Dragon Warrior I & II (USA) (GBC)

Dragon Warrior I & II (USA) (GBC) is a compilation of two classic role-playing games, offering a traditional JRPG experience on a handheld console. Players embody heroes chosen by destiny to save the kingdom of Alefgard and surrounding lands from dark forces.

In Dragon Warrior I, you control a lone hero, a descendant of Erdrick. The main quest is to defeat the Dragonlord, who has kidnapped the princess and sown chaos. Gameplay focuses on exploring towns and dungeons, speaking with NPCs to gather information, purchasing equipment and items, and battling monsters to accumulate experience and gold. The combat system is turn-based, simple yet strategic. Each battle takes place on a separate screen where you select actions such as attack, cast spells, or use items.

Dragon Warrior II significantly expands on scope and complexity. You start with one hero, the Prince of Midenhall, and later recruit two more party members: the Princess of Moonbrook and the Prince of Cannock. Each character has distinct roles and abilities (warrior, mage, cleric). The world is much larger, spanning multiple continents and including boat travel. The quest is to defeat the evil sorcerer Hargon and subsequently Malroth. Gameplay retains the traditional RPG loop of exploration, light puzzle-solving, and turn-based combat, but with a party, players must manage more complex strategies, combining skills and spells to overcome difficult challenges. Both games feature a leveling system, allowing characters to grow stronger, learn new spells, and equip better weapons and armor. Saving the game is typically done at churches by speaking with a priest.