Not just the greatest GBC game ever, but THE greatest game ever
Gameplay
Dragon Warrior III has a traditional turn-based RPG system. You walk around, accepting a quest that will lead to the next quest. However, the way this is executed in Dragon Warrior III sets it far beyond others. All monster attacks have their own animation, instead of the monster just flashing. Monster design is quite good, and even routine turn-based battles are interesting. The battles themselves are challenging, and it is quite easy to die even early on in the game. However, the game is never challenging to the point of frustration. The battle system works like any other turn-based RPG. You select your attacks, see what happens, then repeat. However, the monster animations, large amount of weapons and spells, and difficulty keep the battles interesting and fun.
The weapon, armor, and spell lists are all very large. The weapon types range from items that will target just one monster, to whips that will target a group and boomerangs that will target all of the monsters on the screen. Weapons include everything you can think of, from a bamboo stick to a sword that can summon lighting storms. Armor ranges from clothes to legendary items of power that can recover health while you are walking. Other equipment items include bikinis, glasses, a variety of stat changing rings, and much more.
There are many classes to choose from (Warrior, Fighter, Cleric, Thief, Mage, Jester, and Sage), with unlimited class-changes available. All classes have their own strengths and weaknesses, but with the class changing system it is possible to make a team of versatile characters. For example, you could start a character out as a mage, and then switch to a warrior or fighter to have a melee character that can cast powerful spells. The personality/book system lets you give your party books to change their personality trait. The personality trait determines which stats level up the fastest.
As for the game world, it is huge. There are many large dungeons, towers, towns, castles, and villages. First you have to complete a large quest to defeat Baramos, the (apparent) main antagonist of the game. After spending many hours traveling the world, you fight Baramos and kill him. But after that, you end up having to travel to a world beneath the main one, which is also very large. Even after you fight the final boss here, the game is not over. There is still the Sky World, which is an incredibly large, challenging dungeon with a boss fight against a large dragon at the end. Even after that is done, it is still possible to collect all of the bronze and silver monster medals (more on those later) in the game and be able to access yet ANOTHER incredibly large dungeon with an even more difficult boss fight at the end.
Area design is creative and executed flawlessly. There are treasures to be found at every nook and cranny, and there are many hidden treasures under the ground to find as well. The Thief class really shines here, with a spell to check the remaining amount of treasures on the current floor of a dungeon, and one to make any hidden treasures on screen sparkle. Travel through the world is on foot at first. The game is quite linear for a while, but after you obtain a boat later on in the game you are free to travel around a huge world at your own discretion. However, the most interesting form of air travel does not come in the traditional RPG-style form of a flying ship, but in the guise of a large majestic bird. Only after over a hundred hours of gameplay will you be able to find everything this game has to offer.
There is a fun board-style mini-game in Dragon Warrior III. You play for cash, prizes, and items of great power if you win. There are even monster battles while playing, so there is never a dull moment. There is also a monster arena where you can gamble on the outcome of a battle between monsters.
The monster medals are given randomly at the end of battles. You can trade these with the link cable, but their use is not fully apparent until after you beat the main quest of the game. While an interesting part of the game, it can become quite frustrating to find all of them.
The plot of the game seems simple at first, but builds and builds until the conclusion so that it keeps you interested. Plot twists are abound here, but none are ever used improperly. You start out trying to save the world from a demon in attempt to complete a quest that your father died trying to do. However, there are hints throughout the game that the real threat is much larger, with everything coming together after you defeat Baramos and the true antagonist reveals himself in an unforgettable scene. There are many quests along the way, dealing with everything from elves to a king who has been replaced by an evil shape-shifting troll.
Graphics
The game demonstrates amazing graphics for a Game Boy Color game, with impressive character and monster designs to having an animation for every attack and spell from monsters. Although you never see your own party fighting, there are still impressive spell animations for every offensive spell in the game. The character sprites are excellently done, with a large variety as well.
Sound
One of the greatest soundtracks in any game I have ever played, right from the opening theme to the closing theme. The music ranges from the epic overworld music to the slightly sad sounding music for the dark world. No bad music is present in this game. The sound effects are effective and are done as well as anything else in this game.
Overall
Dragon Warrior III is the greatest game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. There is never a dull moment from beginning to end, with amazing gameplay, plot, graphics, and music to keep the whole thing going. I have to give this game a perfect score, because it is what every RPG should strive to be.