Difference between revisions of "Dragon Warrior"
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[[Image:Dragon Warrior - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]] | [[Image:Dragon Warrior - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American NES box art.]] | ||
| − | '''''Dragon Warrior''''' is a role-playing game for the [[NES]] | + | '''''Dragon Warrior''''' is a role-playing game developed by [[Chunsoft]] and published by [[Enix]] on 1986-05-27 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and later that year for the [[MSX]] and [[MSX2]]. It is the first game in the [[Dragon Warrior (Universe)|Dragon Warrior series]]. |
| − | Around 1990, my mother bought us Dragon Warrior and [[River City Ransom]] at a garage sale, and I found both games to be a lot of fun. Although, by today's standards, Dragon Warrior is a pretty dull game | + | Around 1990, my mother bought us ''Dragon Warrior'' and ''[[River City Ransom]]'' at a garage sale, and I found both games to be a lot of fun. Although, by today's standards, ''Dragon Warrior'' is a pretty dull game, I still spent a lot of time playing it at home and at my cousin's house. I remember my religious aunt being very concerned about the game having a "warlock" in it. |
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
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==Titles== | ==Titles== | ||
| + | The title was changed from "Dragon Quest" to "Dragon Warrior" in the USA because of a product [[TSR]] had called "Dragon Quest." Enix continued calling the American released "Dragon Warrior" until 2004 when they started using "Dragon Quest" for all regions. | ||
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! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation | ! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation | ||
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[[Category: Video Games]] | [[Category: Video Games]] | ||
[[Category: MSX Games]] | [[Category: MSX Games]] | ||
| + | [[Category: MSX2 Games]] | ||
[[Category: NES Games]] | [[Category: NES Games]] | ||
[[Category: Role-Playing Game]] | [[Category: Role-Playing Game]] | ||
[[Category: Fantasy]] | [[Category: Fantasy]] | ||
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]] | [[Category: Games I've Beaten]] | ||
Revision as of 16:09, 28 November 2018
Dragon Warrior is a role-playing game developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix on 1986-05-27 for the NES and later that year for the MSX and MSX2. It is the first game in the Dragon Warrior series.
Around 1990, my mother bought us Dragon Warrior and River City Ransom at a garage sale, and I found both games to be a lot of fun. Although, by today's standards, Dragon Warrior is a pretty dull game, I still spent a lot of time playing it at home and at my cousin's house. I remember my religious aunt being very concerned about the game having a "warlock" in it.
Contents
Status
I own this game for the NES and have beaten it with maxed-out stats.
Review
- Overall: 4/10
- Best Version: NES
Good
- The cartoon monster graphics are drawn fantastically.
- Even with the game's rather poor audio driver, the music is quite good. Enix was wise to hire a professional composer.
- The player sprite graphic changes when he's holding a sword, shield, and the princess. A nice touch.
- Showing the evil Charlock Castle surrounded by swamp in the distance is a nice way of letting the player imagine how awful it's going to be. Although, it creates a serious plot hole: doesn't Alefgard have boats?
- I like the reveal in the final battle.
- The game has three different endings, based on whether you accept the Dragon Lord's offer, and whether you have rescued Princess Gwaelin. And it's a pretty good cut scene for 1986.
Bad
- There isn't much to do in the game. If grinding wasn't necessary, you could talk to every NPC, collect every item, traverse every map, and beat the game in about an hour.
- The combat is very primitive. You only ever control one hero, you only ever fight one monster, and your actions are limited to fight, spell, item, and run. However, if given the choice between combat that it too complex or too easy, I prefer too easy.
- The save-the-princess trope was pretty played out, even in 1986, and it's embarrassing now. Especially since you have to literally carry Gwaelin all the way back to the castle (are her legs broken?). Finally, she professes her love to you simply because you rescued her.
- Even with only a handful of items in the game, the designer's still managed to make a few of them effectively useless including the Fighter's Ring, Cursed Belt, and Necklace of Death.
- The game only has a single role-playing element (a decision to make) at the very end, and it's entirely predictable.
Ugly
- The game is painfully grind heavy. The designers would need to make enemies reward about 10 times more gold and experience than they do in order to make the game bearable by today's standards.
Media
Box Art
The original Japanese box art really fits the game with its cartoonish style. The MSX port uses the same art.
The North American box art is much more heroic and grown up, and while Erdrick's descendant is spot on, the dragon's head looks more like an insect. Over all, I prefer the American box art.
Documentation
- Dragon Warrior - NES - Manual.pdf
Manual.
Japanese manual.
Japanese manual (translated).
Adventure Guide.
Explorer's Handbook.
Strategy Guide.
Map poster.
Monster guide poster.
Maps
Alefgard, clean map.
Alefgard, with labels.
Monsters.
Tantegel Castle.
Brecconary.
Erdrick's Cave.
Garinham.
Garin's Grave.
Swamp Cave.
Mountain Cave.
Kol.
Rimuldar.
Shrines.
Hauksness.
Cantlin.
Charlock Castle.
Alefgard, Original Japanese version.
Alefgard, MSX version.
Graphic Sheets
Characters.
Map Tiles.
Monsters.
Fan Art
Fan art by Zac Gorman.
Comic by Zac Gorman.
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=jmzHrNVelL0 - Longplay.
Titles
The title was changed from "Dragon Quest" to "Dragon Warrior" in the USA because of a product TSR had called "Dragon Quest." Enix continued calling the American released "Dragon Warrior" until 2004 when they started using "Dragon Quest" for all regions.
| Language | Native | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Dragon Warrior | ||
| Japanese | ドラゴンクエスト | Doragon Kuesuto | Dragon Quest |
Links
- mobygames.com/game/dragon-warrior - MobyGames.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Quest_(video_game) - Wikipedia.
- vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/Dragon_Warrior_(NES) - Music.
- thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/Dragon_Warrior - NES Hacker Database.
- thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/DragonWarrior/Index.html - My old Dragon Warrior site.
- tcrf.net/Dragon_Warrior - The Cutting Room Floor.
