Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap was developed by Westone and published by Sega for the Master System in 1989. It opens where Wonder Boy in Monster Land ended: the hero defeats the Mecha Dragon, but its dying curse turns him into a fire-breathing Lizard-Man. To lift the curse he must defeat a series of dragons, each of which transforms him into a new form – Mouse-Man can cling to checkered walls, Piranha-Man swims freely, Lion-Man swings a powerful sword and Hawk-Man flies. These forms unlock new parts of a single interconnected world, making it an early example of the exploration-driven structure later called Metroidvania. Equipment bought in shops improves attack, defence and charm, and progress is saved with passwords. It is widely considered one of the best games on the system, and its reputation led to a hand-drawn remake by Lizardcube in 2017.