Dragon Warrior III

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a game by Enix
Genre: Adventure/RPG
Platforms: GameBoy Color, NESNES
Editor Rating: 8.2/10, based on 5 reviews
User Rating: 9.0/10 - 2 votes
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See also: Gameboy Color Games, Dragon Games, Dragon Warrior Series

What's next for Erdrick's descendants, the Dragon Warriors? Before their legend continues, it has to begin! That's right, Dragon Warrior III by Enix takes a trip back to the past for the birth of one of the greatest lizard-whomping sagas ever.

Dragon Warrior's Destiny

The king of Aliahan explains how your dad Ortega disappeared down a crater in battle with Baramos, a big beastie of the dragon variety. But what's worse, Baramos' buddies have been spotted crawling around the countryside. World domination could come any day! Fatherless and afraid, you set out on a crusade for revenge.

So you've got motivation. Now you need some friends. Your first step is to recruit three pals for your adventuring party. Take your pick from a Soldier, a Fighter, a Wizard, a Pilgrim, a Merchant, or a Goof-off. By balancing your team's fighting skills, defense, healing, magic, and luck, you're primed for the trials and terrors to come. Later, you can custom-tailor characters to beat certain obstacles.

ProTips:

  • For a solid start, bring along Soldier, Hero (that's you), Pilgrim, and Wizard in mat marching order. Later in the journey, however, you'll need to return to Aliahan and create some specialty characters.
  • Leap off the tightropes in the Tower of Garuna to find the Book of Satori. Use the book to convert one of your warrior-types into a Sage. As a Sage he'll gain magic talents in addition to his brawling abilities.

Build Character

Okay, so you've assembled your band of hearty souls and brave explorers. Unfortunately the catch, as in all RPG's, is that the whole lot start off as weaklings; crank up their levels, hit points, and skills as quickly as possible.

After you've built up your troop's "manliness", amassed gold, and bought essential weapons and armor, you're ready to wander the world in search of fame, fortune, and big green monsters with lots of teeth. Once in battle, you'll discover that the menu-driven fighting sequences, reminiscent of DW I&II, are uncomplicated and easy to use.

  • Invest in a generous supply of Antidote Herbs and Medicinal Herbs in case you bump into more trouble than you can handle.
  • If your band runs low on health, don't waste money at the inn -- just snooze at your home in Aliahan!
  • To earn lots of experience points early on, take several trips to the Cave on Promontory (southwest of Aliahan) and fight Horned Rabbits and Anteaters.
  • An old man at the top of the Tower of Najima has Baker's key. You can reach him via the forest pathway south of Reeve.
  • Someone in Reeve has the Magic Ball you need to enter the Cave of Enticement. Use the Thieves' Key to unlock his door.

Decade of the Dragon

Mysteries, locations, and items abound in Dragon Warrior III. It's a longer, more complex game than its forerunners with lots of fresh features, such as Travel Doors, which zap you across time and space to new worlds. The overhead scrolling graphics, sound, and music make the cut, but don't break the mold. All in all, Dragon Warrior III does a great Ultima impression, as did the earlier games in the series. Don't hesitate to get your sword polished and your shield buffed, and then help Erdrick and company look for some new blood.

Download Dragon Warrior III

GBC

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM

Game Reviews

Overview

Not often does a company take a good solid first product and create a sequel of equal or even greater caliber. Even more rarely can companies successfully produce a third installment that can match or surpass its predecessors. This has happened in the theaters with the Star Wars and Godfather trilogies. This has also occurred in the console gaming industry with the Nintendo Group, from its game consoles Nintendo to Super Nintendo to Nintendo 64.

The Dragon Warrior Saga is another trilogy that surpasses itself with each installment. With a robust game and storyline already apparent in Dragon Warrior I and II, Dragon Warrior III goes far beyond any expectations the gamer may have in so many ways. This review is the definition of 'tip of the iceberg'? in regards to what Dragon Warrior III has in store for RPG players and Game Boy owners. To see that which lies beneath, it can only be experienced first hand.

As the story unfolds, you are the son of the great warrior Ortega who had disappeared in a battle against the Demon Lord Baramos. You carry the strength and heritage of your father as you and three trusted companions set out to finally defeat the Demon Lord and free the land.

There is so much to this game that it is hard to discuss one area without wanting to mention a second great quality and a third and so forth. But as with any quest, a path must be chosen.

Gameplay, Controls, Interface

The simplicity of the Game Boy controls can be a hindrance or blessing. In this case, as has been shown in the previous episodes, the minimal controls of the system are wonderfully and masterfully utilized. The D-Pad moves your characters through their world and also highlights selections from the multitude of available menus. The A-Button is the Action/Select and the B-Button is the Cancel/Back. Even the Start and Select buttons are used, Quick Saves and World Map respectively. There is no memorizing which button does what. It is the game play that will keep everyone mesmerized.

