Summary
Dragon Quest 3may have come out in 1988, but thanks to the new version,Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, it feels like a modern game. The HD-2D graphics help a lot, along with other improvements like difficulty levels, voice acting, fast-forward buttons, and so on. The one thing that holds it back from feeling like a modernopen-world RPG is the side quests.
Players can’t traditionally track them and there are no NPCs specifically asking players for help inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Instead, players have to pay attention and seek out these side quests themselves by listening to others and taking notes. Here are some good early examples.
6Saving Norvik And The Faeries
Mending The Rift Between Cultures
This is the biggest side quest players can tackle at the beginning of the game. To start, players have to travel north to Norvik, a village that has been cursed to sleep. There’s only one NPC left unaffected, an old man, who says the Faeries did it to the West. Players can then travel West to the Faerie Village and learn about the Underground Lake via the Queen.
That’s the last place she knew her daughter, Aniseed, was seen with the Faerie’s precious treasure, the Dreamstone. Inside this dungeon, players can find a ton ofgood loot for the early hours ofDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakealong with the Dreamstone. Once returned to the Queen, she will give players Wakey Dust to cure the town of Norvik but unfortunately, Aniseed died a tragic death, leaving the Queen a bit bitter toward humans.
5Collecting Mini Medals
Getting The Best Gear Quickly
CollectingMini Medals inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeis a persistent side quest that will last until the final chapter. They can be hidden in treasure chests like normal loot but by and large, these precious medallions will be hidden in jars, barrels, dressers, and so on. Most locations have at least one to two Mini Medals around.
In the first town, Aliahan, players can find one in the castle and one in a random house. Also in Aliahan is the Mini Medal exchange emporium. Players can get two greatearly weapons inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakevia this process like the Thorn Whip and Edged Boomerang. Other early notable Mini Medal locations include Norvik which has one, the Faerie Village which has one, and Khoryv which has two.
4Returning The King Of Romaria’s Crown
Becoming King/Queen For A Day
One of the earliest main quests will require players to enter the Skyfell Tower for the kingdom of Romaria. The King lost his crown via a crook and he also believes the Magic Key players seek is hidden there. Inside, players will face their first boss, Robbin’ ‘Ood, and his minions. He will drop the King’s crown and then run away when Romarian soldiers appear.
Players will get the Magic Key and this crown. The Magic Key was the goal and there’s absolutely no real reason players need to return the crown to the King because if they do there are no prizes. It’s just a funny exchange wherein players can become a king or queen for the day depending on the gender players chose for theirhero inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.
3Collecting Monsters
A New Side Quest For The Remake
There were quite a few tweaks made to the game but some new content was added too. For example, there’s a new Vocation called the Monster Wrangler. Also, players can collect monsters in a variety of places and use them to fight in arena matches.
This side quest will begin when players bump into a Slime and Monty the Monster Monitor at the Shrine of Promise. He proposes the idea ofmonster collecting inDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. The more monsters players gather, the better the prizes Monty will dish out and the arena has good prizes too. Players should keep an eye out for monsters at Secret Spots on the map which can be identified by rock gatherings in desert areas or giant trees in grassy plains.
2Opening Blue And Red Doors
Obtain The Thief’s Key And Magic Key
There are two keys players can gather through the game’s main quests. The first is the Thief’s Key which opens red doors and the second is the aforementioned Magic Key which opens blue doors. There are more keys and seals players can gather in the game but these are starters. When traveling around the world, players should use the Recall function whenever they see a red or blue door.
Using Recall will take a picture and mark where that door is located on the map through notes. It’s an easy way to remember locations when there is inaccessible stuff the first time around. Recall is a function more developers should add to their projects, especially Metroidvanias. Getting back toDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, there is a blue door in Aliahan’s castle with a bunch of loot inside.
1Unlock The Sage Vocation
It’ll Take Some Grinding
The hero character will begin the game as the literal Hero Vocation and then they can go to Patty’s Party Planning Place to recruit or customize three other party members. A good starting party in the game should include a Mage and a Priest and the last slot is up to player preference. Players probably won’t want to create a Gadabout character initially but there is a good reason why they should.
If players get their Gadabout to level 20, then they can transform that character into aSage, a hidden Vocation withinDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remakeand one of the strongest in the game. This can be done at Alltrades Abbey. So, the earlier players start leveling up their Gadabout, then the more ready they will be when they make it to Alltrades Abbey later in the game which is like pre-prepping a side quest.
