Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

From Sega Retro

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Wonderboyiii title.png

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Virtual Console
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
US
7026
Sega Master System
EU
7026
Sega Master System
AU
7026
Sega Master System
KR
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,8003,800 G-3308
Sega Game Gear
EU
2422
Wii Virtual Console
US
500pts500[4]
Wii Virtual Console
EU
500pts500[5]

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
Reprogrammed

Magazine articles

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

Promotional material

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Print advert in Games Preview (DK) #8: "8/9 1989" (1989-xx-xx)
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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]
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Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #97: "December 1989" (1989-11-16)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №26, p144[8]
68 №28, p50[1]
92 №1, p37[9]
96 №4, p110[10]
96 №1, p63[11]
86 №94, p104[12]
100 №3, p38/39[13]
71 №26, p26[14]
88 №1, p140[15]
81 №22, p70[16]
95 №1, p40/41[17]
95 №1, p112[18]
96 №1, p136[19]
80 №23 (Vol 2), p54
92 №1, p4-7[20]
100 №23, p60
100 №46, p101[21]
97 №6, p31[22]
73 №4, p84
Sega Master System
89
Based on
19 reviews
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]
Sega Master System
87
Based on
24 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Master System, US
WonderBoyIII SMS US cover.jpg
Cover
Wonderboyiii sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
WonderBoyIII SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoyIII SMS EU cart.jpg
Cart
Wonder Boy III The Dragon's Trap SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
® variant
WonderBoyIII SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Wonder Boy III Dragons Trap SMS (R) Cart Top.jpg
Wonder Boy III Dragons Trap SMS (R) Cart Back.jpgWonder Boy III Dragons Trap SMS (R) Cart Front.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU (8 languages)
WonderBoyIII SMS EU 8lang cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU
WonderBoyIII SMS AU reg cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoyIII SMS AU reg cart.jpg
Cart
Wonderboy III Dragons Trap AUS Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
silver variant
WonderBoyIII SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
WonderBoyIII SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, KR
WonderBoyIII SMS KR cover.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №127 (Go!), p22/23[3]
85 №9, p107[36]
92 №9, p86[37]
92 №27, p185[38]
82 №23, p102/103[39]
52 №37, p58
84 №8, p36/37[40]
82 №9, p71[41]
93 №35, p80[42]
Sega Game Gear
84
Based on
9 reviews
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]
Sega Game Gear
82
Based on
19 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Game Gear, EU
WB3tDT GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngWB3tDT GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
WB3tDT GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Wonder Boy III The Dragon's Trap GG EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, JP
WB3tDT GG JP Box Back.pngWB3tDT GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
WB3tDT GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Wonderboy III Dragon Trap Game Gear JP Manual.pdf
Manual

Virtual Console version

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Dragon's Curse
  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
  2. File:CVG UK 097.pdf, page 36
  3. 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. 4.0 4.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/8pVT43FgIVdr81lfBwwDPx10ijCkuv6z (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-21 03:04)
  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)
  6. ACE, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-xx), page 111
  7. Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 115
  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
  9. File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 37
  10. 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. 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. 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
  13. File:GamePro US 003.pdf, page 40
  14. 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. 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
  16. File:K UK 22.pdf, page 72
  17. 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
  18. File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 112
  19. 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. 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
  21. File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 101
  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
  23. Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1989" (DE; 1989-07-28), page 75
  24. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 37
  25. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  26. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 161
  27. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  28. K, "Novembre 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 72
  29. Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 54
  30. Megazone, "June/July 1991" (AU; 1991-0x-xx), page 58
  31. Power Play, "7/89" (DE; 1989-06-12), page 55
  32. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  33. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  34. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 78
  35. Zero, "February 1990" (UK; 19xx-xx-xx), page 84
  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
  37. 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. 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
  39. File:PlayerOne FR 023.pdf, page 98
  40. 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. 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. 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
  43. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 38
  44. Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 62
  45. Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 84
  46. Player One, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-09-10), page 102
  47. Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 85
  48. Power Up!, "Saturday, August 01, 1992" (UK; 1992-08-01), page 1
  49. Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 58
  50. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
  51. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75
  52. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
  53. Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 123
  54. 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
Music
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)
Book
Wonder Boy V Monster World III Koushiki Guide Book (1991)