But what makes any game? The gameplay! And play, play, play you will! The depth of graphics and sound is nothing compared to the cavernous expanse of this game. Maybe listing some of the game's features will give you an idea of the grandeur of the gameplay:

  • Create a unique hero.
  • Create as many characters as you want from a selection of nine character classes.
  • Change their skills before adding them to you party.
  • Change their personalities through books you find and they will fight differently.
  • Change their character class later in the game and have a warrior/mage or a fighter/cleric or a sage (the super mage/super cleric).
  • Collect tiny medals and turn them in for super armor or potent weapons or magical trinkets.
  • Collect medals of the monsters and trade with a friend with the Game Boy link cables (get all the medals and get access to cool, new areas).
  • Watch day turn to dusk then to night, and then watch new and more dangerous monsters crawl out.
  • Play the mini-games such as Monster Stadium (where you bet on which monster will win) and Pachisi Track (a totally fun board game).
  • More monsters and bosses (almost 150), more spells (75 plus), and more weapons, items, etc.
  • More areas, more dungeons, more of everything.

You may spend hours mixing the perfect party, creating character after character. You may wander through side quests that will increase your characters' experience to Level 50. You may forget the questsaltogether and play Pachisi Tracks. Bleary-eyed as you attempt to kill that last Swordoid or Manticore to level your characters up, you will realize the endless leagues you have delved intoin the fathoms of gameplay for Dragon Warrior III. All this, in an amazingly compact little cartridge smaller than most credit cards.

Graphics

The graphics in this game are astounding! Keep in mind that this is a game originally created for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) and brought over in an enhanced version for the Game Boy Color. The images and backgrounds are simply amazing. Colors are rich and vibrant, giving superb depth and mood to the entire game. Your characters are still small, nondescript, funny squares that move on the map but that's okay when you start to look around at all the surroundings and the cinematic entrance. Amazingly enough, the cinematic beginning is quite fantastic with the style of a master painter. The monsters your party meets are multi-colored and very animated when they attack. Clean design and clean animation makes for an excellent experience for the eyes. Text is large and clear even for these old tired eyes. And let's not forget that this is all being viewed on 1.75'? square screen.

Audio

It is always a wonder how developers/designers compose music that will play out of a round 1'? speaker. Amazingly light but not too distracting, the music adds to the game. A lilting melody as you wander the map, more ominous when crawling the dungeons. Once again, the sound effects enhance the RPG experience. A lower tone for the battles, a high chime for discovered treasure or a rattling squelch when the monsters strike -- neither annoying nor boring. Here is an effort well worth mentioning, music and sound from a speaker the size of a bottle cap.

Bottom Line

I have picked up and played my Game Boy Color each day for at least three hours since first starting this game. I got lost for hours creating characters and recreating my party. I sat entranced by the various spells, techniques and combination of attacks and magic available to me and my party. I happily lost sleep while my party gained experience. This will be a game longed played. This will be a bonus for battery makers and the Power Company, as my Game Boy Color remains powered constantly.

Thank you Nintendo for creating the Game Boy Color and the newly released, impossible-to-find-except-in-pink Game Boy Advanced, that we may enjoy Dragon Warrior III wherever we may roam. But Thank You's and kudos got to the folks at Enix for bringing to the Game Boy, a fabulous, astounding, mesmerizing and thoroughly enchanting role-playing game. Hats off to you for a superb job!

If you do not have this game as part of your Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance collection then, you do not have a collection until you own Dragon Warrior III!

Enix Proudly Presents Dragon Warrior III

The Legend of Erdrick begins here as you are plunged backward in time to the lost land of Aliahan. You and three hand-picked companions will travel by day and night to find and destroy the arch-fiend Baramos before he consumes the land. You'll explore fearful new dungeons, aided by your allies who can change classes mid-game. If you discover the Magic Bird, it will fly you to remote locations.

The latest in the Dragon Warrior series is soon to be released on the NES! In this adventure, you have come of age to do battle with the evil that has plagued the land once again. Upon the request of the king, you are to complete all of his instructions in order to prove your valor and to defeat the forces of darkness once and for all! Dragon Warrior 3 boasts some of the most impressive elements that an RPG can contain. The length of the quest has been considerably expanded and the action is non stop! You'll need to talk with all of the towns people and get clues and weapons to press on with your mission. Keep heart, Dragon Warrior fans, you're going to be in for a real treat.

In this latest in the popular RPG series you play both night and day explore an entirely new style of dungeons, fly with a magic bird, use over 60 different spells, and more. Sounds like another hit!

Snapshots and Media

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots