also known as Dragon Quest III - Soshite Densetsu e...
Game Boy Color
🇬🇧
Reviewed in 2001
86
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✪ Reviewed on December 5, 2023
82
Dragon Quest III splendidly remade, with a fresh bonus dungeon that will thrill veterans. Deep party customization, epic exploration and pure nostalgia all in one package. A reference point for anyone curious about classic Japanese RPGs.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player7+
Description
The Chosen One and companions set out to battle Baramos and unravel the world's mysteries in this enriched GBC remake of the third Dragon Quest. Published by Enix, released in Japan in December 2000. Full colour remake with entirely redone visuals, new content including an original bonus dungeon, deep companion customisation. Japan exclusive.
Dragon Warrior III review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Koichi Sugiyama's legendary overture, here revived in colour, sets the tone for an epic of rare majesty. From the open fields to the foreboding dungeons, his unforgettable themes carry the Chosen One's quest. This classical grandeur, elevated on the handheld, remains one of the saga's peaks on the console.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Building your party, choosing the classes and watching each member climb the levels opens a field of customization that keeps you pushing a little further. Every battle yields gold and experience, every town hides a secret and the main quest keeps setting new goals. The back-and-forth to level up sometimes weighs in, but the adventure keeps a remarkably nagging breath.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Setting out to fight Baramos and uncover the world's mysteries unfolds one of the vastest JRPGs of its era, here enriched in colour. The vocation system, free exploration and a generous endgame hold you for long hours. That foundational scope, magnified by the remake, earns the title a lifespan dear to RPG fans.
Enix America's English localization of the GBC remake, released in North America only in the summer of 2001 with no European pressing. Arriving months after the GBA launch, it shipped in modest quantities and stands as the first official Western translation of the third entry since the NES era. The combination of late GBC-cycle release and US-only distribution underpins steady appreciation among Western Dragon Quest collectors.
Is Dragon Warrior III still worth playing in 2026?
Decades after its original release, this Game Boy Color remake of Dragon Quest III still holds up beautifully. The job system and the freedom granted when building a party feel surprisingly flexible next to modern role playing games. Pacing stays calm yet never sluggish, and the writing keeps a naive freshness that fits the adventure perfectly. The exclusive bonus dungeon alone justifies the trip for anyone who already played the Super Famicom version. A fine way for any JRPG fan or collector to revisit the roots of the genre.
