This was the first RPG that I bought for the NES... All of the major traits that make up a RPG are here; Hit points, magic spells, magic Items, monsters, gold and pudgie little main characters :)
I liked the game very much. Again I lucked out and got the manuals with the game so eventually I will construct a handbook for those less fortunate. Check back soon under the Lost hand book area!
I recommend this game for first time RPGers as well as the experienced ones. Unlike Final Fantasy, you do not create a unique party but you start off with one little pudgie guy and you meet other chunky characters that will join you throughout the game. It has a decent story line and it will keep you interested. The sequals to Dragon Warrior must be great because the cheapest I have been able to find them is around 30 bucks! I'll look long and far before I will pay that for a game :) By the way you can find Dragon Warrior 1 for three bucks at Funco, but again you'll be lucky to get instructions with it.
Secondary Review: Brendon *Legion* Rapp
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Warrior is the founder of traditional RPGs for console systems. It is the first in a series of 4 games for the NES, and almost every RPG that followed was based on the combat system implemented in DW.
The graphics for Dragon Warrior are quite good for its time. They certainly beat the other big RPG of the time: Final Fantasy. Each time you find a new, big monster, you get a weird feeling in your stomach. It was an experience that was hard to find "back in the day".
The music in this game is quite good. Even the "overworld" music successfully adds to adventurous, haunting atmosphere. The "underworld" music really gives off a haunting feel. Sound FX are kind of minimal. There are basic effects like for when you hit the enemy, or when the enemy hits you. The sound FX have occasional brilliance (namely the one for a magic spell), but don't do much the rest of the time.
Dragon Warrior is easy to control. You never have to worry about being frusturated because something went wrong due to poor control. Combat is menu-based, where things such as items and spells are easily accessible. In this game, you are truly in control.
The storyline is really great. There is a man called the DragonLord, who found out, by accident, that dragons obey his commands. Using this grat power, he forced the world of Alefgard into chaos, and stole the Ball of Light from Tantagel Castle. You are a young hero, who must, obviously, stop the DragonLord and retrieve the Ball of Light. The game also weaves small extras into the plot (you start the game a year after the King's daughter [the princess] had been kidnapped by a dragon. While this sounds like another "save the princess" thing, the game approaches the princess as the King's daughter as opposed to the regular "damsel in distress" cliche). However, you can go through the whole game without ever having saved the Princess. Extras like this add a lot to the game.
If you're the king of RPG player who likes to replay RPGs after a while, then this will be one that you'll like to replay. If you're not that kind of a player, you'll probably only play through it once. But, that's not an issue! This game is fulfilling enough the first time around! It's plenty long for an NES RPG.
This game is a must have for any RPG fan. It is the Super Mario Brothers of console RPGs.
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Dragon Warrior. Game Genie Codes
CODE/EFFECT . . .
SXOIVLSA/Infinite Magic Power
AEVGUIZA/Take no damage in swamp
VVOYYTSA/Start with 256 gold coins
VKOIVLSA/All spells use only one magic point
YAKKEVYA/Barriers cause half usual damage
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A code I found on CompuServe:
Here is a massive start with stuff code for dragon warrior
DSXOIVLSA + VVOYYTSA + VKOIVLSA
Start with infinity magic, 105 mp, 8448 gp, 6 herbs, stones of sunlight, staff of rain, fairy flute gwendlins love, 3 fighters rings, copper sword, leather armor, small sheild, healmore (spell), a curse, and you are carring the princess.
done by RED D.^>^the moogle