Here we are at the end of the week and Nintendo didn't announce a single game for their two subscription services. Sony did announce classic games for PS+ owners, but they are Blood Omen 1 and 2, which we covered earlier this month when we looked at the complete Legacy of Kain franchise. Thankfully, Square Enix has come to the rescue by releasing the much-anticipated Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the first of three announced updates to 8-bit entries in the Dragon Quest series. With everybody excited to dive into this brand-new remake, I wondered what the critics thought of the original games back in the 1980s and 90s. Were these early installments as celebrated as they are today? To answer those questions, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, Video Games & Computer Entertainment and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get your sword and shield ready, adventure seekers, because this is Dragon Warrior Review Crew.


If you're a fan of role-playing games, then you've likely heard about Japan's love affair with the Dragon Quest series. For as long as I can remember, magazines were reporting on lines that stretched around the block and how many Japanese gamers consider a new release to be a national holiday. Clearly, Nintendo hoped that this kind of fervor would happen when they brought Dragon Quest to the United States, renaming it Dragon Warrior for some reason. Unfortunately, American gamers weren't as receptive to a slow-paced adventure with turn-based gameplay, resulting in a game that under-performed by everybody's expectations. With so many unsold cartridges to move, Nintendo decided to use Dragon Warrior as a way to incentivize NES owners to subscribe their fledgling magazine – Nintendo Power.

Having learned their lesson with the 1989 release of Dragon Warrior, Nintendo opted against picking up the sequel, the appropriately named Dragon Warrior II. This time around Enix did the heavy lifting, perhaps hoping that maybe all of the free copies that came with Nintendo Power turned a few more American gamers into RPG-lovers. This was, after all, a newer game that implemented a lot of big improvements, including the addition of A.I. companions and monsters that came at you in packs. While Dragon Warrior II wasn't the break-out hit Enix was hoping for, it did manage to get a lot more coverage in the Western press. Where Nintendo Power was the only magazine to review the first game (giving it 3.5 out of 5), suddenly there were several publications wanting to weigh in on the sequel. Let's see how that went.

When it comes to Electronic Gaming Monthly, they weren't not impressed. Of course, this was a role-playing game in 1989, so that reaction is par for the course. Resident fake ninja Sushi-X barely used his full box to review this lengthy RPG: “The king has been killed and the evil ones desire to control he world. How many times have we been in this situation? Too many times, I'm afraid. This is the sequel to Dragon Warrior, and I can hardly tell the difference ... or care.” Ed was a lot more charitable, explaining why the series hasn't taken off in the States: “The main problem that Dragon Warrior II has is the bad reputation that Dragon Warrior has on NES RPGers. Dragon Warrior II is a sequel better than the original, with a very long quest and plenty of challenging situations. Like Ultima, it's only for serious players willing to devote lots of time to a difficult quest.” EGM gave Dragon Warrior II an average score of 6 out of 10.

Unfortunately, Electronic Gaming Monthly was not the outlier, as Video Games & Computer Entertainment was also underwhelmed by this sequel. Giving it a 5 out of 10, C.B. made a very bad prediction: “It's hard to criticize Dragon Warrior II. On the day the third installment was released in Japan, kids waited in line for hours just to buy a copy, and many of them had the game stolen by muggers as they walked home with it! Although this type of video game hysteria is unheard of in America, you can bet that the series will prove to be popular here. But I can't help thinking that when the NES is dead and buried, historians will look at games like Dragon Warrior II and scratch their heads, wonder what all the fuss was about.”

Don't worry, RPG fans, there were magazines that actually liked Dragon Warrior II. Nintendo Power, for example, gave the game a 4 out of 5, up from the 3.5 they gave the first game. That 4 out of 5 is the exact same score we got from Johnny Arcade over at GamePro. “In order to even find Hargon, you face countless hours of exploration, battles and even aimless wandering. If you liked Dragon Warrior, you'll enjoy Dragon Warrior II. It's a good role-play for beginners and average gamers, but although advanced gamers may enjoy it, they may find it a little tame. And, hey, if you haven't tried Dragon Warrior, check it out first. It's fun to do these games in sequence to get the full effect of the saga. You'll be a legend in your own time before you know it!”

That's right, kids, don't you dare play these games out of order. Also, don't leave now, because we're about to see what the critics thought of Dragon Warrior III.

Hey, remember when Johnny Arcade told you to play the games in sequence? Perhaps you might want to start with Dragon Warrior III, a prequel that sets up the stories found in both Dragon Warrior I and II. Released two years after the last installment, this sequel is bigger and more ambitious in almost every way. There's now a class system, a bigger world to explore and some of the coolest bosses found in any of the Dragon Warrior games. Once again, Enix published the game in the U.S., this time spending the money to advertise it with Act-Raiser in pretty much every magazine, even the ones that didn't review it (like EGM). Speaking of which, let's see what the critics thought of this third entry in the Dragon Warrior series.

With Electronic Gaming Monthly choosing not to review this lengthy RPG, let's go ahead and start with Video Games & Computer Entertainment, which gave the sequel a 4. No, that's not a 4 out of 5, but rather a 4 out of 10. Yeah, they didn't like it. They also decided to use the term “computer role-playing game” in a way that will definitely confuse some people. “Many gamers shy away from computer role-playing games, believing them to be lengthy and repetitive. Even a true CRPG fan would have to admit that that's generally a reasonable assessment, given the incredible amount of time spent combatting creatures. But a well-crafted CRPG balances combat with exploration, interesting characters and locations, rich plots and good storytelling. Dragon Warrior III, unfortunately, puts the emphasis on the combat side, while other elements take a back seat. For computer role-playing game fans who aren't deterred by a game with 75% combat and 25% quality role-playing, Dragon Warrior III may fill many hours. Everyone else: Hang tight till the next Ultima hits the shelves.”

Things don't get much better when we check in with Game Zone, who gave Dragon Warrior III an average score of 53%. “What can I say ... it's an RPG, it's another sequel, but an average game. If you're one of the many Dragon Warrior fans out there though, you should like this new title in the series. While nothing new or exciting is done using the NES's capabilities, it adds a good addition to the story. But I still can't stand all your guys walk in that long line everywhere. Why not bunch them into one character like other RPGs? Also, is it really necessary to have so many inset menus?”

When it comes to Nintendo Power, they gave Dragon Warrior III a score of 3.6 out of 5, which is better than the first game and worse than the second. They would later re-review the game and give it a 4 out of 5, but we're only counting the first review. And then there's GamePro, who remained consistent, giving this RPG the same score as the previous entry – a 4 out of 5. “Mysteries, locations and items abound in Dragon Warrior III. It's a longer, more complex game than its forerunners with lots of fresh features, such as Travel Doors, which zap you across time and space to new worlds. The overhead scrolling graphics, sound and music make the cut, but don't break the mold. All in all, Dragon Warrior III does a great Ultima impression, as did the earlier games in the series. Don't hesitate to get your sword polished and your shield buffed, and then help Erdrick and company look for some new blood.”

This is yet another stark reminder that early role-playing games had an uphill battle with not only consumers, but also critics. This was an era that rewarded fast-paced gameplay and arcade action, and turn-based combat was out of step with where American gamers were at the time. Thankfully, all this would eventually change, but not for another few years. Here's to everybody out there enjoying the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake this weekend.