (and What It Doesn't)
Square Enix is doing something specific here. They are releasing the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake following the launch of the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. This follows the chronological order of the Erdrick Saga, rather than the original release order. It’s a smart move. Playing 3 first lets you see the world's origin, making the return to Alefgard in the first two games feel like a homecoming rather than just a sequel.
The visual jump is the obvious part. You get those gorgeous, layered environments where 2D sprites inhabit a world with depth, dynamic lighting, and particle effects. But the real meat is in the "Quality of Life" (QoL) adjustments. If you’ve played the NES originals lately, you know they can be a slog. The encounter rates are high. The experience curves are steep. In these remakes, expect the same refinements seen in the DQ3 remake: adjustable battle speeds, clear quest markers, and likely an auto-save feature that keeps you from losing three hours of grinding to a random critical hit from a Gold Golem.
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The Erdrick Connection
The narrative of these games is deceptively simple. In the first game, you’re a lone hero saving a princess and reclaiming a ball of light. Basic stuff. But the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake will likely lean harder into the lore connections between the titles. Because we’re getting these as a package, the transition from the end of DQ1 to the sprawling world of DQ2 will feel much more seamless.
In Dragon Quest 2, you’re looking at the descendants of the first hero. You have the Prince of Midenhall (the tank), the Prince of Cannock (the glass cannon/support), and the Princess of Moonbrook (the mage). This trio set the template for party dynamics for the next forty years of gaming. Square Enix has been tight-lipped about whether they will add new story beats, but the HD-2D series has a habit of adding small "interlude" moments or expanded dialogue to flesh out characters who were originally limited by 8-bit memory constraints.
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We are in a weirdly great era for these "antique" games. Between the Live A Live remake and the success of Triangle Strategy, it’s clear people want turn-based combat and beautiful pixels. The Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake isn't trying to compete with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth or Elden Ring. It’s a different vibe. It’s cozy. It’s "comfort food" gaming.
The challenge for the developers is balancing the difficulty. Dragon Quest 2 is famously one of the hardest games in the series—specifically the late-game trek to Rhone. It was notoriously unbalanced in the 80s because the developers didn't have enough time to playtest the final stretch. Modern gamers usually don't have the patience for that kind of "Nintendo Hard" design. We expect the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake to smooth out those difficulty spikes, perhaps offering different difficulty settings so you can enjoy the scenery without getting wiped by a group of Blizzards casting Defeat every ten seconds.
Mechanical Tweaks to Watch For
- The Skill System: While the original games were very "attack/magic/item," recent remakes often pull in abilities or passives from later entries (like Dragon Quest 9 or 11).
- Orchestrated Soundtrack: Sugiyama’s score is legendary. Hearing the Alefgard theme with a full orchestra while looking at HD-2D water effects? That’s the selling point.
- Inventory Management: The original games had individual inventories that were a nightmare to manage. Expect a unified bag system that doesn't make you toss a precious herb just to pick up a quest item.
The Cultural Weight of Alefgard
There’s a reason Japanese fans lose their minds over this series. Dragon Quest is a cultural institution. It’s why the "urban legend" about the Dragon Quest Law (the idea that the government banned DQ releases on weekdays to prevent mass truancy) exists. Even though it's technically a myth, the sentiment is real. By bringing the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake to modern platforms with this high-end aesthetic, Square Enix is preserving history.
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If you’ve never played a Dragon Quest game, this is actually a better starting point than the eleventh entry. Why? Because you can see the DNA. You can see how a simple story about a guy in blue armor became a global phenomenon. You see the Akira Toriyama monster designs—the Slimes, the Drackies, the Skeletons—in their purest form. Rest in peace to the legend; seeing his work translated into this 2.5D style is perhaps the best tribute the industry can offer.
Dealing with the Grind
Let’s be real: Dragon Quest is about the grind. You walk in circles. You fight monsters. You get gold. You buy a slightly better sword. You do it again. The Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake won't get rid of that loop because that is the game. However, the pacing is everything. In the mobile ports, they boosted XP gains significantly. If the HD-2D versions follow suit, the first game should be a brisk 6-to-10 hour experience, while the second might push 20 to 25. That’s a perfect length for a "palate cleanser" between massive 100-hour open-world titles.
How to Prepare for the Release
If you're planning to dive into the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake, you should probably play the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake first. It’s counter-intuitive to play the third game before the first two, but since DQ3 is a prequel, it sets the stage perfectly. It builds the myth of Erdrick (Loto in Japan), which makes the world of the first two games feel much more legendary and "lived-in."
Keep an eye on the release dates for your specific platform. Square Enix generally aims for parity across Switch, PS5, and PC, but the Switch version is often the "lead" platform for these HD-2D titles because the art style looks incredible on an OLED handheld screen.
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Actionable Steps for Fans and Newcomers
To get the most out of this release, stop thinking of these as "old" games. Approach them as new tactical experiences. Start by finishing the Dragon Quest 3 remake to understand the lineage. When you start the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 remake, pay attention to the "Prince of Cannock" problem in the second game—he’s notoriously weak early on, so prioritize his gear. Also, don't sleep on the "Talk" command; in these remakes, party chat often provides subtle clues or flavor text that wasn't in the 8-bit scripts. Finally, make sure to explore every corner of the world map, as the HD-2D engine often hides little visual nods and hidden items in spots that were just empty tiles in the 1980s.