by Brett Weiss
the basic action remains intact, but the levels
and Obstacle Course, the latter of which is
have been redesigned, and cut scenes were
played by the winner of the most money at the
added. In a quest for vengeance against the
end of round two. Fans of the show will enjoy
Shadow Warriors, Billy and Jimmy Lee must
the game, but the Toss-up challenges can be
battle street gangs, nunchaku-toting ninjas,
somewhat frustrating, since each one requires
giant mutant warriors, and other enemies
players to set the speed and angle of an item
through nine missions: Into the Turf, At the
prior to throwing it.
Heliport, Battle in the Chopper, Undersea Base,
Forest of Death, Mansion of Terror, Trap
Double Dragon
Room, Double Illusion, and Final Confronta-
P
tion. In addition to a variety of punches and
UBLISHER: Tradewest. DEVELOPER: Technos.
Side-Scrolling Combat/Fighting, 1 or 2 players
kicks (including such new moves as spinning
(alternating, simultaneous). 1988.
cyclone, hyper uppercut, and high jump kick),
Billy and Jimmy can use weapons dropped by
Although it contains just four short lev-
the enemies. Thankfully, the two-player action
els (City Slum, Industrial Area, Forest, and
remains intact, including a special mode where
Hideout of the Boss), Double Dragon is a
Billy and Jimmy can hit one another as they
terrific brawler that is fun to play time and
progress through the levels. Much different
again. Gamers guide street tough Billy Lee as
than Double Dragon II for the Game Boy.
he punches and kicks ferocious karate masters,
whip-wielding women, oil drum-throwing bad
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones
guys, and other enemies. He must also dodge
PUBLISHER: Acclaim. DEVELOPER: Technos.
falling stalactites, jump across the occasional
Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simul-
gap, and even do a little climbing. Throughout
taneous). 1991.
76
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
In Double Dragon III, players must re-
Double Strike
trieve three sacred stones, which are used as
PUBLISHER: American Video Entertainment.
ransom to rescue the mysteriously revived
DEVELOPER: Sachen. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1
Marion, who was thought dead in Double
or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.
Dragon II. Joining Billy and Jimmy Lee (each
In Double Strike, players pilot a small, car-
equipped with nunchaku) as playable characters
toonish airplane called a Thrasher Hawk-7
are Chin Seimei (equipped with an iron claw)
through nine pastel colored rounds of sky, jun-
and Yogyu Ranzou (equipped with a ninja
gle, and ocean, shooting bullets at such ordi-
blade and shurikens), who become selectable
nary (in appearance and behavior) enemies as
after players defeat them in boss-like battles.
planes, boats, tanks, and helicopters. The air-
Weapon pick-ups this time out include army
borne action moves to the right at a constant
knives, broken bottles, and sais, and players
pace, and the shooting is fairly steady (if
can pull off such fighting moves as round house
cheaply produced). Power-ups to grab include
jump kicks, cyclone spin kicks, leaping dou-
double shot, triple shot, eight shot (spread
ble-kicks, diving head butts, lunging knee
fire), bombs, invincible, and extra lives. A sec-
drops, and mid-air somer-assaults. Enemies to
ond player can join in to help the cause. Unli-
fight through the game’s five missions (U.S.A.,
censed.
China, Japan, Italy, and Egypt) include street
thugs, Ninja warriors, Manchurian barbarians,
Dragon Fighter
and other bad guys. Loosely based on the coin-
PUBLISHER: Sofel. DEVELOPER: Natsume. Side-
op classic Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1992.
(Technos, 1990), which included a three-player
mode and shops for purchasing items. Fol-
A solid action game, Dragon Fighter puts
lowed by: Super Double Dragon (SNES), Dou-players in the role of a running, jumping,
ble Dragon Advance (Game Boy Advance), and
crouching hero who looks like Robin Hood and
Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls (SNES,
uses a sword to fend off ogres, snowballs, mag-
Genesis, Atari Jaguar).
gots, flies, spiders, mechanical beasts, fish, mer-
men, flying skulls, and other enemies and ob-
stacles. Destroying baddies charges up a meter,
Double Dribble
allowing players to morph into a dragon, which
PUBLISHER: Konami. DEVELOPER: Konami.
basically (and briefly) turns the game into a
Sports/Basketball, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
side-scrolling shooter. Grabbing color-coded
ous). 1987.
orbs offers such power-ups as replenished
Although the original arcade version
health, the destruction of all on-screen ene-
(Konami, 1986) has more colorful graphics and
mies, or the ability to fire projectiles, napalm,
a more detailed crowd, Double Dribble for the spread shots, or heat seekers. Dragon Fighter
NES is a highly entertaining, hugely influen-
has six levels, including a living cave, an icy
tial console classic. The side-scrolling, five-on-
field, a water palace, a factory, a castle of the
five action is memorable for its ease of play, its
undead, and a tainted sky, the latter of which is
arcade-style sensibilities, and its high flying
all dragon all the time.
dunks, which are presented via large animated
cut scenes. The game also includes steals, three-
Dragon Power
pointers, four period lengths, three difficulty
PUBLISHER: Bandai. DEVELOPER: Bandai. Over-
levels, a nicely illustrated halftime show, a solid
head View Action, 1 player. 1988.
rendition of the “National Anthem,” and more.
