Overview and Gameplay
Prince Lace transforms into a dragon to rescue Princess Iris after the sorcerer Galda revives Zawel. This NES release is a remixed console adaptation with a sequel storyline, built around vertically scrolling combat against airborne enemies and ground targets.
The opening battle also selects the route. Defeating Zawel begins the full nine-area Blue Dragon campaign, while losing opens the easier five-area Gold Dragon route with more health and a different ending. Every area ends with a boss, and later stages add hazards such as moving walls, darkness, ice barriers, and narrow passages.
Controls And Mechanics
- Directions: Move the dragon in eight directions.
- A: Fire at ground targets.
- B: Fire at airborne enemies.
- Start: Start or pause the game.
Power-ups strengthen fire, increase speed, add up to three heads, summon support dragons, grant temporary invincibility, or alter the dragon’s form. The full route also rewards players for rescuing Iris’s six attendants. Play is single-player only.
Version Notes
The USA release uses English story text, the subtitle The New Legend, and Bandai publishing. It adds a shirt to Lace in one scene and removes a Japanese-only ending gag triggered with Select.
Release And Credits
- USA release: June 1990
- Developer: Now Production Co., Ltd.
- Publisher: Bandai
- Japanese Famicom release: April 14, 1989, published by Namco
