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* this article is translated from ign us related content, the original author is logan plant, and the translation is tony. reproduction without permission is prohibited.

although i think people are a bit overusing the word "warm and cozy" when categorizing games nowadays, if you ask me to use another word to describe how i feel when playing "dragon quest", i really can't find a better one.

the straightforward but satisfying turn-based combat, coupled with a beautiful fantasy world and a righteous "hero's journey" story, creates a traditional rpg experience that i always feel very comfortable with. therefore, when i participated in the recent "dragon quest 3 hd-2d remake" early access, when i had the opportunity to try it on ps5 or switch, i didn't hesitate to plop down on the sofa and play it in the comfortable switch handheld mode.

switch owners can rest easy: dragon quest 3 runs smoothly and beautifully on the aging nintendo console. several of square enix's other hd-2d games, like alone traveler and chrono warriors, have been perfect for bedtime play, and dragon quest 3 looks like it'll fit in that tradition.

the remake information we have seen before has focused on the parts that are faithful to the original fc game, and the one-hour trial i played this time focused on the new content added to the remake. so far, i am very satisfied with these new contents, which bring new fun but do not destroy the style of the original.

i first got to try out the reworked monster arena, where you can send monsters you've captured in the game into tournaments to fight other teams of monsters. in the original dragon quest 3, you could only place bets to predict the outcome of battles, but in the remake, you can compete yourself. collecting monsters has been a staple of the main dragon quest series and the monsters spin-offs for decades, and it's great to see that tradition continue.

i sent out a preset team of slimes, hoymi slimes, and unicorns, but it's clear that this mode is designed for monsters that players collect in the game. in the monster arena competition, you can't give orders to monsters directly, but choose one of four courses of action, including: full attack, play it by ear, focus on treatment, and don't consume mp.

in the first few games, i had hoimi slime focus on healing my teammates while slime and unicorn were responsible for damage, but once i realized that the battle was already won, i let the whole team attack. this monster auto chess mode seems to be a good pastime, and i can imagine that i often come here to adjust the team and participate in the game.

as i watched my team fight, i was mesmerized by the enemy models. when the remake was first announced, i thought dragon quest and the hd-2d style were a natural match, and seeing it in person has only strengthened my belief that these classic enemies are paired with square enix's charming style, which makes me like them more and more. in the first battle i saw, the caterpillar monster among the enemies had a very detailed waiting animation, shaking its body back and forth, and twisting its entire body when attacking, which made the turn-based battles seem more vivid.

the boss models are also very detailed, such as the "gandatan" and his minions that i encountered. i met them at the top of the champagne tower. the process of climbing the tower is a classic dark mine maze, and the maze is full of atmosphere. here, i was deeply impressed by the flexibility of the combat system.

remember those four courses of action in the monster arena i mentioned earlier? in dragon quest iii's standard combat, those courses are still available, with the added option of "following orders." this means that when you encounter weak enemies in a maze, you can have four party members attack at full force to quickly and easily mow down the enemies, while when facing a challenging boss, you can make every decision yourself to avoid a setback.

plus, you can speed up combat at any time, which makes combat a very pleasant experience, reinforcing the warm and cozy feeling i mentioned earlier. in those battles that only take a few seconds to resolve, i can be a hands-off boss and enjoy the pleasure of the experience points rising, while when i climb to the top of the tower to face the boss, i want to complete the challenge myself.

it was a wise decision to do it yourself, because this battle was really dangerous. i had to let the monk heal many times, while the protagonist and the monster master (a new profession added in the remake) took on the responsibility of output. after gandatan finally fell, i breathed a sigh of relief. this experience made me eager to rush to the next maze to challenge the next powerful boss.

i also want to praise the remake's party customization feature. in the original dragon quest 3, teammates were only distinguished by their professions, without any other personalities, but the remake provides a new feature for "luida's tavern": you can design teammates in the tavern, including their professions, names, appearances, hair colors, and voices. although there are not many choices, it is enough for me to create a character that is somewhat similar to myself, satisfying my desire to become a member of the team. i guess players will definitely have a lot of fun in the process of customizing their teams.

"dragon quest 3 hd-2d remaster" will be released on switch, ps5, xbox series x|s, and pc on november 14. in addition, "dragon quest 1&2 hd-2d remaster" will be released next year.