Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

n/a

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Virtual Console

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Westone

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1989-09		7026
EU	1989		7026
AU	1989		7026
KR	19xx
JP	1992-03-27	¥3,8003,800	G-3308
EU	1992		2422
US ▼	2009-11-09^[4]	500pts500^[4]
EU ▼	2009-10-09^[5]	500pts500^[5]

ESRB

PEGI

OFLC

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, called Monster World II: Dragon no Wana (モンスターワールドII ドラゴンの罠) in Japan, is a direct sequel to Wonder Boy in Monster Land, and was developed by Westone and published by Sega for the Sega Master System in 1989.

The game should not be confused with Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair, which despite being made by the same people and carrying a similar title, focuses more on being a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with platform segments.

Gameplay

Gameplay is similar to Monster Land, however the hero, Wonder Boy, finds himself cursed early on in the game and spends his time defeating other dragons to return to his human form. The game was highly received for its gameplay and music, and is often even said to be one of the greatest Master System games of all time. It was given the 1989 Game of the Year award by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

History

Legacy

An arguably better version (minus the Wonder Boy branding) exists in the form of Dragon's Curse, released for the TurboGrafX-16 in the years that followed. Confusingly this version of the game is known as Adventure Island in Japan, though bears little resemblance to the Adventure Island franchise, itself branding off from the original Wonder Boy game.

The Dragon's Trap was also brought to the Sega Game Gear in 1992. International releases of this port dropped the "III," calling it merely Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (a prototype ROM with the original name circulates around the Internet).

Both the TurboGrafX-16's Dragon's Curse and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap have been released on the Wii's Virtual Console service, despite being roughly the same game. A similar situation occurred with the sequel, Wonder Boy in Monster World.

The game was eventuallly remade by Lizardcube and published by DotEmu in collaboration with the original game designer Ryuichi Nishizawa. The game was released on April 18, 2017 on PlayStation 4. Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch and PC in June of that same year.

Production credits

Game Gear version

Original Game

Director: Ryuichi Nishizawa
Programmer: Takanori Kurihara
Designer: Hiromi Kurihara
Sound Composer: Shinichi Sakamoto

Reprogrammed

Direct/Program: Ryuichi Nishizawa
Designer: Kanako Kohyama, Rieko Sumi
Sound Composer: W.S.S. Sakamoto
Assistant Director: Napalm Watanabe
Presented by: Sega/Westone

Magazine articles

Main article: Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Games Preview (DK) #8: "8/9 1989" (1989-xx-xx)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #96: "November 1989" (1989-10-16)
also published in:

ACE (UK) #26: "November 1989" (1989-10-xx)^[6]

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #97: "December 1989" (1989-11-16)
also published in:

Computer & Video Games (UK) #98: "January 1990" (1989-12-16)^[7]

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

PAL

92

^[8]

ACE (UK)

68

^[1]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

72

^[23]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

92

^[24]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

96

^[10]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

96

^[11]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

93

^[25]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

86

^[12]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

92

^[26]

Game Mania (UK)

96

^[27]

The Games Machine (UK)

71

^[14]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

88

^[15]

K (IT)

81

^[28]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

80

^[29]

Mean Machines (UK)

95

^[17]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

96

^[19]

Megazone (AU)

93

^[30]

Power Play (DE)

76

^[31]

S: The Sega Magazine (UK)

92

^[20]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

100

^[32]

Sega Pro (UK)

97

^[22]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

93

^[33]

Video Games (DE)

83

^[34]

Zero (UK)

73

^[35]

	87
Based on 24 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Master System, US
Cover
Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover
Cart

Master System, EU (8 languages)
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU silver variant
Cover
Cart

Master System, KR
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[43]

Consoles + (FR)

85

^[36]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

92

^[3]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

88

^[44]

Joypad (FR)

92

^[37]

Joystick (FR)

92

^[38]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

78

^[45]

Player One (FR)

82

^[46]

Play Time (DE)

72

^[47]

Power Up! (UK)

85

^[48]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

52

^[49]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

84

^[40]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

84

^[50]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

75

^[51]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

82

^[41]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

82

^[52]

Video Games (DE)

82

^[53]

Video Games (DE)

83

^[54]

Zero (UK)

93

^[42]

