Compare Kingdom Come: Deliverance II vs Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Reviewers valued the difficulty options, markers, and other quality-of-life settings for making the old games easier to approach without fully erasing their classic feel.

One reviewer warned that excessive profanity and potentially offensive material make the game unsuitable for some audiences.

AI and NPC behavior were praised for believable reactions, routines, crime responses, and increased sophistication over the first game.

One reviewer criticized the automated battle behavior, saying the AI made poor choices rather than feeling genuinely wise.

Ranged play was viewed as improved by some reviewers, especially archery, but another found ranged combat weightless and weak.

Cutscene direction and mocap were praised for selling relationships and emotional scenes convincingly.

Animation quality was praised in both battle and enemy presentation, with reviewers noting smooth movement and lively spell or monster animations.

The visual style of menus, maps, and medieval presentation received praise for matching the game’s historical tone.

The HD-2D art direction was strongly praised for respecting old JRPG roots while making the worlds feel striking and modern.

Atmosphere was praised alongside world-building, especially in cities, music, and historically grounded locations.

Bosses earned strong praise when they forced strategy and felt rewarding, though a few reviewers disliked specific frustrating fights.

Bugs were present but usually minor; reviewers ranged from calling glitches common to saying issues rarely disrupted play.

Camera behavior was a noted issue for one reviewer, especially through finicky first-person viewpoint problems.

Henry and Hans received strong praise for their evolving relationship and character arcs, with Henry’s trauma and growth adding stakes.

Reviewers especially praised Dragon Quest II's party members for gaining stronger arcs, personalities, and interpersonal chemistry.

The cast was praised for memorable personalities, humor, and a strong sense of history.

The added Princess of Cannock and more useful party members were repeatedly praised as natural, valuable additions to Dragon Quest II.

Checkpointing was criticized for causing lost progress when autosaves appeared only at limited quest points.

Combat drew broad attention for its realism, skill focus, and improvements, though several reviewers still found it harsh, clunky, or frustrating early on.

Combat was widely seen as engaging and more strategic, though several reviewers noted Dragon Quest I's solo fights could become frustrating or unfair.

The dog companion Mutt was praised as useful and worthwhile, especially for tracking and early side-quest benefits.

Reviewers praised the breadth of activities, quests, and post-launch additions, with many describing a large and varied set of things to do.

Reviewers appreciated the expanded worlds, new mechanics, and added content, especially in Dragon Quest II.

Controls were described as noticeably smoother than the first game, especially in camera feel, aiming, and sword fighting responsiveness.

One reviewer found the loop rewarding but volatile, with strong highs offset by repeated frustration and setbacks.

Crafting split reviewers: blacksmithing and alchemy could be charming and rewarding, but several found parts clunky, slow, or repetitive.

Crash stability was praised by multiple reviewers who reported no crashes, no soft locks, or no hard crashes.

Dialogue was mostly praised for impact, humor, and organic choices, though one reviewer found some repeated dialogue drawn out.

Difficulty was often called demanding and unforgiving; reviewers generally treated this as part of the appeal, though not always an easy one.

Difficulty split reviewers: many liked the tougher, more meaningful challenge, but several criticized RNG spikes, grinding walls, or frustrating solo encounters.

The post-launch expansions were credited with adding a large amount of extra content to the package.

The early economy was described as restrictive, especially when selling damaged or stolen goods with limited vendor money.

Reviewers described the story as memorable and emotionally powerful, including scenes that brought strong lasting reactions.

Multiple reviewers described unusually strong emotional payoffs, including poignant scenes and endings that made them stop, reflect, or cry.

Environmental detail was praised for dense, specific objects, puddles, tools, farms, residences, and believable spaces.

Environmental detail stood out through lighting, interiors, water, clouds, towns, and dungeons that made the world feel richer.

Exploration was praised for beautiful spaces, meaningful discoveries, and a strong adventuring feel, though harsh systems made some travel demanding.

Exploration was generally praised for rewarding secrets, treasure, and open-ended discovery, though one underwater segment was called slow and awkward.

Facial animation feedback was mixed: one reviewer noted lifeless dialogue faces, while another praised key character animations.

