My run of the NES version progressed some more since then, I'm about halfway through (after 27:59):
http://acmlm.cjb.net:2/emu/nes/fceu/fcs/Ys3-1.fcm
00:43 - Intro over, I can move and buy the Short Sword
01:19 - Entering Tigray Quarry
02:03 - Got the Power Ring
02:20 to 02:45 - Leveling (I need Level 2 to hit the red monsters)
02:51 - Level 2
03:34 - Got the key to the first boss
04:07 to 05:24 - Leveling (I need Level 3 to hit the boss)
05:34 - Level 3
05:50 - Defeated the 1st boss
07:13 to 11:01 - Leveling (I need Level 4 for the next boss, and 8000 gold for the Broad Sword)
09:38 - Level 4
11:14 - Defeated the 2nd boss
11:52 - Back to town, I buy the Broad Sword
12:54 - Entering Ilvern Ruins
14:20 - Into the Lava Pit
15:11 - Level 5 (just in time for the boss, which was already killable on Level 4 with the sword)
15:21 - Defeated the 3rd boss
17:24 - Out of the Lava Pit
18:34 - Defeated the 4th boss
19:25 - Back to town
20:34 - Entering Tigray Quarry again to get to the deeper dungeon part
21:02 - Level 6 (just in time)
21:27 to 23:22 - Leveling (I need Level 7 to hit the boss)
24:32 - Level 7
24:54 - Defeated the 5th boss (this one was too easy)
25:24 - Back to town (using the left+right glitch, to avoid backtracking through the entire dungeon)
25:44 - Going to Tigray Quarry one last time to advance the game plot (what would normally happen after the backtracking)
26:45 - Entering Eldan Mountains
27:30 - Reached the cabin, got the Banded Slayer
Planned next was:
- Going back for more leveling, to get all the way to Level 9 (30000 EXP). The next boss is killable at 8 but with very low damage per hit, so it's worth doing the extra leveling. This should also be the last time I have to do this, since the bosses alone will give almost enough EXP for the rest.
- Beat both bosses in the mountains. 3000 + 3500 EXP, I should at least be close to Level 10 (40000) after this
- Ballacetine Castle: just go through and beat the bosses, Level 10 will be enough and I'll get the best sword. 4000 + 4500 + 5000 EXP for the bosses, I'll reach Level 11 (50000) and maybe get halfway to 12
- Galbalan's Island: final dungeon, I should get to Level 12 (65535, max) and beat the final boss
About 25% of the run up to the current progress is forced leveling (running back and forth for required level ups), worst part being almost 4 minutes, it's boring and repetitive but unavoidable ... however, the boss fights go very fast and are the best parts to watch. Regular monsters also get more interesting later in the game when they're harder to kill.
I also almost never get hit since I'd die very fast, I only do against bosses or when I'm about to level up since it refills completely after.