Dragon Slayer
Encyclopedia
is an early action role-playing game
developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1984 for the NEC PC-88
computer system and ported by Square
for the MSX
. Designed by Yoshio Kiya, the game gave rise to a series of sequels, nearly all of them created by Falcom, with the exception of Faxanadu
by Hudson Soft
. The Dragon Slayer series was historically significant, both as a founder of the Japanese role-playing game
industry, and as the progenitor of the action role-playing game genre.
The series encompasses several different genres, which include action role-playing, action-adventure
, platform-adventure, open world
, turn-based role-playing
, and real-time strategy
. Many of the early titles in this series were released for the PC-88, PC-98, MSX and MSX2
computers as well as other early Japanese PC
platforms, while some were later ported to video game console
s. The series also features video game music soundtracks composed by chiptune
musician Yuzo Koshiro
and the Falcom Sound Team JDK.
(RPG) elements and experiment with real-time action game
play.
combat that requires direct input from the player, alongside puzzle-solving elements. These games went on to influence later series such as The Legend of Zelda
, Hydlide
, and Falcom's own Ys. The way the Dragon Slayer series reworked the entire game system of each installment is also considered an influence on Square's Final Fantasy
, which would do the same for each of its installments. According to GamesTM
and John Szczepaniak (of Retro Gamer
and The Escapist
), Enix
's Dragon Quest
was also influenced by Dragon Slayer and in turn defined many other RPGs.
The original Dragon Slayer, released for the PC-88 in 1984, is considered to be the first action-RPG. In contrast to earlier turn-based roguelike
s, Dragon Slayer was a dungeon crawl
RPG that was entirely real-time with action-oriented combat. Dragon Slayer also featured an in-game map
to help with the dungeon-crawling, required item management due to the inventory being limited to one item at a time, and introduced the use of item-based puzzles which later influenced The Legend of Zelda. Dragon Slayer was a major success in Japan, where its overhead action-RPG formula was used in many later games. The game's MSX port was also one of the first titles to be published by Square
.
The sequel Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
, released in 1985, was a full-fledged action RPG with many character statistics
and a large quest. Xanadu incorporated a side-scrolling
view during exploration and an overhead view during battle, though some rooms were also explored using an overhead view. The game also allowed the player to visit towns, which have training facilities that can improve statistics, and shops that sell items, equipment that change the player character
's visible appearance, and food that is consumed slowly over time and is essential for keeping the player character alive. It also introduced gameplay mechanics such as platform
jumping, magic that can be used to attack enemies from a distance, an early Karma
morality system where the character's Karma meter will rise if he commits sin which in turn affects the temple's reaction to him, a heavier emphasis on puzzle-solving, and individual experience for equipped items. It is also considered a "proto-Metroidvania" game, due to being an "RPG turned on its side" that allowed players to run, jump, collect, and explore. The game gained immense popularity in Japan, setting records for PC game sales, selling more than 400,000 copies. Xanadu Scenario II, released the following year, was also an early example of an expansion pack
. The game was non-linear, allowing the eleven levels to be explored in any order. It was also composer Yuzo Koshiro
's first video game music soundtrack.
.
In 1987, Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family
returned to the deeper action-RPG mechanics of Xanadu while maintaining the fully side-scrolling view of Romancia. The game also introduced an open world
and nonlinear gameplay similar to "Metroidvania" platform-adventures, making Drasle Family an early example of a non-linear, open-world action RPG. That same year also saw the release of Xanadu's spin-off Faxanadu
, a side-scrolling platform-action RPG. Later that year, the fifth entry Sorcerian
was released. It was a party-based action RPG, with the player controlling a party of four characters at the same time in a side-scrolling view. The game also featured character creation, highly customizable characters, class-based puzzles, and a new scenario system, allowing players to choose which of 15 scenarios, or quests, to play through in the order of their choice. It was also an episodic video game, with expansion disks released soon after offering more scenarios.
