Is this really a "sequel" to Dragon Quest II?

[Call me Wind]

I mean do we really visit towns and castles from that game? But most importantly, does Kain make a cameo in this game?

[Synavix]

It's kind of a sequel, yeah. It's hard to explain without spoiling the story, but it's clear that was the intention.

Your partner for the entire game is a human Malroth who lost his memory. The builder is from Cantlin. Act 1 and 2 are mostly new areas with only a few references to DQ2, but Act 3 takes place in Moonbrooke and partly Midenhall. Basically all of Act 3 is a really long, direct reference to DQ2 and explains most of DQB2's story.

I think the only reference to the Prince of Cannock is an outfit you can wear.

[BlackD]

another reference is very early on in furrowfield.
in moonbroke you get a specific item you can use on the dog

[lilisaur]

It is canonically a sequel, taking place some time after the events of DQ2, most likely a few years later.

The three scions and their feats of bravery are repeatedly mentioned in dialogue, but you do not encounter them in DQB2. There are however a few items that reference the three Scions (as pixel art decorations or framed portrait to hang on the wall). The outfits of the three scions can also be created and worn by the builder and several of the human NPCs (at least the bodily wear, not the headwear)

A few characters will make mentions of DQ2 locations (like Beran and Zahan) but these are not in DQB2 - only the area around Moonbrooke, such as Moonbrooke Castle and the village of Moonahan are in DQB2. All other areas in DQB2 were invented solely for this game.

There are numerous other similarities between the games for the eagle-eyed observer but difficult to mention without revealing spoilers. Some of them are amazingly obscure. (For a spoiler-free example, two Whackolytes appear together at one point in the story. Why two? Because there's a pair of them servicing as the boss fight of DQ2's Sea Cave dungeon. 99.9% of players wouldn't even catch this minor detail on their own.)

[MintKuro]

Originally posted by lilisaur:

There are numerous other similarities between the games for the eagle-eyed observer but difficult to mention without revealing spoilers. Some of them are amazingly obscure.

And let's not forget the amazing hakabusa sword!