Dragon Warrior III (USA)

Dragon Warrior III, released as Dragon Warrior III in North America, stands as a monumental RPG on the NES, renowned for its deep gameplay and captivating storyline. Players embark on their journey as the son or daughter of the legendary hero Ortega, who tragically failed to defeat the Archfiend Baramos. Your quest is to follow in your parent's footsteps and liberate the world from this looming threat.

One of the defining features of Dragon Warrior III is its flexible party creation and class change system. After creating your main character, you'll head to a tavern to recruit up to three additional party members. A variety of classes are available, including Soldier, Wizard, Pilgrim, Merchant, Fighter, Thief, and Goof-off. Each class boasts unique stats, skills, and equipment proficiencies. Notably, you can change the classes of your party members at the Darma Shrine once they reach a certain level, allowing players to customize their team composition to suit various strategic approaches.

The world in Dragon Warrior III is vast and brimming with mysteries to uncover. From bustling towns where you can purchase equipment and gather information, to gloomy caves, perilous dungeons, and expansive wilderness areas. The game also incorporates a day-night cycle, which influences the appearance of monsters and the behavior of NPCs. For instance, some monsters may only appear at night, while certain shops might be closed during specific hours.

The game's combat system adheres to the classic Japanese RPG model: turn-based encounters. When you encounter monsters on the world map or within dungeons, the screen transitions to a battle interface. Players take turns selecting actions for each party member: physical attacks, casting spells (offensive, healing, support), using items, or defending. Victorious battles yield experience points and gold. As characters accumulate enough experience, they level up, enhancing their stats such as strength, agility, and intelligence, and learning new spells or abilities. Gold is used to purchase equipment, healing items, and other essential supplies.

The narrative of Dragon Warrior III is highly praised for its depth and surprising twists. It's not merely a simple adventure but a grand tale about the origins of a world, intricately connecting events from previous entries in the series. With its simple yet effective NES graphics, coupled with a memorable soundtrack, Dragon Warrior III delivers a challenging and satisfying RPG experience, solidifying its place as one of the most iconic classic games of all time.