https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3tlMlNsRkE

Once upon a time I started playing flash games of classics I could not play on their original console. But when I tried Dragon Warrior III on that other website it wouldn’t let me save. So I started looking for another website and found Vizzed. I wasn’t disappointed; I think DW III is still my favorite overall game of the series, especially when it comes to the music.

The Battle Theme is definitely the best of the series. For the first time in music history, it integrated the sound effect transiting from where you were walking to the battle itself – it’s easier to understand when you watch it. Plus, I daresay that it sounds even better than the Final Fantasy battle theme on the NES (even III); it’s more upbeat, the drum tracks integrates better with the rest and the arrangements are very complex.

Final Battle: Zoma was also done very well, although Uematsu did it better for FF II and III. The tempo is very upbeat, the arrangements are equally upbeat and very dramatic; in other words it really sounds like a final battle unlike the two preceding games.

The game also introduced a distinction between larger towns and smaller villages (which continued on the Super Nintendo games). Town, although not as lively as Busy City Streets (Dragon Warrior II) still feels joyful and full of life. Village, on the other hand, has nice “flute” arrangements that sound quieter and more welcoming. The background arrangements are a little repetitive but they give the right tempo.

There is also a distinction between the Real World and the Dark World. The former is more complex than the preceding games, and as a result sounds more epic. Its tempo is just perfect; the “guitar” arrangements in the background were done better than Eternal Wind in FF III. The Dark World theme is of course a new version of Journey in Alefgard (Underworld). Although the loop is as short, it’s definitely the best version of the theme. The “harp” in the background gives it the perfect mysterious ambiance for this hidden world, while the flute playing the main track sounds perfect and is not ear screeching like in the previous two games.

I think it’s also one of the rare games (of the series at least) to make different themes among its regular offer. For example, Jipang is completely different from the other town and village themes. The arrangements are a little torturous (the 8-bit chip was limited) but it does have a nice “Asian” feel to it. The same thing goes for the Pyramid, a different dungeon theme. Despite the limitations of the Nintendo sound chip you can still feel the “Arabic” tones of the arrangements. They are played even to create an ambiance of mystery as you explore that giant construction.

As for regular dungeons and towers their arrangements are a mixed bag. Dungeon sounds very mysterious with both is slower main track and more upbeat background track. I especially like the intro to the first loop; it announces the mysterious environment you are about to explore. Tower, on the other hand, sounded better in DW II. Sure, the arrangements are more complex here and contribute to creating an ambiance of mystery. But the “electric razor” in DW II and the arrangements were not so high-pitch, creating a more mysterious environment.

Another deception was Ramia’s flight (your phoenix). The arrangements are WAY too high-pitch to be enjoyable; plus the loop is ridiculously short so you hear it often when you fly for a long time. However your other means of transportation (the boat, Sailing) sounds better than in DW II. The tempo is slower, the arrangements softer and it feels like a very enjoyable boat ride on a calm sea.

Still about boats, the Phantom Ship was done well. It doesn’t sound very haunted, but the slow tempo gives the track enough mystery. The main track also helps keeping the mysterious ambiance of that drifting ship, and it doesn’t repeat itself too much.

Finally, even though it’s not my favorite track of its kind, Castle Rondo sounds much more regal than the preceding two games. The arrangements are more complex, they flow better and they actually start to sound like trumpets.

In short Dragon Warrior III is an essential to any RPG fan music library. It has some of the best sounds of the 8-bit era (and even of the whole DW series) and will make you miss that era of gaming.