Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake was one of my favorite games of last year. I scored it a 9 in my review, finding it to be a shining example of how to remake a classic RPG. Square Enix took everything that made Dragon Quest 3 an all-time favorite and leaned into it with a modern retelling that preserved its classic sensibilities: satisfying turn-based combat, a classic story full of heart, and gorgeous towns and dungeons to explore. Now, Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake looks to follow in 3’s brilliantly executed footsteps, and if the hour I spent with the upcoming pair of remakes is any indication, they appear to have been recreated with the same level of love and quality as last year’s hit.To get any initial confusion out of the way, the original Dragon Quest 3 was a prequel to Dragon Quest 1 and 2. When Square Enix sought out to remake the original NES trilogy, it decided to do so in chronological order, starting with Dragon Quest 3 leading into 1 and 2. So, if you’re reading this and you haven’t played Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, that’s really the “correct” starting point for what’s being called the Erdrick Trilogy. My hour of hands-on time was split evenly between 1 and 2, which are being sold as one combined package where you select which game to play from an introductory menu. I caught glimpses of an early town and dungeon in Dragon Quest 1; a tall, intimidating tower in Dragon Quest 2; and a healthy dose of the overworld in both games; and was pleased to find that the gorgeous HD-2D art style seen in games like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy remains a perfect fit for Dragon Quest’s cozy, homey vibes. It’s pleasant to simply exist in the world of Dragon Quest, with its familiar melodies and traditional RPG storytelling. 1&2 HD-2D Remake looked and ran great in handheld mode on Nintendo Switch 2, which is surely where I’ll play the full version later this year.But beyond its graphical enhancements, Dragon Quest 1 is noticeably older than 3, even in its remade form. Dragon Quest 3 is recognized as one of the godfathers of the RPG genre, setting the framework that party-based RPGs have built upon for the last 35+ years. 1 and 2 are each a little rougher around the edges for their own reasons, and while I wholeheartedly respect the decision to keep the original skeleton intact for these remakes, the result is what’s setting up to be a significantly more hardcore RPG experience.Dragon Quest 1 only features one playable character throughout the entire journey.The main reason for this is that Dragon Quest 1 specifically only features one playable character throughout the entire journey. There are no party members to recruit, and thus no help on the battlefield – it’s just you. As I ventured out of the Roadside Inn across Dragon Quest 1’s overworld to go take on the series’ recurring thief Robbin’ ‘ood, I found that I had to approach battles in a very different way now that I was totally alone. Moves that raised my character’s evasiveness that I would have never selected in Dragon Quest 3 suddenly felt essential. Usually, my hero would just go all-out on the offensive while a healer would make sure he stayed on his feet, but in this one-man show, I had to keep myself alive while also dealing as much damage as possible. I defeated Robbin’ ‘ood after completely using all of my healing items, and it was a satisfying nail-biting victory. I probably prefer having a whole party of different characters with unique classes at my disposal, but I’m excited to play a different style of RPG.Dragon Quest 2, on the other hand, does give you a full party of four characters on the battlefield, which was a welcome breath of fresh air after the intense isolation of Dragon Quest 1’s combat. Here, Square Enix wanted to challenge us at this preview event, presenting us with a towering dungeon we were clearly underleveled for. My team got appropriately stomped, but I did get to check out some of the new combat options that have been specifically added in 1&2. 3’s remake introduced a ton of fantastic battle options, including choices to speed up battles, have your characters make decisions on their own according to a set list of strategies that you choose, and an easy mode called Dracky Quest where your characters can’t die. 1&2 brings all of these options back and introduces a few new ones, like the ability to still play in easy mode but without the invincibility option that was mandatory last time around. But the most notable addition is an option to highlight which moves and spells are strong against each enemy type that you’re fighting. This can be turned on or off at any time, and will surely make EXP grinding sessions much smoother, or give new players a crash course on the best moves to pick.Even though the original Dragon Quest 1 and 2 aren’t quite as beloved as Dragon Quest 3, I can’t wait to dive into the full release of this RPG remake duology. Plus, there are apparently more surprises in store, as Square Enix is teasing a new twist that will add a lot of content that wasn’t present in the original games. Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake is out October 30 on Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. You can add it to your IGN Playlist wishlist below.Logan Plant is the host of Nintendo Voice Chat and IGN's Database Manager & Playlist Editor. The Legend of Zelda is his favorite video game franchise of all time, and he is patiently awaiting the day Nintendo announces a brand new F-Zero. You can find him online @LoganJPlant.