Two of the games released for the Nintendo Famicom
, Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family and the spin-off of Xanadu known as Faxanadu, were released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. The former was renamed Legacy of the Wizard
. The second of the three games released for the Nintendo Famicom, Romancia, has never been released in North America for any platform. An English fan translation of the Famicom version of Romancia was released on April 23, 2008, by DvD Translations. An English version of Sorcerian was released in North America for MS-DOS
in 1990, published by Sierra On-Line
.
was released for the TurboGrafx-CD in 1991, and is usually known as simply Dragon Slayer. Subsequent Legend of Heroes games dropped their association with the Dragon Slayer series. In contrast to the action-oriented gameplay of most other Dragon Slayer titles, the Legend of Heroes titles use turn-based combat, while the 1991 title Lord Monarch
on the other hand was an early real-time strategy
game. The final games released as part of the Dragon Slayer series were the action role-playing games The Legend of Xanadu in 1994 and The Legend of Xanadu II in 1995.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1984 for the NEC PC-88
NEC PC-8801
The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
computer system and ported by Square
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
for the MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
. Designed by Yoshio Kiya, the game gave rise to a series of sequels, nearly all of them created by Falcom, with the exception of Faxanadu
Faxanadu
is an action role-playing platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System . The name was licensed by computer game developer Nihon Falcom and was developed and released in Japan by Hudson Soft in 1987...
by Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
. The Dragon Slayer series was historically significant, both as a founder of the Japanese role-playing game
History of Eastern role-playing video games
Eastern role-playing video games are role-playing video games developed in East Asia, specifically Japan, and, to a lesser extent, South Korea and China...
industry, and as the progenitor of the action role-playing game genre.
The series encompasses several different genres, which include action role-playing, action-adventure
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
, platform-adventure, open world
Open world
An open world is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how to approach objectives...
, turn-based role-playing
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
, and real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
. Many of the early titles in this series were released for the PC-88, PC-98, MSX and MSX2
MSX2
MSX2 may refer to:* Msh homeobox 2, a human gene* The second generation of the MSX home computers...
computers as well as other early Japanese PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
platforms, while some were later ported to video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s. The series also features video game music soundtracks composed by chiptune
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
musician Yuzo Koshiro
Yuzo Koshiro
is a Japanese video game music composer and audio programmer. He is regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune music and video game sound design...
and the Falcom Sound Team JDK.
History
Although commonly referred to as a series, the Dragon Slayer name is used to designate the body of work from producer Yoshio Kiya. There is no continuity in plot or even genre, but most of the games use role-playing gameRole-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
(RPG) elements and experiment with real-time action game
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
play.
Dragon Slayer and Xanadu (1984-1985)
The original Dragon Slayer and its sequel Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu are credited for being the progenitors of the action RPG genre, abandoning the command-oriented turn-based battles of previous RPGs in favour of real-time hack and slashHack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
combat that requires direct input from the player, alongside puzzle-solving elements. These games went on to influence later series such as The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda, originally released as in Japan, is a video game developed and published by Nintendo, and designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Set in the fantasy land of Hyrule, the plot centers on a boy named Link, the playable protagonist, who aims to collect the eight fragments...
, Hydlide
Hydlide
is a action role-playing video game developed and published by T&E Soft. It was originally released for the NEC PC-6001 and NEC PC-8801 computer in 1984, in Japan only; an MSX release came the following year...
, and Falcom's own Ys. The way the Dragon Slayer series reworked the entire game system of each installment is also considered an influence on Square's Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
, which would do the same for each of its installments. According to GamesTM
GamesTM
GamesTM is a UK-based, multi-format video games magazine, covering many video game platforms including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, PC games, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Arcade machines...
and John Szczepaniak (of Retro Gamer
Retro Gamer
Retro Gamer is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Although launched as a quarterly publication, Retro Gamers soon became a monthly...
and The Escapist
The Escapist (magazine)
The Escapist is an online magazine covering video games, gamers, the gaming industry, and gaming culture. Published by the Themis Group, it was edited by Julianne Greer up to June 30, 2009, then by Russ Pitts through September 2011, and is currently edited by Steve Butts. The Escapist was first...
), Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
's Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
was also influenced by Dragon Slayer and in turn defined many other RPGs.
The original Dragon Slayer, released for the PC-88 in 1984, is considered to be the first action-RPG. In contrast to earlier turn-based roguelike
Roguelike
The roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing video games, characterized by randomization for replayability, permanent death, and turn-based movement. Most roguelikes feature ASCII graphics, with newer ones increasingly offering tile-based graphics. Games are typically dungeon crawls, with many...
s, Dragon Slayer was a dungeon crawl
Dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinthine environment, battling various monsters, and looting any treasure they may find...
RPG that was entirely real-time with action-oriented combat. Dragon Slayer also featured an in-game map
Mini-map
A mini-map is a miniature map, often placed in a corner of the screen in computer games and video games to aid in reorientation. Mini-maps usually display traversable terrain, allies, enemies, and important locations or items.-Usage of GPS:...
to help with the dungeon-crawling, required item management due to the inventory being limited to one item at a time, and introduced the use of item-based puzzles which later influenced The Legend of Zelda. Dragon Slayer was a major success in Japan, where its overhead action-RPG formula was used in many later games. The game's MSX port was also one of the first titles to be published by Square
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
.
The sequel Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
is an action RPG developed by Nihon Falcom in 1985 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, MSX and X1 computers. Enhanced remakes were released for the Sega Saturn, PC-9801 and Windows systems...
, released in 1985, was a full-fledged action RPG with many character statistics
Statistic (role-playing games)
A statistic in role-playing games is a piece of data which represents a particular aspect of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a integer or, in some cases, a set of dice....
and a large quest. Xanadu incorporated a side-scrolling
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
view during exploration and an overhead view during battle, though some rooms were also explored using an overhead view. The game also allowed the player to visit towns, which have training facilities that can improve statistics, and shops that sell items, equipment that change the player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
's visible appearance, and food that is consumed slowly over time and is essential for keeping the player character alive. It also introduced gameplay mechanics such as platform
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
jumping, magic that can be used to attack enemies from a distance, an early Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
morality system where the character's Karma meter will rise if he commits sin which in turn affects the temple's reaction to him, a heavier emphasis on puzzle-solving, and individual experience for equipped items. It is also considered a "proto-Metroidvania" game, due to being an "RPG turned on its side" that allowed players to run, jump, collect, and explore. The game gained immense popularity in Japan, setting records for PC game sales, selling more than 400,000 copies. Xanadu Scenario II, released the following year, was also an early example of an expansion pack
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
. The game was non-linear, allowing the eleven levels to be explored in any order. It was also composer Yuzo Koshiro
Yuzo Koshiro
is a Japanese video game music composer and audio programmer. He is regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune music and video game sound design...
's first video game music soundtrack.
Romancia to Sorcerian (1986-1987)
In 1986, Dragon Slayer Jr: Romancia simplified the RPG mechanics of Xanadu, such as removing the character customization and simplifying the numerical statistics into icons, and emphasized faster-paced platform action, with a strict 30-minute time limit. The action took place entirely in a side-scrolling view rather than switching to a separate overhead combat screen like its predecessor. These changes made Romancia more like a side-scrolling action-adventure gameAction-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
.
In 1987, Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family
Legacy of the Wizard
is a fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game released for the MSX and Famicom in Japan and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States. Legacy of the Wizard is the fourth installment in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series...
returned to the deeper action-RPG mechanics of Xanadu while maintaining the fully side-scrolling view of Romancia. The game also introduced an open world
Open world
An open world is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how to approach objectives...
and nonlinear gameplay similar to "Metroidvania" platform-adventures, making Drasle Family an early example of a non-linear, open-world action RPG. That same year also saw the release of Xanadu's spin-off Faxanadu
Faxanadu
is an action role-playing platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System . The name was licensed by computer game developer Nihon Falcom and was developed and released in Japan by Hudson Soft in 1987...
