“I was a little nervous at first” – Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake producer talks about re-imagining a classic RPG

Nintendo Life: Dragon Quest III is an extremely popular game around the world and especially in Japan. Was it difficult to approach this classic and what did you pay most attention to when working on the remake?

Masaaki Hayasaka, producer of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake: Yes, it is definitely a difficult task. A classic game holds special moments and memories for so many people, so we had to meet these fans’ expectations from every angle. While this title is designed to be an accessible entry point for those new to DRAGON QUEST, our primary audience is still those who have experienced the original game.

I personally believe that no matter how many new players we attract, if the original fans are not satisfied then the remake will ultimately be considered a failure. So, above all, my focus is to create a remake that can meet or even exceed the expectations of fans of the original game.

The original Dragon Quest III tried to capture a sense of adventure and exploration by allowing players to explore everything. How did you expand on that idea in the remake?

…my focus is to create a remake that meets or even exceeds the expectations of fans of the original game.

I have no intention of expanding the game significantly. It would be more accurate to say that we tried to faithfully capture the gameplay and feel of the original in this remake. For example, we’ve added more convenience features, like objective markers and guides, that weren’t in the original.

However, you still have the option to turn these features off, allowing you to explore things for yourself just like you did in the original. With this approach, we aim to satisfy both players who prefer a faster, more streamlined experience and those who want to enjoy the game in the same way as before.

by Akira Toriyama (who passed away previously in 2024) art and music by Koichi Sugiyama (who passed away in 2021) were integral parts of the original Dragon Quest III. Can you tell us how you tried to preserve and respect their work in this remake?

We tried to stay as faithful as possible when it came to the music in terms of what players can remember, such as “This song played during this scene in the original” or “The song This has been issued for this map”. Sugiyama-san composes each piece with a scene or map in mind, so we tried our best not to change the music just because it’s a remake.

In terms of visuals, you’ll notice in this remake that you can see the backs of party members during battle, and when you change weapons, that will be reflected in the pixelated visuals. However, the clothes largely remained the same. This was done to preserve the costume designs that Toriyama-san created for the various professions, allowing players to fully appreciate them. There are many other examples like this, but overall we have worked hard to honor and respect the vision of Sugiyama-san and Toriyama-san to the greatest extent possible.

We are happy to see the calling of Monster Master (from Dragon Quest VI) is back as the new ‘Monster Wrangler’ class. Are there any other classes you considered bringing back for this remake?

No, we do not consider other vocations. First, the town and field maps in this game are larger than the original, so we needed to introduce new gameplay elements to encourage players to explore every corner of the world. Additionally, we decided to include a new feature called Monster Arena and look at how we could integrate it in a way that makes it an important part of the overall experience.

In short, the Monster Wrangler’s vocation comes from the following factors: Stray monsters can be rescued in open fields and towns; Monsters can be brought into battle in the Monster Arena; Monster Wranglers have a unique set of traits that allow them to easily rescue monsters for battle.

As a result, the Monster Wrangler was the only new Career option we considered.

The HD-2D remake contains all-new story elements. How did you feel about expanding on the original storyline, and are there any other storylines you wish you could have added?

To be honest, I was a little nervous at first because I was adding to a story written by [Yuji] Horii-san himself. But I’m confident in the content and now that I’ve received Horii-san’s guidance and full approval, I’m really excited for everyone to experience it. There was nothing we wanted to include that we couldn’t include.

…we have worked hard to honor and respect the vision of Sugiyama-san and Toriyama-san to the greatest extent possible.

When adding new elements, including new episodes, we made sure to stay true to the essence of the original work. Our goal from the beginning was to enhance the story without disrupting its core, keeping things within the scope of “bonus content.”

There are a lot of new people getting into the Dragon Quest series thanks Dragon Quest XI. Is there anything that those approaching III as XI fans or for the first time should pay attention to?

For those new to DRAGON QUEST III, it would be great if they could experience it from the perspective of playing a game that became a social phenomenon and left a lasting impact on RPG history. We’ve made improvements to enhance the game’s playability for modern audiences, but we’ve kept the original feel of the game intact. This shows how well developed the system was in its original form as it required only minimal adjustments. We want players to appreciate the greatness of the original work.

I’m sure DRAGON QUEST XI fans will spot subtle elements throughout the game that make them think “This looks familiar…” and I hope they enjoy discovering these touches too!

When Dragon Quest I & II come out next year, how will you feel about remaking it? Zenithia trilogy (Dragon Quest IV, V.and VI) someday?

We appreciate your enthusiasm. For now, we’re committed to giving our best to DRAGON QUEST I & II, so look forward to them.

This review has been lightly edited for clarity.

Our thanks to Masaaki Hayasaka for taking the time to answer our questions and Kyle at number 47 for arranging this interview. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is available now on Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

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