Experiencing Double Delight: DRAGON QUEST I & II in HD-2D Remake

Well, here I go, diving into this whirlwind of gaming bliss, or chaos, depending on your view. So, I got my paws on the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake at PAX East 2025—like, technically before anyone else—and buddy, it was a trip. Wait, lemme clarify—Square Enix snuck this in, and I was all like, “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” But, yeah, the gaming gods favored me.

Okay, sidetracked. But in the thick of it, right there, these games were… how do you even describe them? Maybe it’s the blend of nostalgia and thrilling newness? Can’t nail it, but it felt like a familiar stranger waving at me—if that makes sense. Both old-timers and newbies are gonna eat it up, no sugarcoating.

Here’s a random tidbit: They had us, the press peeps, on a leash. Couldn’t stray from the path too much, or some beastie would flatten us. Like I was jogging along, minding my game biz, and bam! Monster apocalypse if I wandered. Who thought that one up?

Let’s dive into specifics… Dragon Quest I comes straight after III (yeah, they released them in wonky order)—are their naming guys having a laugh? So, you’re Erdrick’s offspring, no squad, just you with a sword and guts. It’s wild—tough but not cruel. Strategy is your best friend here, trust me. By the end, you’d feel borderline superhero-ish, and who doesn’t want that?

Then, there’s Dragon Quest II, back with the team-play grind. Each character’s got its own quirks. Oh, and guess what, the “mystery class system”—yeah, still a mystery. They played coy about it, those sneaky devs. But at least you get a cool heads-up if your spell lands right. Like, “Hey, it worked on that beast!”

Needless to say, these games looked stunning—eye candy all day. New orchestrations that left the old tracks in the dust. October 30th, mark it down. Every platform under the sun seems to be getting it. Just thinking about it makes me jittery.

And, poof! That’s my chaotic, messy take. Gaming is a wild ride, ain’t it?