Dragon Warrior III (1988-)

• Developer: Chunsoft

• Publisher: Enix

• Genre: Role Playing

• Designer: Yuji Horii

• Composer: Koichi Sugiyama

Dragon Warrior III for the NES, known in Japan as Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation, was developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix. It was released in Japan in 1988 and in North America in 1992, marking the third installment in the legendary role-playing game series. This entry serves as a narrative prequel to the first Dragon Warrior, revealing the origins of the legendary hero Erdrick. The game was later remade and ported to platforms such as the Super Famicom, Game Boy Color, and mobile devices, each version adding updated graphics, sound, and additional content while preserving the original story and gameplay.

The plot follows a young hero from the kingdom of Aliahan, tasked by the king to defeat the evil Archfiend Baramos. As the journey unfolds, it becomes clear that Baramos is only a precursor to a far greater threat, Zoma, whose influence connects directly to the events of the first game. The story expands the scope of the series with multiple continents, varied cultures, and a deeper sense of exploration, culminating in a dramatic narrative link that ties the trilogy together. The game drew inspiration from earlier fantasy adventure tales and expanded on the hero’s journey structure by allowing players more freedom in assembling and training their party.

One of the most significant gameplay innovations in Dragon Warrior III was the introduction of a class system. Players could create party members and assign them roles such as Warrior, Mage, Cleric, or Merchant, each with unique abilities. Party members could later change classes, retaining some skills from previous roles, which opened up deep customization possibilities. The world was vast, requiring travel by foot, ship, and even the legendary phoenix Ramia to reach distant lands. Battles remained turn-based but benefited from expanded enemy variety and strategic options. Koichi Sugiyama composed the soundtrack, blending bold, adventurous overworld themes with haunting dungeon melodies, each piece crafted to match the distinct atmosphere of the game’s regions and events.

Upon release, Dragon Warrior III was widely praised for its ambitious scope, rich gameplay systems, and satisfying connection to the earlier titles. In Japan, it became a cultural phenomenon, with long lines forming on release day and sales so high that new regulations were later considered to prevent major releases from disrupting school attendance. In North America, while it was well received among RPG fans, its late NES release meant it did not achieve the same mass-market exposure as newer 16-bit titles. The game’s enduring legacy lies in its successful blending of open-ended party customization, a grand sense of adventure, and a story that elegantly bridges the gap between Dragon Warrior II and the original Dragon Warrior, paving the way for future entries like Dragon Warrior IV.

Images from MobyGames