History Videogame / DragonQuestIII

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, with an English option to boot, to much acclaim. On May 26, 2021, [[MilestoneCelebration to celebrate the franchise's 35th Anniversary]], it was announced that this game would get a remake that's part of the "[[SpritePolygonMix HD-2D]]" series (the same series consisting of ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/TriangleStrategy''), with a planned worldwide release on home consoles.

** Averted in the English NES (?) translation, where he yells for a kidnapped couple to run away from Robbin' 'Ood.

* MythologyGag: In the mobile phone version, the inhabitants of [[spoiler: Alefgard]] speak in YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe, a homage to the original English translation of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI''.

* InterfaceSpoiler: In the Game Boy Color, Super Famicom, and mobile phone versions, defeating Baramos yields 65536 experience points for the party, indicating that he is not the final boss.
* IntrepidMerchant: [[ShapedLikeItself Merchants]].

* CutsceneIncompetence: The Hero comes across his [[spoiler:long-lost father Ortega]] in the depths of Zoma's Castle. [[spoiler:Ortega]] is fighting a battle against a powerful monster, and seems to be holding his own, but finally runs out of MP for healing and dies. Neither the Hero nor his party considers joining the battle, providing the needed healing, or using one of their spells or items to bring him back to life after he dies.

* DisappearedDad: The prologue the hero's father, Ortega, fighting a dragon on the rim of a pit. They both fall in, and are never seen again. [[spoiler:Until you get to near the end of the game, where the dragon kills him, and then you finish it off for him]].

* GoodMorningCrono: At the very beginning, the Mother's Hero wakes up the Hero on their sixteenth birthday to go meet the king and take up Ortega's quest.

* MarketBasedTitle: Was called ''Dragon Warrior III'' in America until Square-Enix changed the series's name in the west back to ''Dragon Quest''. The Japanese version also has the subtitle "''Thus, Into Legend…''", while the western mobile version has its own subtitle: "''The Seeds of Salvation''".

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Some of the [[SecretTestOfCharacter "Final Questions"]] from the beginning of the remake feature this. Most notable is one where you're a fire breathing monster coming out of a well in a village. You can leave peacefully, or murder ''everyone'', including [[ShootTheDog a dog]] and [[AdultFear A MOTHER AND HER SLEEPING CHILD]]!

* DevelopersForesight: In the event Ortega defeats King Hydra due to cheating, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07WvC1vjWFM he still dies]] from wounds suffered before the battle, and the hero fights a resurrected King Hydra.

* GlassCannon: Martial artists are impressively strong even without a big weapon set, ''and'' boast a naturally high Critical rate. However, while they have decent HP, and their armor choices are… Lacking.

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, with an English option to boot, to much acclaim. On May 26, 2021, [[MilestoneCelebration to celebrate the franchise's 35th Anniversary]], it was announced that this game would get a remake that's part of the "[[SpritePolygonMix HD-2D]]" series (the same series consisting of ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/ProjectTriangleStrategy''), with a planned worldwide release on home consoles.

* BadassMustache: [[http://dragon-quest.org/images/b/b5/Dq3gbart12.jpg Behold the magnificent mustachioed marvel that is the male Merchant.]]

* GhostLegLottery: The fifth floor of the Fifer's Tower dungeon features one of these puzzles. It gets a call-back as the boss arean of the Gate of Wisdom in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters''.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Several important villains are reptile-like: Orochi, the man-eating monster found in the island of Jipang, is a flame-breathing, five-headed, green-scaled dragon. Baramos looks like a wongless, fat ''Pteranodon''.[And [spoiler:Ortega]] gets killed by a Hydra.

* RegionalBonus: The opening cinematic, a proper title screen, and a [[spoiler: proper Ortega sprite]]. The original version of the last more than likely confused ''a lot'' of players, because it was a PaletteSwap of Robbin' 'Ood, though it also caused many a [[WildMassGuessing fan theory]].

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, with an English option to boot, to much acclaim. On May 26, 2021, [[MilestoneCelebration to celebrate the franchise's 35th Anniversary]], it was announced that this game would get a remake that's part of the "HD-2D" series (the same series consisting of ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/ProjectTriangleStrategy''), with a planned worldwide release on home consoles.

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, with an English option to boot, to much acclaim. On May 26, 2021, [[MilestoneCelebration to celebrate the franchise's 35th Anniversary]], it was announced that this game would get a remake that's part of the "HD-2D" series (The same series consisting of ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' and the upcoming ''VideoGame/ProjectTriangleStrategy''), with a planned worldwide release on home consoles.

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, to much acclaim. The fact that this version was released in English means it is probably the easiest way to play [=''DQ3''=] overall.

* ReforgedSword: It's revealed that Zoma destroyed the legendary Sword of Kings because it was a threat to him. If one picks up the the pieces of Orichalcum left from the shattering and sell it to the Ultimate Blacksmith, he'll reforge it.

The game has had a substantial release history. First released for the Famicom in 1988, it was ported to the North American NES in early 1992, which is part of the reason why it wasn't as influential in the west. It received a substantial [[VideoGameRemake remake]] in '96 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]] which never got exported. It was then ported to the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor in late 2000, with the Anglo world getting a release some months later. Finally, the Super Famicom version got ported to Japanese feature phones in 2009, which wasn't released elsewhere due to differences in phone capacity at the time; however, this version was ported again to [=iOS=] and Android smartphones in 2014, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2019, to much acclaim. The fact that this version was released in English means it is probably the easiest way to play ''DQ3'' overall.

* GhostTown: Theddon is a literal example, as it was destroyed in a demon-led assault on the town due to its unfortunately close proximity to Baramos' Lair. No one is left alive by the time of the start of the story-line, but you can interact and do business with the ghosts of the former residents at nighttime.