There is something very funny about giving Torneko his own adventure. Dragon Quest has no shortage of heroes ready to take on some world-ending threat, but this bloke mostly wants to grow his business. I really dig that premise. Bringing back a bag full of things to sell is a refreshingly modest ambition for an RPG, even if the dungeon makes earning that living considerably harder than it sounds. Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon: Classic HD is a remaster of the original game of the same name, giving the game that started the Mystery Dungeon series its first official English release.
Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon keeps things fairly straightforward. Head into the dungeon, fight monsters, collect whatever looks useful and try to make it home with your haul. The layout changes with each visit, and Torneko starts again at level one with little more than a loaf of bread. You can understand the basic idea pretty quickly, but figuring out how to consistently survive is another matter entirely. The familiar Dragon Quest monsters are a lovely fit here, although their cute faces become considerably less endearing when they are standing between you and the stairs.
The turn-based movement is what makes it all work. Every step gives the monsters their turn too, so something as simple as walking into a room deserves a bit of thought. There is no pressure to make a decision quickly, which makes a careless mistake particularly annoying. You had time to think about it. You just decided that picking up one more item was probably worth the trouble. It is a clever way of making such small actions feel consequential without needing elaborate combat systems.
Items are a big part of that appeal. Swords and shields are easy enough to appreciate, but the scrolls and wands give you more interesting ways to deal with trouble. A situation can look hopeless until you take a proper look through your bag. I like that the game gives ordinary loot so much importance. Something you might barely acknowledge in another RPG can be the thing that gets Torneko home, and learning what to keep is as important as knowing which monster to hit.
Expanding the shop gives those trips a purpose beyond reaching another floor. Successfully bringing things back contributes to something that lasts, even when Torneko’s level does not. It is a nice little connection between the character and the mechanics. Of course a merchant would measure a successful adventure by what he managed to bring home. The shop also gives the game a welcome bit of warmth between expeditions, especially when the dungeon has been particularly unkind.
That punishment will be the sticking point for some people. Losing your collected items and starting over can be a tough sell, particularly when an attempt was going well until one bad decision unravelled it. The changing floors keep you from simply memorising a route, but you still have to enjoy repeating the same basic process. The adjustable difficulty is a sensible inclusion for this release. There is plenty to appreciate in how the game works without every player needing the same tolerance for losing progress.
What I like most about Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon is how much it gets out of that small premise. Finding equipment, working out when to use an item and deciding whether to keep going are enough to carry the adventure. Having this previously Japan-only game officially available in English is lovely, but its appeal goes beyond finally filling a gap in the Dragon Quest catalogue. There is a clever, charming dungeon crawler here, and it is surprisingly easy to convince yourself that the next trip will be the one that pays off.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon -Classic HD- is available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
