Dragon Spirit - The New Legend (USA, Europe) (Namco Museum Archives Vol 1)

In Dragon Spirit - The New Legend on NES, players take on the role of Amul, a mighty blue dragon, tasked with rescuing Princess Alicia from the demon Zawell. This is a classic vertical scrolling shooter (shmup) viewed from a top-down perspective.

The gameplay of Dragon Spirit focuses on flying across the screen, dodging obstacles and enemy attacks, while continuously firing back. Amul has two primary attack types: firing flames forward to defeat airborne enemies and dropping bombs downwards to destroy ground targets. A unique aspect of the game is Amul's ability to fly at two different altitudes – high and low. Switching between these altitudes is crucial for avoiding specific obstacles or attacking enemies that only appear at a certain height.

Throughout the stages, players can collect various power-up items. Colored orbs will enhance Amul's flame attack, progressing from a single stream to a powerful triple shot. There are also speed-up icons, extra lives, and notably, the ability to transform Amul into a more powerful golden dragon, significantly boosting attack power and resilience. The game features various enemy types, ranging from flying creatures to ground-based military devices. At the end of each stage, players will confront a massive boss with unique attack patterns, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking.

Dragon Spirit offers two main play modes: "Normal" and "Original". The "Original" mode is more challenging and features more stages, providing a greater test for players looking to delve deeper into the story and their skills.