, a side-scrolling platform-action RPG. Later that year, the fifth entry Sorcerian
Sorcerian
is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2, for which it...
was released. It was a party-based action RPG, with the player controlling a party of four characters at the same time in a side-scrolling view. The game also featured character creation, highly customizable characters, class-based puzzles, and a new scenario system, allowing players to choose which of 15 scenarios, or quests, to play through in the order of their choice. It was also an episodic video game, with expansion disks released soon after offering more scenarios.
Two of the games released for the Nintendo Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family and the spin-off of Xanadu known as Faxanadu, were released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. The former was renamed Legacy of the Wizard
Legacy of the Wizard
is a fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game released for the MSX and Famicom in Japan and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States. Legacy of the Wizard is the fourth installment in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series...
. The second of the three games released for the Nintendo Famicom, Romancia, has never been released in North America for any platform. An English fan translation of the Famicom version of Romancia was released on April 23, 2008, by DvD Translations. An English version of Sorcerian was released in North America for MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
in 1990, published by Sierra On-Line
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
.
Legend of Heroes to Legend of Xanadu (1989-1995)
An English version of the 1989 title Dragon Slayer: The Legend of HeroesDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes is a role-playing game developed by the Nihon Falcom. It is the sixth game in the Dragon Slayer line of games, and the first in the The Legend of Heroes series....
was released for the TurboGrafx-CD in 1991, and is usually known as simply Dragon Slayer. Subsequent Legend of Heroes games dropped their association with the Dragon Slayer series. In contrast to the action-oriented gameplay of most other Dragon Slayer titles, the Legend of Heroes titles use turn-based combat, while the 1991 title Lord Monarch
Lord Monarch
is a real-time strategy war game by Nihon Falcom. The game is considered to be the seventh installment in the Dragon Slayer series. It was originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801, ported 1992 to the Super Famicom and 1994 to the Sega Mega Drive...
on the other hand was an early real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
game. The final games released as part of the Dragon Slayer series were the action role-playing games The Legend of Xanadu in 1994 and The Legend of Xanadu II in 1995.
List of games
The games in the series include:- 1.1 Dragon Slayer (1984)
- 2.1 Dragon Slayer II: XanaduDragon Slayer II: Xanaduis an action RPG developed by Nihon Falcom in 1985 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, MSX and X1 computers. Enhanced remakes were released for the Sega Saturn, PC-9801 and Windows systems...
(1985)- 2.2 Xanadu Scenario II (1986)
- 2.3 FaxanaduFaxanaduis an action role-playing platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System . The name was licensed by computer game developer Nihon Falcom and was developed and released in Japan by Hudson Soft in 1987...
(November 16, 1987)
- 3.1 Dragon Slayer Jr: Romancia (1986)
- 4.1 Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle FamilyLegacy of the Wizardis a fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game released for the MSX and Famicom in Japan and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States. Legacy of the Wizard is the fourth installment in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series...
(Legacy of the Wizard) (July 17, 1987) - 5.1 SorcerianSorcerianis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2, for which it...
(December 20, 1987)- 5.2 Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 1 (1988)
- 5.3 Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 2: Sengoku Sorcerian (1988)
- 5.4 Sorcerian Additional Scenario Vol. 3: Pyramid Sorcerian (1988)
- 6.1 Dragon Slayer: The Legend of HeroesDragon Slayer: The Legend of HeroesDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes is a role-playing game developed by the Nihon Falcom. It is the sixth game in the Dragon Slayer line of games, and the first in the The Legend of Heroes series....
(1989)- 6.2 Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes IIDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes IIDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II is a computer role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It was first released in 1992 for the NEC PC-8801...
(1992)
- 6.2 Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II
- 7.1 Lord MonarchLord Monarchis a real-time strategy war game by Nihon Falcom. The game is considered to be the seventh installment in the Dragon Slayer series. It was originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801, ported 1992 to the Super Famicom and 1994 to the Sega Mega Drive...
(1991)- 7.2 Advanced Lord Monarch (1991)
- 7.3 Monarch Monarch (1994)
- 8.1 The Legend of Xanadu (1994)
- 8.2 The Legend of Xanadu II (1995)