* AscendedFanon:
** [[spoiler: Nokturnus agreeing to assist the heroes if he's beaten within a set number of turns was done as a nod to a popular rumor that Estark, the {{Superboss}} of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'', could be recruited into the player's party if he was defeated within a certain time limit.]]
** Fanworks portrayed Lizzie as Terry's StalkerWithACrush long before the remake canonized it.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: While [[NetworkToTheRescue Nintendo ended up publishing the game in the West]], they only gave it a limited printed run compared to ''IV'' and ''V'', which were both published by Square. Due to this, when the game went out of print, the second-hand pricing went through the roof. Though the game has since been ported to iOS, Android and Mobile.
* MarthDebutedInSmashBros:
** The main characters from this game have made their western debut as cameos in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX''.
** Terry first came to USA in 2000 thanks to ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsters''. Since the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS version of this game was released in February 2011, it's just over 10 years. Happy Anniversary!
* NetworkToTheRescue: [[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX Again]], Nintendo ended up taking the localization rights to this game.
* PreOrderBonus: For the US DS release, [=GameStop=] offered a plush [[MascotMook Slime]] with reservation.
* RemadeForTheExport: The UsefulNotes/NintendoDS remake was announced for an international release around the same time as the remakes of ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' on the same system were and were the first time the game was released at all outside of Japan.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Terry was originally designed as the game's hero, with the intention of making him seem a bit shiftier than previous protagonists, but was ultimately replaced by the more conventional hero design used in the final game.
** Until fairly late in the game's development, Ashlynn's real world body was supposed to be the dragon that brought the party to Murdaw's castle in the opening. Late in the game, she would have reunited with the party, gaining the ability to become a dragon in battle and the ability to effectively become the party's airship. This was changed to Ashlynn [[spoiler: not having a real world body]]. Remnants of this idea still exist, including:
*** Dialogue in Sorceria mentioning that she could transform into a dragon, and Ashlynn not being able to be put away in Patty's Party Planning Place (because that would have deprived the party of its airship).
*** Ashlynn sitting out of pursuing Murdaw when on his island. The remake adds to that by preventing the dragon from being summoned again after Murdaw's defeat while in the original it would show up even with Ashlynn present.
----