Control:  
Control isn't really an issue in an RPG, and so it's difficult to really comment on anything at all.

Most movement is obviously taken care of through simple use of the D-Pad. The A-button does just about everything else, from picking your attack or spell to talking to villagers.

The only notable point is that your party now travels through cities at a faster pace than before. Other than that, this is the normal, traditional RPG control scheme.

Sound:  
I don't really recognize any major difference in the sound department between the GBC and NES DW III versions. Several other truly hardcore fans don't recall any major difference either.

Keep in mind, I have no way to compare the two, since I don't personally own a copy of the NES version to use as a constant. I have to assume that some tweaking was done, and the technology has improved so I'm sure the quality has as well.

In any case, the MIDI background songs still retain that very cool medieval melody, and don't at all grate the nerves. In fact, the songs feel so natural that you may sometimes forget they're playing.

Gameplay:
Before we even begin, I'll warn you that this section is absurdly long. I didn't realize until talking to other fans just how many new upgrades Enix added to this version. Therefore, since most everyone understands traditional RPG gameplay, this section will focus almost entirely on the new upgrades.

Plot:

Long ago, the kingdom of Aliahan ruled the world. Since then, its former influence has diminished, but the citizens have still lived in peace. Sadly, that all changed with the rise of the Demon Lord Baramos. The kingdom's great hero, Ortega, embarked on a journey to defeat Baramos, but legend says he perished from a plunge into a volcano. Over a dozen years later, a single youth entered the castle of Aliahan -- this youth being the hero Ortega's only child. The King, recognizing the youth's determination to succeed where his father failed, commands the child to "Defeat the Demon Lord Baramos." You are now in charge of a group of adventurers seeking to defeat the Demon Lord. Battle monsters to gain experience, find gold to fund weapons, and talk to citizens across the land to end Baramos' evil reign.

Glad we got that over with. Now, on to the nearly endless cool stuff.

Game Production:

First of all, Enix worked extremely hard on this version of DW III. The game pak itself is one of the largest ever released -- 32 megabits -- twice as large as Pokemon Gold or Silver. This amounts to over 70 hours of gameplay, so why not buy an AC adaptor now and save yourself the trouble?

Personalities:

Your party of characters, and especially the Hero, are far more complex than they might otherwise seem. For the first time, characters can have wildly varying personalities and accompanying stats.

Before that, however, here's a list of possible character classes: Hero (only you), Warrior, Fighter, Thief, Dealer, Cleric, Mage, Jester, Sage. From what I understand, the Thief class is a new addition. This new class assists your party in finding treasure they might otherwise miss, and can even steal items from enemies during a battle that they normally wouldn't drop.

Each of these classes (except Sage, since you can only train one later on) has initial character stats. However, the differing personalities mentioned earlier can wildly alter those stats and the character's development. There are 45 personalities, varying from Amazon to Eager, Carefree to Logical, Valiant to Sexy, etc. I'd like to list them all, but that would take up an absurd amount of space.

The personality of your character, the Hero, is chosen in a very clever fashion meant to align it with your own personality. When you start a new game, a supernatural voice asks you questions with yes and no answers. How you respond decides which "simulation" you'll be tested with, and how you act in the "simulation" uncovers your exact personality. In addition, characters joining your party can also have their personalities initially modified to your liking, although that's a tad more difficult. Finally, for those in need of a change, certain items from Books to Garter Belts, when used by a character, modify their personality.

Medals:

Two types of medals can be found throughout DW III The first type, TinyMedals, aren't all that specific. Basically, there are collectors throughout the land who really like them, and if you trade them enough, they'll give you a prize -- usually a new weapon or coveted item.

More important is the addition of Monster Medals -- which could become highly collectable. Every monster, all 168+ of them, is represented by a gold, silver, and bronze medal. After defeating a monster in battle, there's a random chance that monster will drop one of their medals. Using the Link Cable, players can trade with friends to try and complete their collection.


All 3 Slime Medals!


Monsters:

Several of the monsters you'll come across in DW III are brand new, such as the SeaSlime. More importantly, most monsters returning from the NES version has been renamed or at least had their name modified. Once again, I can't actually verify this, but so says the press release.




Clothing/Armor/Weapons:

This is one of those areas that really impresses me and seems like it would have been really fun to design. The array of new attainable objects is simply extraordinary. I especially love items thrown in that you really don't need at all, but they're available just in case you're curious or working on a collection.

There are tons of different kinds of weapons and armor to choose from, but where the creativity really shines is with several of the miscellaneous items:

Multiplayer:
Other than the trading of Monster Medals mentioned earlier, no multiplayer gameplay is available.

OVERALL:
The Dragon Warrior saga has always been about quality and tradition. This new installment of Dragon Warrior III on the Game Boy Color continues that historic legacy. Everything that made the original awesome gaming experiences are still present, while at the same time Enix has shown extreme effort in modifying this version for the better. Not only has the technology been updated, but so much has been added to the gameplay that one could go so far as to consider it an entirely new gameplay experience. Dragon Warrior is the greatest RPG series of all time, and Dragon Warrior III again provides the proof.

 

The Lowdown on  Dragon Warrior 3 Aesthetics: Very Good Control: Very Good Gameplay: Awesome Multiplayer: Sound: Awesome Innovation: 5/6 Lasting Appeal: 4/6 Rating Explanation Overall: Awesome! "Top of the Genre"