Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Preview: Reviving the Erdrick Legacy in Stunning Style

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is set to breathe new life into the foundational entries of one of gaming's most beloved RPG series. Developed by Square Enix, this remake bundle reimagines the 1986 and 1987 classics with the acclaimed HD-2D visual style, blending pixel art with modern 3D effects. Slated for release on October 30, across all major systems, the games promise to honor their roots while introducing enhancements for today's players. Drawing from a recent PlayStation Blog interview with producer Masaaki Hayasaka, here's a closer look at what makes this remake a must-watch for RPG fans.

The HD-2D Magic: A Perfect Fit for These Retro Classics

While both games have been completely remade and enhanced for this collection, the standout feature of this remake is its HD-2D art style, which was introduced in the original Octopath Traveler and then used last year to bring Dragon Quest III to life in stunning HD.

Hayasaka explains the choice:

Since the titles that make up the Erdrick trilogy are the most retro of all the Dragon Quest titles, and the starting point of the franchise as a whole, we realised that the HD-2D style would be a perfect fit, and so we resolved to remake them.

In the interview, Hayasaka revealed that one of the most difficult things about converting the retro 2D games into 3D was the environments. The goal was to recreate the environments in 3D while adhering closely to the original layouts, allowing veterans to rely on their memories. Hayasaka notes,

"I wanted people who played the original game to still be able to rely on their memories of it — to be able to say, ‘I seem to remember that if I go over here, then I’ll find this thing… Yep! There it is!’"

The result is a visually stunning world that feels both nostalgic and fresh, with lush overworlds, towns, and dungeons enhanced by dynamic lighting and depth.

Gameplay: Preserving Charm with Modern Tweaks

At its core, Dragon Quest I & II retain their turn-based RPG essence, exploring vast worlds, battling monsters, and unraveling epic stories as descendants of the legendary hero Erdrick. However, the remake introduces several quality-of-life improvements to make the experience more approachable. These include autosave, quick restarts after game overs, location guides, destination markers, difficulty options, enemy weakness indicators, and improved UI controls. A new Short-Cut Commands feature even lets players assign favorite commands to specific buttons for streamlined play. Hayasaka highlights the balancing act:

"Our approach was that we could change as much as we wanted to, as long as the core of the game was still intact, and we placed great importance on the knowledge that we could make changes."

One of those changes can be seen in the screenshot above. While the original Dragon Quest limited all combat to one-on-one affairs, the remake will introduce combat against multiple monsters. You, and your Hero, will need to be at your best to overcome the odds.

Dragon Quest II expands on the first game's solo adventure by introducing party-based combat, and the remake adds a fresh twist by adding the Princess of Cannock as a playable character. Hayasaka shares,

"We wanted to come up with something that would make this title stand out... She appears in the original game as well, and just like the game’s protagonist, she too is a descendant of Erdrick, so there was a lot of speculation among fans that she might become a party character at some point."

These additions will no doubt make both of these games a joy to play, and the contrast between the solo gameplay of Dragon Quest I and the party-based combat in Dragon Quest II will be great to see side by side.

Challenges and Innovations: Rebuilding Classics

Adapting these vintage titles wasn't without hurdles. Respecting the source material, while still creating an engaging and modern gameplay experience, was a constant battle, as Hayasaka describes:

During development, we had to keep in mind that we wanted to strike the balance between making changes wherever we saw fit, without undermining the original game, so this was something that was constantly playing on our minds

The story also received major enhancements, including additional scenarios and an "epic conclusion" with unexpected twists, developed in close collaboration with series creator Yuji Horii.

Recent trailers, like the Erdrick's Legacy Trailer and the Gameplay Features Trailer embedded below, showcase these updates in action, highlighting fluid battles, Sigils for ability customization, and the more interconnected narrative of the Erdrick trilogy.

As you can hear in the trailer above, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D will feature updated soundtracks that preserve Koichi Sugiyama's iconic compositions, but which are performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra to make sure the audio matches the epic visual upgrades. The overall presentation aims to evoke the wonder of the originals while inviting new players into the fold.

Final Thoughts: The Beginning of Japanese RPGs, Lovingly Remade

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is more than a nostalgic trip, it's a thoughtful evolution that looks capable of bridging generations of gamers. By tackling the challenges of modernization head-on, Square Enix is delivering a package that respects the series' origins while expanding and enhancing the gameplay, visuals, and overall experience. Whether you're a longtime fan, like me, or a newcomer to the series, this remake looks set to kick off the Erdrick saga in spectacular fashion.

Dragon Quest I and II are basically two of the most respected RPGs ever made, but now made even better. If you’re a fan of the genre, they’re a must-play.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake for Nintendo Switch - $59.99 at Amazon

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake launches October 30, 2025, on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more details, you can visit the official site or check out the developer interview on the PlayStation Blog. As always, stay locked on to GameMinr.com for all the latest.