Reviewers generally agreed the sequel stays true to the original while improving its systems, scope, and accessibility.

One preview emphasized the games' JRPG legacy as a reason to experience them, supporting their faithfulness to Dragon Quest history.

Family friendliness was limited by repeated profanity, sexual content, and depictions of women that one reviewer found objectifying.

One reviewer highlighted sharing the remakes with children as a positive next-generation experience, supporting family appeal.

Fast travel opinions were mixed: one reviewer praised dynamic events, while another found it cumbersome and interruption-prone.

Fast travel convenience was one of the few quality-of-life choices criticized for reducing tension and undermining dungeon-exit magic.

One reviewer reported a consistent frame rate and treated that as part of the game’s stronger technical state.

Frame rate impressions were very positive on Switch 2 and handheld play, with reviewers citing stable 60 FPS or no drops.

Several reviewers found the game highly entertaining, addictive, and rewarding once its demanding systems clicked.

Fun factor was very high overall, with several reviewers saying the remakes were hard to stop playing or simply a great time.

Reviewers repeatedly framed the systems-heavy design as a major strength, praising how mechanics connect to role-playing, dialogue, world simulation, and player expression.

Reviewers praised Sigils, Scrolls, and other new mechanics for adding meaningful choices while keeping the classic JRPG foundation intact.

Graphics were broadly praised for impressive landscapes, cutscenes, lighting, and major visual improvements over the first game.

Graphics received near-universal praise, with reviewers repeatedly calling the HD-2D presentation brilliant, gorgeous, stunning, or full of life.

The game was not seen as a pure grind, but reviewers still emphasized the effort and repetition needed to gain traction.

Grinding remained a concern for some reviewers, but others felt difficulty modes and balancing made the grind less draining than older versions.

Handheld suitability was supported by one reviewer who described the game as scalable enough for handheld play.

Steam Deck play was praised as an ideal way to experience the remakes, helped by performance and save support.

DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers were praised for reflecting stamina, sword clashes, and sharpening interactions.

A horror-leaning quest was criticized for being too short for its dread to fully develop.

The adaptive HUD was praised for hiding unnecessary elements and improving immersion when information was not relevant.

Immersion was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly describing the world, systems, and presentation as absorbing.

Reviewers praised the presentation, music, and environments for making the adventure feel rich, magical, and immersive.

One reviewer praised the scale of improvement as something other studios rarely achieve.

The learning curve was repeatedly described as steep, slow, and friction-heavy, rewarding patience but likely turning some players away.

One reviewer praised the way locations were recontextualized into memorable set-pieces that rewarded planning and awareness.

Dungeon design drew criticism from one reviewer for feeling visually varied but structurally uninspired and light on distinctive traits.

Post-launch support was described positively through free updates, fixes, and eagerly awaited features.

Load times were criticized by one reviewer as long enough to worsen stealth retries and experimentation.

Load times were praised in preview coverage as quick, matching the strong Switch 2 performance profile.

Loot was criticized for early encumbrance pressure and the difficulty of carrying everything a player might want.

The historical codex and contextual detail were praised for offering extensive background on people, events, and society.

Maps were praised for medieval flair and exquisite town art, supporting the game’s historical presentation.

Navigation tools were praised for streamlining play, though objective markers could make some classic item hunts feel too rudimentary.

Menu usability was mixed to negative, with some praise for navigation but others calling the menu system dire or frustrating.

Main mission design was mixed: reviewers praised varied scenarios, but one criticized a required sequence for lacking an alternate path.

Mission variety was strongly praised, especially for quests that went beyond simple errands or bandit-clearing objectives.

One reviewer felt early traversal was unnecessarily taxing, especially before stronger equipment and better mobility options eased the burden.

Narrative quality was a major strength, with reviewers praising the historical saga, main quest, character arcs, and cinematic ambition.

The expanded narrative was repeatedly praised for making the Erdrick trilogy feel richer, more cohesive, and less like a bare-bones relic.

Onboarding divided reviewers: returning and new-player recaps helped, but some found the opening overloaded or blunt.

The open world drew strong praise for its scale, density, historically grounded cities, and lived-in regions across multiple maps.

Reviewers repeatedly emphasized how unusual and specific the game feels compared with modern RPGs.

