A remake of the NES original. Second games in NES franchises are often a bit tricky as developers sought to try and work out what worked, what didn't, and where things can go. To that end, much of Dragon Warrior II represents some important moves for the franchise, such as the introduction of a party of main characters, a far bigger world to explore than the first, and a large variance in enemies and mobs.

However, it also gets some things wrong. For one, it's a far more difficult game than the first but it's a rarely a fun challenge, opting instead for random party kills, frustrating spikes in enemy levels, and a general lack of direction. It's an especially grindy game with extensive multi-level dungeons and a sluggish pace that tests the patience of even the most hardened JRPG fans.