Dragon Quest was released in 1986 in Japan and in 1989 as Dragon Warrior in North America. So it began Dragon Quest series, one of the most important RPG series of all time that is still active to this day. Along with its sequel, Dragon Quest 2: Luminaries of the Legendary Lineboth games can now be enjoyed on modern consoles thanks to Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake.
It goes without saying that a lot has changed in the decades since these games were first released, and this isn't even the first upgrade any game has received. But thanks to these changes in Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remakethey're available now more than ever, and RPG fans should jump at the chance to play them.
The difficulty levels
Go Hard or Invincible
The difficulty options from Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake back in both games in this collection. Players can switch between Dracky Quest, Dragon Quest, and Draconian Quest difficulty settings, which also include an invincible mode that prevents characters from dying in battle.
This is a godsend for the first game, especially since the hero is a one man army. Other helpful features include automatic saves after almost every action, from entering rooms to ending battles, and manual saves are still present as well. There's also a guide feature on the world map that helps speed up story progression for those who need it.
The extended story
And voice acting
The graphics naturally look good in the collection as Square Enix has really nailed its HD-2D style at this point. Along with that, the story has been expanded in both games, most notably in the second game.
Both games have voice acting, but the characters come to life Dragon Quest 2 Remake because there is a party system. The voice acting is well performed and enhanced by the classical music. The only downside is that both Hero characters are silent, but at least Dragon Quest 1 Remakes Hero emotes similar to Link i Zelda game.
The hero faces many new challenges
Improved combat
While Dragon Quest 2 Remake is the bigger game, there are a few things about Dragon Quest 1 Remake which are better, or at least more interesting. In the original version, players faced one monster at a time to keep things more fair. In the remake, players now have to face as many enemies as they do in the second game, which is more exciting.
Thank God, the hero of Dragon Quest 1 Remake is stronger this time with new abilities to destroy his enemies. There are also difficulty modes, which again are a godsend for new RPG players to rely on. Although the game is shorter with a simplified story, it is fun to return to a classic like Dragon Quest 1 Remake.
Sigils are now more than key items
Upgraded attacks and power-ups
In the original version of the second game, there were key items called Sigils. Now collecting them will enhance certain aspects of the game. Water Sigil, for example, will increase the effect of items. Soul Sigil is the most interesting addition as characters with lower health can now turn attacks into more powerful ones.
They're kind of like Limit Breaks from the Final Fantasy series, which have been in Dragon Quest series before do as Coup de Grace attacks from Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Sigils appear in Dragon Quest 1 Remake too, which is an example of how combat has evolved for the lone hero.
Mini medals appear in both games
A transfer from four
Mini Medals first appeared in Dragon Quest 4: Chapters of the Chosen. They were added Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeand Mini Medals have been added Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake. Collecting mini medals can be tricky, as they can be hidden in chests, barrels or even lying on the ground.
They are worth it though, as the items and gear that players can trade for are rare. There is also Tombola, a kind of Powerball system, which allows players to get rare loot. Both games in the collection don't have much in the way of side quests, so Mini-Medals and Tombola help expand their scopes in meaningful ways.
The ship upgrades
Unda Da Sea
Both games have new characters, dungeons and monsters, which should be standard for remakes. Of the two, the second game has a major new addition via the Ocean Floor. About half way Dragon Quest 2 Remakeplayers can upgrade their ship to go underwater.
Players can explore an all-new overworld map, complete with dungeons and a mermaid city. It's kind of like how The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom added an underground area and a sky area to Hyrule that was featured in its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Expands the party by two
Here comes Matilda
The Dragon Quest The series started with one playable character, and then expanded to three characters in the sequel, and then four characters in the third entry. This became the standard in most Dragon Quest entries going forward, and Dragon Quest 2 Remake retroactively added a fourth character via Matilda.
She is the sister of Caradoc, who appeared in the original version, but she was just an NPC. Matilda first appears as a temporary party member before joining just in time for players to go underwater. Having a fourth party member makes the game easier, no matter what difficulty players are on, plus she's just a fun character to have around.
- Released
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30 October 2025
- ESRB
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All 10+ / Fantasy violence, Mild gore, Mild language, Mild suggestive themes, Use of alcohol
