Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D: Square Enix is Cracking Open Classic Magic, But What's Inside?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Square Enix is not just giving *Dragon Quest 1* and *2* a shiny HD-2D makeover this October; they're adding genuinely new gameplay mechanics like learnable 'scrolls,' making the Princess of Cannock a playable character in *DQ2*, and bringing 'sigils' to *DQ1*, promising to deepen the classic RPG experience beyond mere visuals.
Right, so you know how sometimes you try to polish an old relic and it just ends up looking like a slightly shinier, slightly more expensive old relic? Well, Square Enix, bless their cotton socks, seems to have genuinely tried to do a bit more than just that with the upcoming *Dragon Quest 1* and *2 HD-2D Remakes*. After the absolutely cracking success of the *Dragon Quest 3* remake – which, fair play, was a stunning rebirth for a classic – they're now giving the OG adventures the same pixel-art-meets-modern-lighting treatment.
Now, I've been tinkering with this news all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than just a pretty paint job. Set to drop on October 30th for pretty much everything – Switch, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, and even the mysterious 'Switch 2' (a lovely little wink, that one) – these aren't just visual overhauls. Square Enix is actually sprinkling some new gameplay pixie dust into these decades-old sagas, and that, my friends, is where my digital wizard senses start tingling.
The core, turn-based combat? Still there, naturally. You wouldn't mess with that unless you wanted to start a full-blown gaming riot, would you? But they're adding what they call 'new wrinkles,' and honestly, some of them sound quite intriguing. First up, we've got 'scrolls.' These aren't just for reading ancient prophecies; apparently, they're how your playable characters will learn new spells and skills. You'll have to go on a proper scavenger hunt for them, finding them in treasure chests or probably from some dodgy, magic-selling merchant in a back alley somewhere. The kicker? Each scroll is character-specific. So, your hero in *Dragon Quest 1* might bag a 'Dragon Slash' scroll to absolutely wallop those overgrown lizards, while your mage might find something to, I don't know, turn slimes into perfectly edible jelly (one can dream, eh?).
This 'scroll' business sounds like it's straight out of a wizard's experimental lab. Giving ancient heroes new tricks? That's a bold move, cottoning onto character specialisation in games that predate modern RPG skill trees. It's not just a visual upgrade; it's a bit of a mechanical re-enchantment. It makes me wonder: how much will this shift the early game? Will players suddenly be chasing specific scrolls, altering their preferred party build earlier than ever? What does it *mean* for the beloved simplicity of the original *Dragon Quest* that even its basic hero can now learn new skills?
Then there’s the big one for *Dragon Quest 2*: the Princess of Cannock is going from glorified NPC to full-blown, kick-ass playable character! You heard me right. She was previously just… *there*, I suppose, a plot point more than a person. Now, she's joining your party, packing a punch with Frizz-type and Crack-type spells. Talk about a glow-up! It’s like finding out your quiet neighbour was actually a powerful mage all along. Does it re-contextualize her role in the story? Give the narrative a bit more oomph? And how will it impact party dynamics? Adding a new, active member to an already established classic can be a delicate spell to cast. Fair dinkum, that's a neat trick, and I'm genuinely curious to see how it plays out from a player perspective.
And just when you thought they were done tinkering, they're bringing *Dragon Quest 2*'s 'sigils' into the original *Dragon Quest*. These little magical trinkets grant combat advantages – like the Sun Sigil that can make your special abilities land critical hits. It's like adding a pinch of a potent potion to an already classic recipe. Will it overwhelm *DQ1*'s elegant simplicity, or give it just the right kick? My gentle skepticism immediately questions if it'll overcomplicate the game for purists, but my optimistic chaos side says it might just provide a lovely layer of strategic depth that the original, for all its charm, lacked.
Now, let's talk about the moolah. There's a digital-only 'Erdrick Trilogy Collection' retailing for $99.99, bundling all three remade *Dragon Quest* games. One hundred quid, give or take, for three retro remakes is certainly a hefty scroll to unroll, isn't it? My eyebrow is gently raised, as always, at that price point. However, for those poor souls who've been waiting on news for *Dragon Quest 12* since its reveal way back in 2021 – a wait that feels longer than some ancient curses – this might just be the magical elixir to tide them over. It's a clever move by Square Enix, acknowledging that hunger for new *Dragon Quest* content even while the main course is still cooking.
Ultimately, these remakes aren't just digital archaeology; they're actively trying to revitalise ancient texts with new chapters. It's a blend of respect for the past and a curious eagerness to see 'what happens if…' we add a bit more magic. And that, mate, sounds like an adventure worth embarking on.
This tale was first spun by Austin Manchester over at Polygon. Cheers for the intel, mate!
Tags: DragonQuest, RPG, Remake, SquareEnix, NintendoSwitch
Original article: Polygon