Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

For the 2017 remake, see Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (2017).

n/a

Master System
JP
EU

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

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

Publisher: Sega

Developer:

Westone

M2^[1]

Distributor:

Tonka (US)

Peripherals supported:

FM Sound Unit

Genre: Action^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Number of players: 1

Official in-game languages:

English

日本語

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1989-09^[6]		7026
EU	1989		7026
NL	19xx
UK	1989-10^[7]	£27.9527.95^[8]^[9]	7026
SE (Rental)	19xx
AU	1989		7026
KR	19xx
JP	1992-03-27^[4]	¥3,8003,800	G-3308
EU	1992-07^[10]		2422
UK	1992-07^[11]	£24.9924.99^[12]	2422
US ▼	2009-11-09^[13]	500pts500^[13]
EU ▼	2009-10-09^[14]^[15]	500pts500^[14]
AU ▼	2009-10	500pts500^[16]

Non-Sega versions
PC Engine

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

The Dragon's Trap is a direct sequel to Wonder Boy in Monster Land, to the point where the introductory stage is a remixed version of the final round of Monster Land, complete with music and a fight with the main villain of the last game, the (robot) Dragon, Meka. The game begins with Wonder Boy being able to slay enemies and take damage with relative ease, but after beating Meka, he will be "cursed" and be forced to escape the castle as "Lizard-Man". Once this is done, Wonder Boy III proper will begin.

Gameplay is similar to Monster Land, however the "arcade" elements of the previous game, such as time limits and a linear progression through levels are dropped for a more open-ended world, with Wonder Boy visiting areas more than once. The objective is obtain all the parts of the "Salamander Cross" by beating "boss dragons", allowing Wonder Boy to return to his human form. As more pieces are collected, Wonder Boy will receive powers allowing him to travel to previously inaccessible parts of the map.

Like Monster Land, equipment and health can be upgraded along the way. Enemies drop coins, which can be used to purchase items from shops. The game is much larger than its predecessor, and now includes a password system to allow players to pick up where they left off.

Transformations

	Hu-Man
	Your human form.
	Lizard-Man
	Your first transformation. Besides long range attack and ability to crouch, it is the weakest form.
	Mouse-Man
	Diminutive size allows him to squeeze through small areas and climb on checkered blocks.
	Piranha-Man
	Can swim underwater.
	Lion-Man
	Swipes the sword in a 180 degrees arc towards the front and can break blocks around him. Strongest attack power.
	Hawk-Man
	Can fly around and reach places otherwise impossible to reach. Takes damage if touches water.

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. Similar situations have occurred with Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair and Wonder Boy in Monster World.

The game was eventually 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.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap	Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
English (US)	Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap	Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Japanese	モンスターワールドII ドラゴンの罠	Monster World II: Dragon no Wana

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

Source:

In-game credits

Japanese cover artist: Masanori Yoshihawa (Westone Corp.)
Japanese cover figure making: Hideo Nakajima (Westone Corp.)
Japanese manual artist: Masanori Yoshihawa (Westone Corp.)

Source:

Sega TV Game Genga Gallery^[17]

Magazine articles

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

Promotional material

SE advert

ES advert (1990)

NO advert (1991)

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)^[18]

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)^[19]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-03: "March 1992" (1992-02-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-04: "April 1992" (1992-03-07)

Print advert in Excalibur (CZ) #12 (1992-09-01)

Artwork

Piranha-Man

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

PAL

92

^[20]

ACE (UK)

68

^[8]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

72

^[21]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

92

^[22]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

96

^[23]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

96

^[24]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

93

^[25]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

86

^[26]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

92

^[27]

Game Mania (UK)

96

^[28]

The Games Machine (UK)

71

^[29]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

88

^[30]

K (IT)

81

^[31]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

80

^[32]

Mean Machines (UK)

95

^[33]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

96

^[34]

Megazone (AU)

93

^[35]

Power Play (DE)

76

^[36]

S: The Sega Magazine (UK)

92

^[37]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

100

^[38]

Sega Pro (UK)

97

^[39]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

93

^[40]

Video Games (DE)

83

^[41]

Zero (UK)

73

^[42]

	87
Based on 24 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU (Sega®)
Cover
Cart

Master System, EU (8 languages)
Cover

Master System, NL

Master System, SE (Rental)
Cover

Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU (Hotline/NIAL stickers)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU (Not for rental/hotline stickers)
Cover

Master System, AU (OziSoft sticker)
Cover

Master System, AU (Blue Classics sticker)
Cover

Master System, AU (Classics; Silver)
Cover
Cart

Master System, KR
Cover
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[43]

Consoles + (FR)

85

^[44]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

92

^[12]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

88

^[45]

Joypad (FR)

92

^[46]

Joystick (FR)

92

^[47]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

78

^[48]

Player One (FR)

82

^[49]

Play Time (DE)

72

^[50]

Power Up! (UK)

85

^[51]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

52

^[52]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

84

^[53]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

84

^[54]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

75

^[55]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

82

^[56]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

82

^[57]

Video Games (DE)

82

^[58]

Video Games (DE)

83

^[59]

Zero (UK)

93

^[60]

	82
Based on 19 reviews

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Virtual Console version

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32	679e1676
MD5	e7f86c049e4bd8b26844ff62bd067d57
SHA-1	99e73de2ffe5ea5d40998faec16504c226f4c1ba

256kB

Cartridge (EU/US)

?