An Americanized take on Dragon Ball (a
The elevated view of the action is from the side,
popular Japanese anime/manga franchise),
and the screen scrolls horizontally to show the
Dragon Power puts players on a quest to find entire court. Also released for the Game Boy.
seven crystal balls. Gameplay consists of guid-
Followed by: Double Dribble: The Playoff Edi-
ing a kung fu-type character named Goku
tion (Genesis).
around caves, grassy plains, mountains (flat
NINTENDO NES
77
though they are), and other areas, punching
available via Nintendo Power), the game was a bad guys or jumping to attack them. Goku can
huge influence on subsequent console RPGs.
acquire wind waves and a magic pole, the lat-
Cast in the role of a descendant of a hero
&
nbsp; ter of which has twice the power and a longer
named Erdrick, players must rescue a princess
range than punches. Goku can also eat sand-
and recover balls of light stolen by the evil
wiches to run faster and ride on swift clouds
Dragonlord. This involves performing magic
to fly to the end of scenes. Boss battles offer a
spells, exploring maze-like towns (accessed via
side-view perspective, and numerous cuts
a world map) and dungeons, battling monsters
scenes find Goku conversing with pals. Unfor-
via turn-based battles, leveling up your charac-
tunately, bland graphics, tepid fighting, and
ter, acquiring gold for purchasing such items
unconvincing character movement (Goku ap-
as swords and armor, and much more. To ini-
pears to be sliding along) ruin the experience.
tiate an action, players must access a menu and
select from such commands as fight, run, talk,
Dragon Spirit: The New Legend
stairs, door, search, and take. Includes battery
PUBLISHER: Bandai. DEVELOPER: Namco. Verti-
backup. Also released for the Game Boy Color
cal Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1990.
(via Dragon Warrior I & II).
Dragon Spirit: The New Legend captures
Dragon Warrior II
the spirit of Namco’s 1987 arcade game (which
PUBLISHER: Enix. DEVELOPER: Enix. Third-Per-
was simply called Dragon Spirit), but it does son Role-Playing Game, 1 player. 1990.
feature some differences. In both games, play-
ers fly a dragon over volcanoes, jungles, gla-
Set 100 years after the first game, Dragon
ciers, and other areas, shooting airborne ene-
Warrior II finds Moonbrooke Castle under at-
mies and bombing ground targets (ala
tack by the evil Hargon the Sorcerer, who aims
Xevious). Shooting certain enemies and bomb-
to rule the world by calling on the “ill-omened
ing eggs releases items to power-up the dragon
gods from the dark.” To save the day, players
with multiple heads, wider dragon-fire shots,
must journey through a world (towns, castles,
power wings (for invincibility), and earth-
plains, deserts, mountains, swamps, caves, seas,
quakes (which destroy all ground-based ene-
and forests) four times as large as that found
mies). The NES version adds dual dragons,
in the original Dragon Warrior. Gameplay is
which is one small dragon on either side of the
similar to Dragon Warrior, but with several new main dragon. The NES game also includes a
features, including more spells and items, sail-
short introductory level (culminating in a bat-
boat navigation, battles against groups of mon-
tle against the demon Zawel) that determines
sters (as opposed to nothing but one-on-one
the game mode: Blue Dragon or Gold Dragon,
fights), and three playable characters: the
the latter of which is easier, but only lets gamers
Prince of Midenhall (uses weapons and wears
play five of the game’s nine levels. A by-the-
armor, but cannot do magic); the Princess of
numbers port of Dragon Spirit was released for Moonbroke (uses magic, but not armor or
the Turbografx-16. Followed by: Dragon Saber
weapons); and the Prince of Cannock (an amal-
(arcade, 1990).
gamation of Midenhall and Moonbroke). In-
cludes battery backup. Also released for the
Dragon Warrior
Game Boy Color (via Dragon Warrior I & II).
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Enix.
Third-Person Role-Playing Game, 1 player.
Dragon Warrior III
1989.
PUBLISHER: Enix. DEVELOPER: Enix. Third-Per-
son Role-Playing Game, 1 player. 1992.
Released the year after Phantasy Star
(SMS) and the year before Final Fantasy (NES), As in the first two games in the series,
Dragon Warrior seems dated now, but, with its Dragon Warrior III has players exploring towns, top-down perspective, Japanese heritage, and
dungeons, and castles, and battling monsters to
mainstream acceptance (free cartridges were
level up their characters and add to their arsenal.
