Difference between revisions of "Dragon Warrior"
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'''''Dragon Warrior''''', called '''''Dragon Quest''''' in Japan, is a role-playing game for the [[NES]] developed by [[Chunsoft]] and published by [[Enix]] in 1986. | '''''Dragon Warrior''''', called '''''Dragon Quest''''' in Japan, is a role-playing game for the [[NES]] developed by [[Chunsoft]] and published by [[Enix]] in 1986. | ||
| − | 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. | + | 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 spent a lot of time playing this at my cousin's house, and I remember my aunt, who is very religious, being very concerned about the game having a warlock in it. |
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
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* There player sprite graphic changes when he's holding a sword, shield, and the princess. A nice touch. | * There 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 create a plot hole: why doesn't Alefgard have boats? | * 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 create a plot hole: why doesn't Alefgard have boats? | ||
| + | * The ending fight is really great, and, despite it's age, the game has an enjoyable cut-scene. | ||
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
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* The save-the-princess trope wasn't quite as bad at the time, but it's embarrassing now. Especially since you have to literally carry Gwaelin all the way back to the castle causing her to professes her love to you (which she gives to you as a telepathic item). Interestingly, you can actually beat the game without rescuing her! | * The save-the-princess trope wasn't quite as bad at the time, but it's embarrassing now. Especially since you have to literally carry Gwaelin all the way back to the castle causing her to professes her love to you (which she gives to you as a telepathic item). Interestingly, you can actually beat the game without rescuing her! | ||
* Even with only a handful of items, several of them are useless like the Fighter's Ring, Cursed Belt, and Necklace of Death. | * Even with only a handful of items, several of them are useless like the Fighter's Ring, Cursed Belt, and Necklace of Death. | ||
| + | * The ending represent the only real role-playing element in the game, and it's pretty predictable. | ||
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
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Dragon Warrior - NES - Map - Alefgard - Poster.jpg|Map poster. | Dragon Warrior - NES - Map - Alefgard - Poster.jpg|Map poster. | ||
Dragon Warrior - NES - Map - Monsters - Poster.jpg|Monster guide poster. | Dragon Warrior - NES - Map - Monsters - Poster.jpg|Monster guide poster. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Box Art== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Dragon Warrior - NES - Japan.jpg|The original Japanese box art really fits the game. with it's cartoonish style. The MSX port used the same art. | ||
| + | Dragon Warrior - NES - USA.jpg|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. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 14:05, 7 June 2017
Dragon Warrior, called Dragon Quest in Japan, is a role-playing game for the NES developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix in 1986.
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 spent a lot of time playing this at my cousin's house, and I remember my aunt, who is very religious, being very concerned about the game having a warlock in it.
Status
I have beat the NES game and maxed out my stats.
Review
- Overall: 4/10
- Best Version: NES
Good
- The monster graphics are fantastic.
- Even with the game's rather poor audio driver, the music is quite good. Enix was wise to hire a professional composer.
- There 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 create a plot hole: why doesn't Alefgard have boats?
- The ending fight is really great, and, despite it's age, the game has an enjoyable cut-scene.
Bad
- There isn't much to do in the game. If grinding wasn't necessary, you could talk to every NPC, collect every items, traverse every map, and beat the game in about an hour.
- The combat is very basic. You can only attack, run, or cast one of six spells. Although, I tend to prefer this over games where combat is a convoluted mess of options.
- The save-the-princess trope wasn't quite as bad at the time, but it's embarrassing now. Especially since you have to literally carry Gwaelin all the way back to the castle causing her to professes her love to you (which she gives to you as a telepathic item). Interestingly, you can actually beat the game without rescuing her!
- Even with only a handful of items, several of them are useless like the Fighter's Ring, Cursed Belt, and Necklace of Death.
- The ending represent the only real role-playing element in the game, and it's pretty predictable.
Ugly
- The game is painfully grind heavy. The designers would need to make enemies give about 10 times the experience they do to make the game bearable by today's standards.
Documentation
- Dragon Warrior - NES - Manual.pdf
Manual.
Japanese manual.
Japanese manual (translated).
Adventure Guide.
Map poster.
Monster guide poster.
Box Art
The original Japanese box art really fits the game. with it's cartoonish style. The MSX port used 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.
Maps
Alefgard.
Alefgard, with labels.
Monsters.
Tantegel Castle.
Brecconary.
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.
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.
