Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Release Day: Erdrick's Legacy Reborn in HD-2D Perfection!

Today marks a monumental moment for Dragon Quest fans: the launch of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, the capstone to Square Enix's ambitious Erdrick Trilogy revival. Following the acclaimed Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, this dual package resurrects the series' origins, with breathtaking pixel art elevated by 3D effects, orchestral soundtracks, and thoughtful enhancements. It's an excellent blend of nostalgia and new additions that will keep you enthralled for nearly 50 hours of questing.

As our preview highlighted, the remake honors the originals' simplicity while also breathing new life into them. Dragon Quest I still follows a lone descendant of the legendary hero Erdrick, venturing from Tantegel Castle to slay the Dragonlord and restore light to Alefgard. This is the classic solo adventure of exploration, random encounters, and gear upgrades now enriched with additional story beats and battles against multiple monsters, something the original lacked.

Dragon Quest II expands to a party-based epic, with 4 playable characters to match the gameplay of DQ III, in a globe-trotting adventure to thwart Hargon. DQ II is also enhanced with new scenarios, an "epic conclusion" with Yuji Horii-approved twists, and Sigils for ability customization and added depth, making these original Dragon Quest gems shine brighter than ever.

The most dramatic upgrade is undoubtedly the HD-2D presentation, just like in last year's DQ3 remake. 2D sprites pop against the lush 3D backdrops of misty overworlds, bustling towns, and shadowy dungeons. But even with the massive visual enhancements each area faithfully recreates the layouts of the originals. Koichi Sugiyama's iconic score, performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, swells during boss clashes and heartfelt story moments, while fluid animations and enemy weakness indicators modernize combat without dumbing it down. Quality-of-life gems abound: Autosave, quick game-over restarts, destination markers, adjustable difficulty, and streamlined UI ensure accessibility for newcomers while also including multiple difficulties to preserve challenge for veterans. As we heard from producer Masaaki Hayasaka in our preview, these remakes are about "breathing new life" into timeless tales.

Early Critical Reception: A Triumphant Return

The remake's polish has won over the critics. On Nintendo Switch 2, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake boasts a Metascore of 86 and universal acclaim across platforms. Here are a few choice remarks from the current reviews:

Final Weapon - 90 - "Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake masterfully modernizes two timeless RPGs with the gorgeous HD-2D art style. Significant story changes, wonderful quality-of-life improvements, and flawless performance on Nintendo Switch 2 make this a must-play game for any fan of the genre. Without a doubt, this is the definitive way to experience the Erdrick Trilogy for both newcomers and longtime fans alike." - Full Review

Nintendo Life - 90 - "Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a deeply satisfying follow-up to last year’s remake project, closing out the Erdrick trilogy on a fittingly high note. A gorgeous art style, tons of new content and quality-of-life updates, and a wonderful soundtrack all combine to make this one an easy recommendation for any retro JRPG fans. If you’re interested in RPGs, I’d suggest you pick this up at your earliest opportunity." - Full Review

Game Informer - 90 - "If you enjoyed last year's Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, you won't go wrong by picking up this collection. These graphics are likewise bursting with life, and the classic Dragon Quest monster designs are as charming as ever – which makes the sting of character designer Akira Toriyama’s passing that much harsher. But it's good to know his Dragon Quest legacy is in fine form." - Full Review

IGN - 90 - "Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake beautifully concludes Square Enix’s remake trilogy. By using the iconic HD-2D style, it’s able to recapture the retro magic of the originals while giving them a modern facelift. Both games adhere to old-school turn-based combat that holds up despite being fairly simple, with the first offering a tightly focused solo adventure and the second being more expansive with its party-based structure – not to mention its stronger emphasis on storytelling and character development... this collection stands as a heartfelt tribute to the origins of Dragon Quest’s enduring RPG legacy." - Full Review

A Chance for Special Games to Shine Again

While both of these games are classics, Dragon Quest has always been a special game for me personally. It was the first RPG I ever played, and it made a huge impact on me as a child. I can remember staring at the box art and flipping through the game booklet, dreaming of the adventures to come, even when I wasn't playing.

It was a game my Dad and I played together, which is a big part of what makes it special to me. I'll always remember how he mapped out every dungeon on graph paper, making me move onto every tile to make sure we didn't miss anything. I can still hear him say, 'they wouldn't have put a room here if there wasn't something to find'.

Today, as we celebrate the release of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D I wanted to do something to remember that incredible game I played almost 40 years ago. I know that the Dragon Warrior box art is looked down on by some, but I've always loved it and wanted to connect it to this moment.

So, below you can find my attempt at merging that original NES box art with the more traditional Dragon Quest art style, with some inspiration from the current remake art as well.

I hope you enjoy this Dragon Warrior Box Art Remake, and that you enjoy playing this classic game one more time. Happy Questing!

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is available now on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This two game collection is priced at $59.99, and offers 10-15 hours of gameplay for DQ1 and 35-40 for DQ2. Make sure to check back with us at GameMinr.com for all the latest updates.