"I Was A Bit Nervous At First" - Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Producer Talks Reimagining An RPG Classic

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Nintendo Life: Dragon Quest III is a vastly beloved sport worldwide and in Japan particularly. Was it daunting approaching this traditional, and what had been you most aware of when engaged on the remake?

Masaaki Hayasaka, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake producer: Sure, it was undoubtedly a frightening activity. A traditional sport carries the particular moments and recollections of so many individuals, so we needed to meet the expectations of those followers from each angle. Whereas this title is designed to be an accessible entry level for newcomers to DRAGON QUEST, our main viewers stays those that skilled the unique sport.

Personally, I consider that regardless of what number of new gamers we appeal to, if the unique followers aren’t glad, the remake will in the end be thought-about a failure. So, above all else, my focus was on making a remake that may meet, and even exceed, the expectations of the unique sport's followers.

Photographs: Nintendo Life The unique Dragon Quest III manages to seize the sensation of journey and exploration by permitting gamers to simply uncover issues. How have you ever expanded on that concept within the remake?

...my focus was on making a remake that may meet, and even exceed, the expectations of the unique sport's followers.

I didn’t got down to increase the sport considerably. It might be extra correct to say that we tried to faithfully seize the gameplay and really feel of the unique on this remake. For instance, we’ve added extra handy options, like goal markers and guides, which weren’t within the authentic.

Nevertheless, you continue to have the choice to show these off, permitting you to discover and uncover issues by yourself, simply as you probably did within the authentic. With this strategy, we aimed to fulfill each gamers preferring a faster, extra streamlined expertise and those that need to benefit from the sport in the identical approach as earlier than.

Akira Toriyama’s (who handed away earlier in 2024) artwork and Koichi Sugiyama’s (who handed in 2021) music had been integral to the unique Dragon Quest III. Are you able to inform us how you've got tried to protect and respect their work on this remake?

We tried to stay as devoted as doable the place music was involved by way of issues that gamers may keep in mind, reminiscent of “This music was taking part in throughout this scene within the authentic,” or “This music was taking part in for this map.” Sugiyama-san composed every bit with the imaginative and prescient of the scene or map in thoughts, so we made a aware effort to not alter the music simply because it was a remake.

As for the artwork, you may discover on this remake you could see the again view of your get together members in battle, and if you change weapons, it is mirrored within the pixel artwork. Nevertheless, the clothes largely stays the identical. This was carried out to protect the costume designs that Toriyama-san created for the completely different vocations, permitting gamers to totally recognize them. There are various different examples like this, however general, we labored laborious to honour and respect Sugiyama-san and Toriyama-san’s visions to the best extent doable.

We're happy to see the Monster Grasp vocation (from Dragon Quest VI) is again as the brand new ‘Monster Wrangler’ class. Have been there another courses that you simply thought-about bringing again for this remake?

Photographs: Nintendo Life No, we didn’t think about different vocations. First, the city and subject maps on this sport are bigger than these within the authentic, so we would have liked to introduce new gameplay components to encourage gamers to discover each nook of the world. Moreover, we determined to incorporate a brand new function referred to as Monster Area, and we regarded into how we might combine it in a approach that may make it a key a part of the general expertise.

To summarize, the Monster Wrangler vocation emerged from the next components: Stray monsters will be rescued within the expanded fields and cities; Monsters will be entered in battle on the Monster Area; Monster Wranglers have a novel set of traits that enable them to simply rescue monsters for battle.

Therefore, Monster Wrangler was the one new Vocation choice that we thought-about.

The HD-2D Remake incorporates brand-new story components. How did it really feel attending to increase the unique plot, and are there another storylines you would like you possibly can have added?

Actually, I used to be a bit nervous at first, since I used to be including to a narrative written by [Yuji] Horii-san himself. However I am assured within the content material and now that I’ve acquired Horii-san's steering and full approval, I am actually excited for everybody to expertise it. There was nothing we needed to incorporate that we could not.

...we labored laborious to honour and respect Sugiyama-san and Toriyama-san’s visions to the best extent doable.

After we added the brand new components, together with the brand new episodes, we made certain to remain true to the essence of the unique work. Our objective from the beginning was to reinforce the story with out disrupting its core, protecting the whole lot throughout the realm of “bonus content material.”

There are various who've solely simply obtained into the Dragon Quest collection due to Dragon Quest XI. Are there any issues that these approaching III as followers of XI, or for the primary time, ought to be searching for?

For these new to DRAGON QUEST III it could be nice if they might expertise it from the attitude of taking part in a sport that grew to become a social phenomenon and left a long-lasting affect on RPG historical past. We have made enhancements to reinforce its playability for contemporary audiences, however we have saved the unique really feel of the sport intact. This speaks to how well-developed the system was in its authentic type, because it solely wanted minimal changes. We wish gamers to understand the greatness of the unique work.

I am certain followers of DRAGON QUEST XI will spot delicate components all through the sport that can make them assume, “This seems acquainted…” and I hope they take pleasure in discovering these touches as effectively!

With Dragon Quest I & II arriving subsequent 12 months, how would you are feeling about additionally remastering the Zenithia trilogy (Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI) in the future?

We recognize your enthusiasm. For now, we’re dedicated to giving our greatest to DRAGON QUEST I & II, so please look ahead to them.

<img class="lazy" srcset="https://images.nintendolife.com/30edc370f59d2/dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake-waterfall-personality-test.450x.jpg 450w, https://images.nintendolife.com/30edc370f59d2/dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake-waterfall-personality-test.900x.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)" src="https://images.nintendolife.com/30edc370f59d2/dragon-quest-iii-hd-2d-remake-waterfall-personality-test.900x.jpg" width="900" height="506" loading="lazy" alt="Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Waterfall Personality Test"/> Picture: Nintendo Life

This assessment has been edited flippantly for readability.

Our due to Masaaki Hayasaka for taking the time to reply our questions and to Kyle at fortyseven for arranging this interview. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is out now on Change, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Are you taking part in the remake this weekend? What vocations are you operating with? Tell us down beneath!

Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and whereas RPGs are her past love, Nintendo is a detailed second. She enjoys nothing greater than overthinking battle methods, characters, and tales. She additionally needs she was a Sega air pirate.