CRC32	a74c97a7
MD5	0e8146c23d7947b4677b9b2ca12850e0
SHA-1	d98344a2c644ce9a0184e8f836271c038aa16a23

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

?

CRC32	ea89e0e7
MD5	8e6934c31498569302ff3119c2496043
SHA-1	5c4d25432512852f48f22280544bd7d034aab744

256kB

Cartridge (JP)

External links

Nintendo catalogue pages: US, AU

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Dragon's Curse

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Bugs \| Magazine articles \| Reception No results

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)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20201029223207.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fwww.mtwo.co.jp.2Fdevelopment.2Fretrogame-2.2F.23tab-2-1] ttps://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-2 (Wayback Machine: 2020-10-29 22:32)

[:File:WB3tDT_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-2] File:WB3tDT GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:WB3tDT_GG_JP_Box_Front.jpg_p-3] File:WB3tDT GG JP Box Front.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20181207045745.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fgamegear.2Fsoftware.html-4] 4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)

[:File:WonderBoyIII_SMS_EU_cover.jpg_p-5] File:WonderBoyIII SMS EU cover.jpg

[:File:ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.8_06.pdf_p13-6] Computer Entertainer, "September 1989" (US; 1989-09-18), page 13

[:File:BristolEveningPost_UK_1989-11-02_Page_79.jpg_p-7] File:BristolEveningPost UK 1989-11-02 Page 79.jpg

[:File:ACE_UK_28.pdf_p50-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ACE, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-xx), page 50

[:File:CVG_UK_097.pdf_p36-9] Computer & Video Games, "December 1989" (UK; 1989-11-16), page 36

[10] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-07-20), page 23

[11] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-07-20), page 23

[:File:Go_UK_08.pdf_p22-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Computer & Video Games, "June 1992 (Go! Issue 8)" (UK; 1992-05-15), page 22

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20101121030425.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendo.com:80.2Fgames.2Fdetail.2F8pVT43FgIVdr81lfBwwDPx10ijCkuv6z-13] 13.0 ^13.1 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-14] 14.0 ^14.1 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/mastersystem/wonder_boy_iii_the_dragons_trap (Wayback Machine: 2017-09-07 09:15)

[https:.2F.2Farchive.is.2FoXXjT-15] ttps://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/Console-virtuelle-Wii-/Wonder-Boy-III-The-Dragon-s-Trap-280174.html (archive.today)

[http:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20120328013202.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fwww.nintendo.com.au.2Findex.php.3Faction.3Dcatalogue.26prodcat_id.3D42.26prod_id.3D19907.26pageID.3D4-16] ttp://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=42&prod_id=19907&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 01:32)

[:File:Sega_TV_Game_Genga_Gallery.pdf_p99-17] Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 99

[:File:ACE_UK_26.pdf_p111-18] ACE, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-xx), page 111

[:File:CVG_UK_098.pdf_p115-19] Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 115

[:File:ACE_UK_26.pdf_p144-20] ACE, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-xx), page 144

[:File:ASM_DE_1989-09.pdf_p75-21] Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1989" (DE; 1989-07-28), page 75

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p37-22] Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 37

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p110-23] Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 110

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p63-24] The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 63

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

[:File:CVG_UK_094.pdf_p104-26] Computer & Video Games, "September 1989" (UK; 1989-08-16), page 104

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p161-27] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 161

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-28] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:TGM_UK_26.pdf_p26-29] The Games Machine, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-11), page 26

[:File:Joystick_FR_001.pdf_p140-30] Joystick, "Janvier 1990" (FR; 19xx-xx-xx), page 140

[:File:K_IT_22.pdf_p72-31] K, "Novembre 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:Micromania2_ES_023.pdf_p54-32] Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 54

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_01.pdf_p40-33] Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 40

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136-34] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136

[:File:Megazone_AU_16.pdf_p58-35] Megazone, "June/July 1991" (AU; 1991-0x-xx), page 58

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1989-07.pdf_p55-36] Power Play, "7/89" (DE; 1989-06-12), page 55

[:File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_01.pdf_p4-37] S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1989" (UK; 1989-09-27), page 4

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p60-38] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p31-39] Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 31

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-40] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-01.pdf_p78-41] Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 78

[:File:Zero_UK_04.pdf_p84-42] Zero, "February 1990" (UK; 19xx-xx-xx), page 84

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

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_009.pdf_p107-44] Consoles +, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 107

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_010.pdf_p62-45] Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 62

[:File:Joypad_FR_009.pdf_p86-46] Joypad, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-05-1x), page 86

[:File:Joystick_FR_027.pdf_p185-47] Joystick, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 185

[:File:Micromania2_ES_053.pdf_p84-48] Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 84

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_023.pdf_p102-49] Player One, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-09-10), page 102

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-12.pdf_p85-50] Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 85

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

[:File:SegaPower_UK_37.pdf_p58-52] Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 58

[:File:SegaPro_UK_08.pdf_p36-53] Sega Pro, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-21), page 36

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p74-54] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p75-55] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75

[:File:SegaForce_UK_09.pdf_p71-56] Sega Force, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 71

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p88-57] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-06.pdf_p123-58] Video Games, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-29), page 123

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-11.pdf_p126-59] Video Games, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-28), page 126

[:File:Zero_UK_35.pdf_p80-60] Zero, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 80

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Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Transformations

History

Legacy

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Game Gear version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Master System version

Game Gear version

Virtual Console version

Technical information

ROM dump status

External links

References