Summary
The censorship inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis a result of age rating compliance, as recently revealed by Yuji Horii, the creator of the iconic series. The industry veteran has also chimed in on some of the other minutiae of howDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakewill differ from the 1988 original.
Originally announced in May 2021, theDragon Quest 3remake went goldin mid-September 2024. The game is presently scheduled to hit the market on November 14, when it will reach the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Ahead of its release, some fans have voiced criticism of Japanese developer Ardink for altering several of the game’s character models. Specifically, the studio updated the female sprites of the Warrior and Gadabout class in order to have them show less skin.
Dragon Quest Creator Attributes DQ3 HD-2D Remake Censorship to ‘Regulations’
Dragon Questcreator Yuji Horii acknowledged these complaints in a recent interview held during Tokyo Game Show 2024. He attributed the changes to “various regulations,” noting that the game’s age rating would have gone up if the original artwork authored bythe late Akira Toriyamaremained intact. The industry veteran suggested that he personally doesn’t have a problem with how the 1988 sprites look, according to a translation of the interview provided by Twitter user Saou0345.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Won’t Have Male/Female Hero Terminology
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakepreviously received an Everyone 10+ rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Its PEGI classification has yet to be published as of October 1, but will most likely be PEGI 12, which is the closest equivalent to the ESRB E10+ rating. Speaking aboutotherDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakechangesduring his TGS 2024 interview, Horii revealed that the upcoming game won’t offer the original’s choice between a “male” and “female” hero at the start, but will instead label them as “Type 1” and “Type 2.” The 70-year-old expressed confusion over this change. “I really wonder who’s even complaining about this?” he asked rhetorically.
Former Shonen Jump magazine editor Kazuhiko Torishima, who was instrumental in kicking off the development of the originalDragon Questin the ’80s, was also part of the TGS 2024 interview. After the question about theDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakecensorship was fielded, Torishima went on a miniature rant against the United States, calling it a “ridiculous country” when it comes to “narrow-minded” content ratings.
I really wonder who’s even complaining about this?
Censorship controversy aside,Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis also set to debut many improvements, ranging fromOctopath Traveler-like graphics to quest markers and difficulty modes. A new vocation called Monster Wrangler will also be part of the package, together with modernized animations and status changes that will be reflective of enemy HP loss.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
WHERE TO PLAY
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy.Story:Years ago, the great hero Ortega bid farewell to his wife and child as he set off on a quest to defeat the villainous Archfiend, Baramos. Ortega failed his quest, and Baramos still threatens the world. Now, on their sixteenth birthday, Ortega’s only child is summoned by the king of Aliahan and entrusted with a mission of the highest import: to take on Ortega’s quest, vanquish Baramos, and save the world.A fully modernized remake of the original:Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles:A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.Immersive world:Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