	82
Based on 19 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Virtual Console version

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Dragon's Curse

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 File:ACE UK 28.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 28.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:CVG UK 097.pdf, page 36
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 File:Go UK 08.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Go UK 08.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/8pVT43FgIVdr81lfBwwDPx10ijCkuv6z (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-21 03:04)
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/mastersystem/wonder_boy_iii_the_dragons_trap (Wayback Machine: 2017-09-07 09:15)
↑ ACE, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-xx), page 111
↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 115
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 File:ACE UK 26.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 26.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 37
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 110 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p110" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 63 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf_p63" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:CVG UK 094.pdf, page 104 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 094.pdf_p104" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:GamePro US 003.pdf, page 40
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 File:TGM UK 26.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 File:Joystick FR 001.pdf, page 140 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 001.pdf_p140" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:K UK 22.pdf, page 72
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 File:MeanMachines UK 01.pdf, page 40 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 01.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 112
↑ ^19.0 ^19.1 File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 01.pdf, page 4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 01.pdf_p4" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 101
↑ ^22.0 ^22.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1989" (DE; 1989-07-28), page 75
↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 37
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 161
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
↑ K, "Novembre 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 72
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 54
↑ Megazone, "June/July 1991" (AU; 1991-0x-xx), page 58
↑ Power Play, "7/89" (DE; 1989-06-12), page 55
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
↑ Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 78
↑ Zero, "February 1990" (UK; 19xx-xx-xx), page 84
↑ ^36.0 ^36.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 009.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 009.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^37.0 ^37.1 File:Joypad FR 009.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 009.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^38.0 ^38.1 File:Joystick FR 027.pdf, page 185 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 027.pdf_p185" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:PlayerOne FR 023.pdf, page 98
↑ ^40.0 ^40.1 File:SegaPro UK 08.pdf, page 36 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 08.pdf_p36" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^41.0 ^41.1 File:SegaForce UK 09.pdf, page 71 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 09.pdf_p71" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^42.0 ^42.1 File:Zero UK 35.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zero UK 35.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 38
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 62
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 84
↑ Player One, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-09-10), page 102
↑ Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 85
↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, August 01, 1992" (UK; 1992-08-01), page 1
↑ Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 58
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
↑ Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 123
↑ Video Games, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-28), page 126

Games in the Wonder Boy series
Wonder Boy (1986) \| Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987) \| Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (1988) \| Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (1989) \| Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991) \| Monster World IV (1994) \| Monster World Complete Collection (2007) \| Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World (2012) \| Arcade Archives Wonder Boy (2014) \| Wonder Boy Returns (2016) \| Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (2017) \| Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom (2018) \| Wonder Boy Returns Remix (2019) \| Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World (2021) \| Wonder Boy Collection (2022) \| Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection (2022)
Wonder Boy related media
	Monster World Complete Collection Original Sound Track (2007) \| Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Original Soundtrack Sampler (2018) \| Wonder Boy Collection - Best Of Soundtrack (2023)
	Wonder Boy V Monster World III Koushiki Guide Book (1991)

[:File:ACE_UK_28.pdf_p50-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 File:ACE UK 28.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 28.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_097.pdf_p36-2] File:CVG UK 097.pdf, page 36

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[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20101121030425.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendo.com:80.2Fgames.2Fdetail.2F8pVT43FgIVdr81lfBwwDPx10ijCkuv6z-4] 4.0 ^4.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/8pVT43FgIVdr81lfBwwDPx10ijCkuv6z (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-21 03:04)

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20170907091515.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendolife.com:80.2Fgames.2Fmastersystem.2Fwonder_boy_iii_the_dragons_trap-5] 5.0 ^5.1 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/mastersystem/wonder_boy_iii_the_dragons_trap (Wayback Machine: 2017-09-07 09:15)

[:File:ACE_UK_26.pdf_p111-6] ACE, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-xx), page 111

[:File:CVG_UK_098.pdf_p115-7] Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 115

[:File:ACE_UK_26.pdf_p144-8] 8.0 ^8.1 File:ACE UK 26.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 26.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p37-9] File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 37

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[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p63-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 63 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf_p63" defined multiple times with different content

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[:File:GamePro_US_003.pdf_p40-13] File:GamePro US 003.pdf, page 40

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[:File:K_UK_22.pdf_p72-16] File:K UK 22.pdf, page 72

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[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p112-18] File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 112

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[:File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_01.pdf_p4-20] 20.0 ^20.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 01.pdf, page 4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 01.pdf_p4" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPower_UK_46.pdf_p101-21] File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 101

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p31-22] 22.0 ^22.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:ASM_DE_1989-09.pdf_p75-23] Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1989" (DE; 1989-07-28), page 75

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p37-24] Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 37

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p146-25] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p161-26] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 161

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-27] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:K_IT_22.pdf_p72-28] K, "Novembre 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:Micromania2_ES_023.pdf_p54-29] Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 54

[:File:Megazone_AU_16.pdf_p58-30] Megazone, "June/July 1991" (AU; 1991-0x-xx), page 58

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1989-07.pdf_p55-31] Power Play, "7/89" (DE; 1989-06-12), page 55

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p60-32] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-33] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-01.pdf_p78-34] Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 78

[:File:Zero_UK_04.pdf_p84-35] Zero, "February 1990" (UK; 19xx-xx-xx), page 84

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_009.pdf_p107-36] 36.0 ^36.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 009.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 009.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content

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[:File:PlayerOne_FR_023.pdf_p98-39] File:PlayerOne FR 023.pdf, page 98

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[:File:Zero_UK_35.pdf_p80-42] 42.0 ^42.1 File:Zero UK 35.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zero UK 35.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-04.pdf_p38-43] Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 38

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_010.pdf_p62-44] Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 62

[:File:Micromania2_ES_053.pdf_p84-45] Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 84

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_023.pdf_p102-46] Player One, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-09-10), page 102

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-12.pdf_p85-47] Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 85

[48] Power Up!, "Saturday, August 01, 1992" (UK; 1992-08-01), page 1

[:File:SegaPower_UK_37.pdf_p58-49] Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 58

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p74-50] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p75-51] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p88-52] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-06.pdf_p123-53] Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 123

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-11.pdf_p126-54] Video Games, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-28), page 126

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Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

History

Legacy

Production credits

Game Gear version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Master System version

Game Gear version

Virtual Console version

References