Back in August 2013, Atlus and Vanillaware released a gorgeous 2D side-scrolling action RPG that captured the feel of classic Dungeons and Dragons campaigns on the PlayStation 3. That game was Dragon’s Crown, and it quickly became a cult favorite. It delivered fierce combat, online and offline co-op, and enough replayable content to keep players hooked for years. It was easily one of the strongest titles on the PlayStation 3, which made its lack of modern availability a lingering frustration for fans.
Game Name: Dragon’s Crown Pro
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Publisher(s): Atlus, Sega
Developer(s): Vanillaware
Release Date: May 15, 2018
For years, players hoped Sony would support backward compatibility for the original game, but that never really materialized. Options were limited. You either kept your PlayStation 3, bought another one, or relied on PlayStation Now, where Dragon’s Crown was not available. All of that changed when Dragon’s Crown Pro was finally announced at PlayStation Experience 2017. The excitement from longtime fans was immediate.
What Is Dragon’s Crown Pro?
The short answer is simple. It is a remaster, and a very good one. While Dragon’s Crown Pro is a faithful 1:1 recreation of the original game, it adds quality-of-life improvements, faster loading times, higher resolution artwork, and a remastered soundtrack. Much like Vanillaware’s PlayStation 4 upgrade of Odin Sphere, this remaster takes something that already looked fantastic and makes it even better.
The original game was visually stunning on the PlayStation 3, but this version elevates everything. Running it side by side highlights the improvements immediately. Environments feel more alive with richer skyboxes, wind-blown grass, detailed lighting, and animated background elements. Indoor areas glow with torchlight while creatures scurry across dungeon floors. The muddiness caused by the PS3’s 720p upscale is completely gone. Here, everything is sharp, clean, and vibrant thanks to the higher resolution assets.
The improvements extend beyond visuals. The framerate stays rock solid during both 1080p and 4K sessions. No dips, no stutters, and no hitches. The remastered soundtrack is also fantastic, though players who prefer the original music can toggle it on. Voice options now include both Japanese and English, and the narrator’s voice can be replaced by any of the six characters. This was unlockable in the PS3 version, but here it is available from the start.
Overall, this is still the same game players loved on PS3. That is a positive, because the original was already an excellent action RPG.
Co-op works exactly as it should. Both online and local play feature drop-in functionality once enabled, and online matches connect quickly with smooth performance. There is no voice chat, but this style of game does not depend on it. Cross-play with the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions is also included, which is a welcome surprise. Atlus even added save transfer support. Uploading my old PS3 file and loading it into Dragon’s Crown Pro took seconds and worked perfectly.
Beyond the core campaign, there are side quests, gallery unlockables, alternate route challenges, and two endgame dungeons. The Labyrinth of Chaos and the Tower of Mages offer some of the toughest encounters in the game. Both are difficult but rewarding, especially for players chasing the best gear. The only annoyance comes from picking up items when several are stacked close together. The game sometimes selects the wrong object, which can cause problems during intense battles. Cheap deaths can also happen when enemies swarm or environmental hazards stack up.
Despite that, this is an excellent remaster that brings a beloved classic to modern hardware. I have been enjoying it thoroughly ever since Atlus provided access to the game. Check out our recorded gameplay below.
If you loved the original Dragon’s Crown and are wondering whether the update is worth your time, the answer is absolutely yes. It maintains everything that made the PS3 version special while delivering better visuals, cleaner performance, and smart improvements.
Dragon’s Crown Pro launches May 15, 2018, exclusively for PlayStation 4!
Review Disclosure Statement: Dragon’s Crown Pro was provided by Atlus and Sega for review purposes. For more information on how we review games and technology, please see our Review Guideline and Scoring Policy.
Dragon's Crown Pro brings a PS3 classic to the modern day
Summary
Vanillaware’s remake of the PS3 classic, Dragon’s Crown Pro brings the game to the modern day with several enhancements. The updated visuals provide a much-needed bump in the image quality. While the remastered music keeps the same elements of the original but adds it’s own flair. While this is only Atlus’s second remastered title on the PS4, it shows how much love and dedication they’ve put into it. A favorite from the PS3 days, now veterans and newcomers will be able to enjoy it once again; while still being able to play with existing PS3 and PS Vita gamers.
