 
						The Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake rejuvenates the classic JRPG experience while preserving its core challenge. For newcomers to the franchise, familiarizing yourself with some key features can significantly enhance your gameplay right from the beginning. This comprehensive guide will cover essential settings, exploration strategies, and combat techniques to help mitigate the game’s difficulty.
Essential Settings for a Smoother Experience

Unlike its predecessors and previous remakes, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D offers several new settings designed to ease the gameplay experience. If you’re not a hardcore fan seeking intense challenges, adjusting these settings can make your adventure more enjoyable.
Accessibility options can be adjusted in the System Settings menu’s Helpful Settings section (accessible via the Triangle/X/Y button on the field – Misc.– System Settings).Here are the first two vital adjustments:
- Treasure Chest Locations: Displays icons on the mini-map to show treasure chests.
- Secret Spots: Highlights locations on the world map where players can discover Secret Spots that yield extra items, rare gear, Scrolls, and Mini Medals.
Another crucial setting found in the Difficulty Settings section is:
- Recover HP/MP Upon Leveling Up: Fully restores HP and MP whenever any character levels up.
Enabling these features significantly enhances the overall gameplay for most players, considering the high difficulty level and encounter rate in both games. The indicators for Treasure Chests and Secret Spots reduce the time spent exploring thoroughly, minimizing random encounters, while HP and MP restoration on leveling makes dungeon exploration much more efficient.
Exploration is Key

Exploring the colorful worlds of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake may seem simple, but within them lie numerous secrets, such as powerful gear, Scrolls, and valuable consumables that teach new abilities or grant Mini Medals. Finding these treasures can significantly enhance your gameplay.
Look beyond just the shining spots and visible treasure chests; you should inspect every corner of a new town as well as every drawer, cabinet, bookshelf, pot, and barrel. When venturing through dungeons, inspect even the most unassuming locations, as hidden treasures often lurk in the unlikeliest spots. A meticulous approach to exploration will reap substantial rewards.
In a game where essential gear can be expensive and potentially out of reach, discovering hidden items can be vital. Any extra equipment you find may not only be useful but can also be sold in shops for gold, allowing you to purchase necessities.
Healing Items Are Essential

In Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, characters descend from Erdrick and learn several healing spells. However, the limited MP and scarcity of MP restoration items necessitate careful planning regarding spell usage.
Consequently, healing items should form the backbone of your healing strategy. Items like Medicinal Herbs and Strong Medicine, which restore 30 and 50 HP respectively, are affordable and can be accumulated in large quantities in your Item Bag. Just remember that items stored in your Item Bag cannot be used in combat, so ensure they are transferred to your characters before battle.
If you frequently use the Tactics auto-battle features, maintaining a robust supply of healing items is advantageous. Most Tactics options except “Show No Mercy”will use items when necessary, ensuring your party stays healthy.
Benefits of the Tactics Feature

The Tactics feature in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake provides several effective auto-battle configurations:
- Show No Mercy: Characters unleash their full power.
- Fight Wisely: Characters balance offense and defense.
- Focus on Healing: Prioritizes healing over all else.
- Don’t Use MP: Engages in battles without depleting MP.
- Watch My Back (specific to Dragon Quest II HD-2D): Focuses on healing while others deal damage.
While many JRPGs typically encourage player control, the Tactics settings in this remake prove effective during random encounters. Customizing these settings allows you to enhance individual strategies within your party, and even dictate spell and item usage during auto-battle. Given the frequency of random encounters, utilizing Tactics can save significant time and streamline your gameplay.
Notably, all Tactics settings, except “Show No Mercy, ”possess a unique AI mechanic that enables smarter healing, responding to unexpected critical hits more effectively than a human player.
Don’t Hesitate to Adjust Difficulty

While Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is less punishing than the original NES editions, it still presents a formidable challenge, particularly for newcomers. Despite your strategic setup, you may encounter surprising difficulty spikes, especially from powerful foes with complex mechanics.
Therefore, don’t hesitate to lower the difficulty to Dracky Quest, the available easy mode. If you disable the Invincibility feature, this setting can provide a meaningful challenge without overwhelming you with excessive difficulty.
You can adjust the difficulty settings anytime through the System Settings menu, allowing a flexible gaming experience. No content is locked based on difficulty choice, so feel free to modify as necessary to maintain enjoyment.
Have you played the original Dragon Quest games and wonder if the HD-2D remake merits your time?
 
		   
		   
		   
		  
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