78
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
However, the game has more detailed graph-
the right moves at exactly the right times. To
ics, better sound, more weapons, armor, and
rescue Princess Daphne, Dirk the Daring must
magic spells, and a more intricate storyline. In
use axes, candles, fireballs, daggers, and phys-
addition, players can recruit three characters
ical skills (crawling, jumping, and the like) to
to their party from eight different classes: hero,
make it through bats, trolls, snakes, collapsing
soldier, pilgrim, wizard, fighter, merchant,
floors, descending gates, and other enemies and
sage, and goof-off. A nifty job system enables
obstacles. Levels include: Drawbridge, En-
the changing of character classes in mid-game,
trance Hall, Treasury, Elevator Shaft, Gold
letting players create powerful combo charac-
Mines, Hall of the Grim Reaper, and Singe’s
ters. Other flourishes include: day and night-
Cavern. The game looks great, but will frus-
time travel, the ability to gamble on monster
trate impatient action fans. Side-scrolling ver-
battles at fight rings, and more than 40 castles,
sions of Dragon’s Lair were also released for the towns, villages, and shrines to visit. Includes
Game Boy and SNES.
battery backup.
Duck Hunt
Dragon Warrior IV
PUBLISHER: Nintendo. DEVELOPER: Nintendo.
PUBLISHER: Enix. DEVELOPER: Enix. Third-Per-
Light Gun Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
son Role-Playing Game, 1 player. 1992.
ous). 1985.
Boasting 59 spells, 36 weapons, 44 types of
Although repetitive and mindless, Duck
armor, and five separate chapters, Dragon War-
Hunt is a key game in the NES library. Not only rior IV is more epic in nature than the previous was it a system launch title, it was a pack-in
games in the series. Gameplay is similar, how-
cartridge with the NES Deluxe Set. Players
ever, with players engaging in turn-based bat-
grasp a Nintendo Zapper gun, take aim at the
tles, exploring towns and dungeons, talking to
screen, and fire away at flying ducks or clay pi-
citizens to garner clues, using gold to purchase
geons. Backgrounds consist of simple grass,
weapons and items, selecting commands from
hills, and trees. A second player can use the
a menu (a process that does get tedious), and
control pad to guide the ducks vertically and
more. There are now nine characters in the
horizontally, but they will wish they could
party, and a special tactics system lets players set
shoot the famously annoying dog (which they
the characters’ positions and strategies for bat-
can do in the 1984 arcade version, which was
<
br /> tle. Visually, the game evokes Dragon Warrior
part of Nintendo’s Vs. series).
III, but the music is more diverse as each chapter has its own distinct set of tunes. Followed
DuckTales
by: Dragon Warrior VII (PlayStation) and
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1989.
(PS2). (The series is known as Dragon Quest in Based on Disney’s cartoon series starring
Japan, but Dragon Quest V and Dragon Quest VI Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews Huey,
were not released in the U.S.)
Dewey, and Louie, DuckTales for the NES is a fine game in which players guide Scrooge on a
Dragon’s Lair
treasure hunting adventure through five levels
PUBLISHER: CSG Imagesoft. DEVELOPER: Movi-
of platforming action: the Amazon, the Hi-
etime Limited. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2
malayas, Transylvania, African Mines, and the
players (alternating). 1991.
Moon. To open treasure chests, make long
Based on Cinematronics’ laser disc arcade
jumps, and defeat gorillas, natives, spiders, and
game (1983), which was basically an interac-
other enemies (including boss Magica De-
tive cartoon, Dragon’s Lair for the NES takes Spell), Scrooge is equipped with an unconven-the more conventional side-scrolling approach,
tional weapon: a walking cane that performs a
but keeps a primary aspect of the original game
golf swing attack and a pogo-jumping maneu-
intact: that of having to memorize and make
ver. Cute graphics and theme music and the in-
NINTENDO NES
79
clusion of Bubba, Gizmoduck, and other help-
defeat Darces the Overlord. As in many RPGs,
ful friends add to the fun. Also released for the
battling evil creatures increases the player’s ex-
Game Boy.
perience, which in turn increases ability and
strength. Many monsters and magicians carry
DuckTales 2
gold, which can be used to purchase weapons,
PUBLISHER: Capcom. DEVELOPER: Capcom.
armor, healing potions, magic powders, and
Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1993.
other helpful items. Throughout the course of
Released four years after the original
the hours-long adventure, players will cast
game, DuckTales 2 is similar to its progenitor magic spells, visit merchants, use keys to open
(which is a good thing, since DuckTales was ex-doors and treasure chests, and search caves,
cellent), but with a few new uses for Scrooge
dungeons, mazes, and towns. Graph paper is