DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Preview | Hands-On Impressions from PAX East

The GamerHeads crew got hands-on time with the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake at PAX East. For Asa and Roger, it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. For Trina, it was her first journey into these classic adventures. Check out their impressions below.

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Trina's Thoughts

I have officially found my newest remakes that I need to play. At PAX East, Roger, Asa and I got the opportunity to play Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. I went into this knowing very little about the game. As you may or may not know, I’m a newer gamer so games like Dragon Quest came out well before I started gaming - and before I was born in this case. I started out with Dragon Quest I and immediately was in awe of how gorgeous the graphics were. I honestly couldn’t stop staring at the little water fountains and streams which gave the setting a sense of tranquility. Even running through the forest the trees were so detailed, but not out of place in the slightest. 

One thing that I remember Roger teasing me about was my comment about constantly being in battle. It seemed like every 10 steps I had found a new enemy and I couldn’t seem to avoid them! I quickly learned that Dragon Quest set the stage for a lot of games in the future for that invisible turn-based combat. In Dragon Quest II, I got to experience a little bit more of the story beats and while I didn’t start from the beginning of the game it truly piqued my interest to want to play more. I traveled to Moonbrooke and I had so much curiosity about why the town was destroyed. I explored everything I could while also taking on some battles and didn’t get as many answers as I wanted. I can only assume, playing the full game will allow me to have some of those burning questions answered. I am looking forward to playing both remakes and experiencing the full story in HD.

Asa's Thoughts

Dragon Quest is one of those franchises that holds a special place in the hearts of many. I myself hold it near and dear as it was one of the first JRPG’s I played growing up. Thanks to an incredible score and monster design that immediately captured my imagination, I was instantly hooked. What my 7 year old self was not prepared for was the difficulty. 

As soon as I booted up Dragon Quest I & II Remake, I was instantly transported to that time. Everything looked and sounded just as I remembered. That is the magic Square Enix cooked up with this game, actually delivering what my young imagination thought I was experiencing.

All of the improvements that one would expect to see, especially the ones we saw in III Remake, are there. I wish I could say I made it far in the limited time I had with the game, but I spent most of my time talking to every NPC, exploring every nook and cranny, and just getting lost in Alefgard.

Roger's Thoughts

My first experience with Dragon Quest was back when it was called Dragon Warrior. Nintendo Power had a deal: if you subscribed for twelve months, you'd get the game for free. I begged and begged my dad to buy me the subscription. But he pulled out the old line—“There’s no such thing as a free lunch”—and insisted it was a scam. So, no subscription. My friend, on the other hand, signed up—and sure enough, the game arrived in the mail. To my dad’s credit, he eventually admitted he was wrong. Still, that moment stings to this day.

I did eventually get the game—and I absolutely loved it. So getting to play the remakes of Dragon Quest I (and II) at PAX East felt like a full-circle moment. Asa said it best: the remakes look exactly how we remember them. Of course, that’s not really the case—the remakes are stunning. The HD-2D art style absolutely pops on screen. From the character designs to the enemies, even the music—it all looks and sounds incredible. But it’s funny how our minds tend to remember things with a nostalgic shine.

It’s also funny how playing these games feels like riding a bike—muscle memory kicks in, and suddenly you’re back where it all began. As I played, memories came rushing back of being a kid, discovering these worlds for the first time. That’s why I couldn’t stop smiling during the demo. I found myself cruising through familiar areas, instinctively knowing where to go and what to do. Everything just felt right—it felt like home.

I can’t wait to dive into the full releases. These are special games, and I’m glad they’re getting the remake treatment—because now, a new generation of gamers will get to experience them the way I remember them.