Pacing opinions varied: some praised the sustained momentum, while others complained about indulgent cutscenes or late-game pacing issues.

Pacing was one of the more mixed areas: some found the flow excellent, while others felt added content created bloat or uneven late-game stretches.

Performance was generally praised across PC and console contexts, with reviewers noting strong optimization and technical improvements.

Performance optimization received praise from reviewers who reported smooth play and no major performance issues.

The PS5 Pro version was praised as a graphical treat, with platform-specific technical strengths noted.

Platform-specific support drew criticism from one reviewer because the Switch version lacked a paid upgrade path to Switch 2.

Reviewers saw the sequel as much more polished than the first game, with rough edges reduced and systems better realized.

Polish was praised where reviewers found the remake approachable, refined, and modernized.

Progression was widely praised for turning early friction into rewarding growth through skills, perks, equipment, and player learning.

Scrolls and character growth were praised for adding light customization and clearer progression without becoming overly complicated.

One reviewer strongly disliked Hans as a long-term companion presence, creating strain on their desire to continue.

Protagonist appeal was mixed: the lone hero concept intrigued some reviewers, but silent protagonists felt bland to others beside voiced side characters.

Quest design was one of the strongest points, with reviewers praising memorable side stories, branching approaches, and strong writing, despite a few disappointing payoffs.

Remake quality was the clearest strength: reviewers repeatedly called these definitive, transformative, or thoughtful updates to foundational JRPGs.

Replay value looked strong thanks to hardcore mode, major content additions, and reviewers wanting to return for more playthroughs.

Reviewer evidence supports replay value across the listed reviews.

Reviewers admired the freedom to solve problems, exploit systems, and role-play, though the sandbox sometimes clashed with scripted story demands.

The save system was one of the most divisive topics, praised by one reviewer but criticized by many as stingy or punishing.

Autosave and expanded save options were repeatedly praised for reducing frustration and supporting portable play.

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

Side characters were praised for compensating for silent protagonists and making the expanded story feel more emotionally alive.

Reviewers liked the depth and usefulness of perks, weapon techniques, and skill trees, especially when they enabled meaningful playstyle specialization.

Sound design was praised for supporting immersion and helping players identify attacks or stealth-relevant cues.

The soundtrack was one of the most consistently praised elements, with several reviewers calling it orchestral, phenomenal, or legendary.

The orchestral soundtrack was widely praised, though one reviewer found repeated tracks tiring over long play sessions.

Stealth was useful and sometimes satisfying, yet reviewers also called it finicky, weak, or frustrating in specific forced sections.

Tutorial quality was mixed, with one reviewer calling it decent while others criticized dense text screens and poor explanations.

The revised perk and upgrade system was praised for offering meaningful upside-focused choices rather than weak side-grades.

UI feedback was positive when reviewers discussed improved, adaptable, or visually polished interface presentation.

Interface changes, shortcut assignments, and UI overhaul were praised for making these old games easier to play.

Value was praised because the game is both strong and very long, with some reviewers reporting enormous playtime.

Value was generally positive because two expanded remakes come in one package, though one reviewer wished the price were lower.

Visual set pieces and in-engine scenes were praised for creating striking emotional moments.

Visual effects were praised for making attacks and spells feel spectacular while preserving the nostalgic tone.

Voice acting was broadly praised, especially the main cast, though some reviewers noted repeated or uneven minor NPC voices.

Voice acting was usually praised for adding emotion and personality, with one reviewer finding the quality uneven but improved.

Weapon balance was mixed: one reviewer liked weapon choice, while another found some ranged options hard to use effectively.

World-building was repeatedly praised as immersive, historically grounded, and central to the game’s appeal.

World-building was strengthened by expanded towns, lore links, and details that made Alefgard and the trilogy feel more alive.

Reviewers consistently praised the reactive crime, reputation, NPC, and quest systems that made the world feel alive and responsive.

Mini Medals and hidden interactables were praised for encouraging players to inspect the world more carefully.

Writing was described as excellent, engaging, humorous, and consistently strong across main and side content.

Writing and localization were praised for adding character, humor, and series-appropriate flavor to the remakes.