JRPG Remakes Prove Classic Games Are Still Incredible
▼ Summary
– Dragon Quest 1 and 2 have been released as HD-2D remasters on Steam, making these foundational RPGs accessible to modern audiences.
– These games are praised for their simple, earnest storytelling and classic heroic fantasy elements that feel fresh compared to complex modern RPGs.
– The straightforward turn-based combat and balanced random encounters provide a comfortable, enjoyable experience without unnecessary complexity.
– Their remaster highlights how older RPGs offer a refreshing antidote to the bloat and lengthy commitments common in many contemporary games.
– While historically influential, the primary reason to play these games today is that they remain genuinely fun and engaging for any RPG fan.
It’s time to celebrate, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 have returned with beautifully polished HD-2D remasters on Steam, inviting a new generation to experience the roots of Japanese role-playing games. These foundational titles, which first appeared decades ago, continue to resonate not just as historical artifacts but as genuinely enjoyable adventures. Their straightforward charm and focused design make them as relevant today as they were in the 1980s.
As someone who adores classic games, I often feel obligated to frame them as interactive history lessons. We’re taught to use phrases like “timeless classic” or “important for context,” as if their main value lies in nostalgia. But what if we set all that aside? What if we played these games in 2025 simply because they’re a blast?
What if I told you that Dragon Quest 1 and 2 are immaculately crafted RPGs that hold up beautifully by modern standards? Anyone with even a passing interest in the genre can pick them up and have a genuinely good time.
These Dragon Quest releases are just the latest in a string of impressive JRPG remasters and remakes. Each one serves as a powerful reminder that these games were brilliantly designed from the start, even if it takes a fresh coat of paint to draw in new players.
The original Dragon Quest titles are older than many of their peers, but that doesn’t make them any less compelling. The first game follows a classic hero’s journey: evil lords, imperiled princesses, and ancient treasures tucked inside maze-like dungeons. Its sequel kicks off with a gripping disaster and evolves into a heartfelt family quest, with a band of royal cousins uniting to save their kingdoms.
Sure, the setup might sound familiar, but that’s part of the appeal. Modern RPGs have drifted so far from earnest sword-and-sorcery tales that these older games feel surprisingly fresh. Nobody makes straightforward adventures about destiny-bound heroes fighting darkness with courage and a trusty blade anymore. Stories where a pure heart and a sharp sword can genuinely save the world.
Nobody makes games this refreshingly simple, either.
Scan any list of upcoming RPGs and you’ll find sprawling epics that demand hundreds of hours, layered with intricate mechanics and morally gray storytelling. I’ve poured over 500 hours into Baldur’s Gate 3, and I love it, but there’s something wonderfully brisk about these classic titles. Dialogue gets straight to the point. Quaint villages and verdant fields guide you naturally from one goal to the next. Older RPGs aren’t just fun, they’re an antidote to the bloat that plagues many modern releases.
The same goes for their turn-based combat. You attack, heal, and make sure your party survives. No complex gear synergies, no conditional effects, just straightforward, satisfying battles. “Best in slot” means picking the item with the highest stat.
Sounds boring? Far from it.
There’s a comforting simplicity to the flow of combat. Dragon Quest, in particular, excels with its iconic sound effects and Akira Toriyama’s wonderfully imaginative monster designs. The balance is finely tuned: random encounters feel frequent enough to keep exploration tense, but not so common that they become annoying. Battles offer just enough depth to keep you thinking about turn order and buffs, without turning every fight into a puzzle. These games carry themselves with the quiet confidence of proven classics, simple, but never simplistic.
Yes, these titles are historically significant. Concepts like building a predefined party, expansive worldbuilding, open-ended exploration, and intricate political storytelling were all popularized by these early JRPGs. Their influence echoes throughout the genre, and their recent remasters give them a well-deserved second life.
But let’s not overlook what made them influential in the first place: they’re incredibly fun to play. The classic Dragon Quest games may not be overly complex, but every reason to love them is right there on the surface, easy to find and enjoy. More than retro relics, these carefully restored adventures are living legends, plain and simple good fun. And honestly, that’s more than enough.
(Source: PCGAMER)