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In 2018, Square Enix released Octopath Traveler and discovered a winning formula – the utterly gorgeous art style dubbed “HD-2D.” Blending modern visual improvements with a nostalgic sprite-based style has given Square Enix’s games a wholly unique style that has turned out to be incredibly popular with fans. But the Dragon Quest 3 remake represents the next step for HD-2D, applying that style to a beloved classic game, and the results are just as astounding as what’s come before. It also opens up a wealth of questions on what other games Square Enix could remake in this style, and Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake producer Masaaki Hayasaka has one, in particular, that he’d like to see.

“It’s not that we have concrete plans for this, but personally I would have to say Final Fantasy VI,” Hayasaka tells Inverse, “Octopath Traveler—the first HD-2D title—was developed while referencing FFVI, as it had the highest quality pixel art. I would love to see how the game we referenced would look with the HD-2D art style.”

A few other excerpts from the interview with the DQ3 producer (full interview in the linked article):

After all these years, why is now the right time to remake Dragon Quest 3? Had a remake ever been considered before this project?

Hayasaka: Since the “HD-2D” graphic expression was created with Octopath Traveler and became accepted by many people, an idea to remake Dragon Quest 3 in HD-2D was brought up within our company.

The HD-2D graphics were the most suitable art style for remaking the Erdrick trilogy, which are the earliest titles within the Dragon Quest series. Now that this art style is born, we felt it was the perfect timing for a remake.

What was it like updating Dragon Quest 3 into the HD-2D engine and style? Were there any difficulties you ran into? How much work did rebuilding the game’s world entail?

Hayasaka: The quickest way to explain this is by comparing the first teaser we released three years ago against the latest trailer. I’m sure you will find everything to be different, from the map size to the characters’ body proportions. We get asked why things took so long since the first announcement, but the fact that we needed this much time speaks to how intensely involved the process of applying HD-2D graphics to Dragon Quest 3 truly was.

Some say that because HD-2D is pixel-based and this game is a remake, it should be easier to produce, but that is far from the truth! In my opinion, this style requires a higher level of artistic sensibility, and a remake faces more project-level limitations compared to a brand-new title, making the difficulty extremely high. After all, the expectations from the fans of the original game are a monumental hurdle we must work hard to meet.

With Live a Live and now Dragon Quest 3, are there any other classic Square RPGs that you’d like to see get similarly remade? Why do you think the HD-2D style works so well for remakes?

Hayasaka: It’s not that we have concrete plans for this, but personally I would have to say Final Fantasy VI. Octopath Traveler—the first HD-2D title—was developed while referencing FFVI, as it had the highest quality pixel art. I would love to see how the game we referenced would look with the HD-2D art style.

Because this art style itself was created while referencing such titles, it’s highly compatible with games originally made using pixel art. This compatibility is probably why people feel this style is a match made in heaven with these types of remakes.

'Dragon Quest 3' Producer Wants to See an HD-2D Remake of 'Final Fantasy VI'

Inverse talks to Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D producer, Masaaki Hayasaka, about the difficulties of the HD-2D style and what the future looks like.

www.inverse.com

 

[Sethbacca]

Hayasaka: It’s not that we have concrete plans for this

Literally all most of us have been wanting for years. I don't need it FF7R'd.....

Though the way this quote is portrayed, there aren't concrete plans, which means that there ARE plans. Make it happen!!!!!!

 

[diffusionx]

It's what everyone has wanted since the first HD-2D game.

 

[IAmRei]

but if it somehow, there is 3d remake, even just like bravely default style, i would love to see FFVI in works

 

[Chuck Berry]

We all do

 

[John Bilbo]

The original is still perfectly playable. But that's hot

 

[Boss Mog]

It's what everyone has wanted since the first HD-2D game.

That and Chrono Trigger.

 

[StereoVsn]

That and Chrono Trigger.

Let’s throw in Xenogears. Xeno in same motif as Star Ocean 2 Remake would be amazing.

 

[A.Romero]

I'm here just to say that I love Octopath Traveler II although it's sometimes ruthless.

 

[A.Romero]

Let’s throw in Xenogears. Xeno in same motif as Star Ocean 2 Remake would be amazing.

Fuck didn't even think of Xenogears. I would love that remake. One of my favourite JRPG's ever.

 

[kunonabi]

They've censored FFVI enough, I'm good.

 

[graywolf323]

Let’s throw in Xenogears. Xeno in same motif as Star Ocean 2 Remake would be amazing.

honestly only if they can actually finish the damn game

 

[Loomy]

As long as it's Octopath HD-2D and not DQ3 HD-2D

 

[TintoConCasera]

They should do FF V instead, it's the better game.

 

[Danjin44]

honestly only if they can actually finish the damn game

If thats the case Takahashi needs to be the one working on it.

As long as it's Octopath HD-2D and not DQ3 HD-2D

whats wrong with DQ3 HD-2D?

 

[Punished Miku]

I'd rather have new games.

 

[Danjin44]

I'd rather have new games.

We are still getting new games and I don’t getting type remakes time to time….I’m fucking loving crap out of DQIII.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Count me in! And along with the other 2 awesome 2D FF games like FFIV and FFV.

This should have been done long ago instead of the pixel remaster thing which didn't even look as good as the FFIV psp remaster.

 

[amigastar]

I would rather see a good 3D remake like Dragon Quest VII on 3DS.

 

[Loomy]

whats wrong with DQ3 HD-2D?

Octopath and Triangle Strategy kept the pixel art look and had more consistent art direction. DQ3 is really stretching the definition, in my opinion.

 

[Oberstein]

 

[cash_longfellow]

Yep. That, and Chrono Trigger.

 

[Danjin44]

Octopath and Triangle Strategy kept the pixel art look and had more consistent art direction. DQ3 is really stretching the definition, in my opinion.

You mean the environments? But that style might works better for Xenogears because that game has 3D environments.

 

[Loomy]

You mean the environments? But that style might works better for Xenogears because that game has 3D environments.

It would for Xenogears. 100%.

 

[Arsic]

Chrono trigger first.

 

[Morrie’s wig shop]

No shit, everyone over the age of 40 has been asking for years..

 

[Gouty]

Even with how DQ3 turned out and serving as a blueprint I don’t trust modern SquareEnix to not fuck this up.