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The Golden Claw is one of the more challenging items to get inDragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, at least it can be if certain preparations are not properly taken. It’s a powerful weapon for a Martial Artist and can be sold for a pretty penny, but getting it isn’t as simple as most other pieces of dungeon loot. Hidden away deep in the pyramid north of Ibis, it is easy to completely miss it. Getting the Golden Claw isn’t essential to completing Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, but getting it does scratch that completionist itch.
Review: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
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Retrieving The Claw
For players looking for a real challenge, it is best to retrieve the Golden Claw during their initial visit to the Pyramid. Because it is optional, players who want a less daunting challenge can return to retrieve it at a later time. A recommended time for the latter approach is after visitingAlltrades Abbey, as it could be an opportunity to gain some levels for the party members who recently switched classes. The fact that gaining a level in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake now restores HP and MP also makes the latter approach easier.
To find where the Gold Claw is hidden, go to the upper left-hand side of the Pyramid’s exterior. This will take the party to the Pyramid’s basement, which is a lot of narrow passages and some empty rooms. This looks like a waste of space, but there are a couple of pillars in the upper left-hand room. Interact with the left pillar, which will move to reveal a secret passage. Travel down here and there will be a sarcophagus. Open it to reveal the Golden Claw, but doing so also reveals there is a curse to protect the Golden Claw from thieves like you.
The Cursed Challenges
There are a few factors that make the Golden Claw difficult to acquire. In the basement of the Pyramid, magic is sealed, so the option to cast Evac to escape is out. This also makes battles difficult, as useful spells that hit everyone like Boom are out, and so are healing spells. There are a few ways around this. Having a Monster Wrangler in the party helps because their skills, like Soothing Song and Emergency Groom, can heal party members without having to tap the healing item supply.
Boomerangs and whips can be useful for hitting multiple enemies at once, but it’s always best to balance those with party members that can also deliver more powerful single attacks, as when it comes to survival it is more useful to kill one than wound many. Weapons that cast spells when used as items are not affected by the magic seal, so these can be used by characters who don’t have strong regular attacks.
The other factor that makes things more difficult is that the Golden Claw increases the frequency of enemy encounters. In other versions of Dragon Quest III, this was especially brutal because this meant an enemy encounter every step until the party exits the Pyramid and breaks the curse.
In Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake the encounter rate is increased, but it is nowhere near every step. It seems like the encounter rate has doubled, which, without access to magic, does make it more difficult to escape the Pyramid, but it is downright easy in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake compared to earlier versions of Dragon Quest III.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Highlights Visual Improvements in Short Video Comparison
Square Enix showcases the HD-2D graphics of the remake and a direct comparison with the same areas in the NES version.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy.Story:Years ago, the great hero Ortega bid farewell to his wife and child as he set off on a quest to defeat the villainous Archfiend, Baramos. Ortega failed his quest, and Baramos still threatens the world. Now, on their sixteenth birthday, Ortega’s only child is summoned by the king of Aliahan and entrusted with a mission of the highest import: to take on Ortega’s quest, vanquish Baramos, and save the world.A fully modernized remake of the original:Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles:A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.Immersive world:Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
