Square Enix unveils side-by-side comparisons of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and original NES game  

Ahead of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the official Japanese PR account for Dragon Quest on X has been posting short side-by-side video comparisons of footage from the original 1988 NES release and the remake. At the time of writing, five videos have been published so far, giving fans a sneak peek of how the modern graphics of the remake are breathing new life and detail into the classic RPG. 

In the original game, players had a top-down view of their characters, with geographical features, water and other environmental elements indicated by flat textures – letting players’ imaginations fill in the rest. The Dragon Quest HD-2D remake switches the game to a side-view perspective, with the camera following your hero or party as they wander through towns or traverse dungeons. The HD remake thus adds far more detail to the environment in a watercolor style reminiscent of later entries in the series. This is especially noticeable in the fourth clip released (see below), which appears to show the party exploring the Underground Lake dungeon west of Norvik, which is now full of rocks and glowing lanterns and appears to stretch off into the distance.  

Likewise, the clip of Aliahan’s castle town (below) reveals a lush environment with a lake full of waterlilies and fine details like birds flying away as you approach and smoke drifting up from chimneys. What is clear in all the clips is that the layout of the environment appears to be true to that of the NES original.  

Although Dragon Quest III is the third game in the series, it is actually a prequel to the first two games, which is why it is being released before Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (which is coming sometime in 2025). Graphics are not all that will be new in these remakes- they will also include new story elements, bosses, dialogues and environments. Furthermore, series creator Yuji Horii recently revealed that those who play the trilogy in chronological order can look forward to a new “surprise” at the end. 

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is scheduled to launch on November 14 for the PC (Microsoft Store), Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Steam version will come out a day later, on November 15.