History VideoGame / TheKingOfDragons

''The King of Dragons'' is a 1991 MedievalEuropeanFantasy-themed BeatEmUp[=/=]HackAndSlash with a spice of ActionRPG from Creator/{{Capcom}}, released first in [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcades]] and later ported to the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} in 1994. The game is very similar in gameplay to ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheRound'', specially in its level-up system, but it has also weapon upgrading similar to ''VideoGame/MagicSword''. Each of the 5 selectable characters has their own strengths and weakness, and they gain experience with each slain {{Mook|s}} and treasure picked. Added to this is a total of 8 swords and shields, found in certain treasure chests, which enhance their attack and defense even more.

* DraconicHumanoid: The Great Dragonian. He's much bigger than the normal enemies but smaller than the colossal bosses, [[ArmoredDragon wears armor]], and uses a WhipSword.

* DraconicHumanoid: The Great Dragonian. He's much bigger than the normal enemies but smaller than the huge bosses, and he wears armor and uses a sword.

%%* DropTheHammer: Aldo gets a few of these.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Two {{Mook|s}} varieties: those wielding {{Automatic Crossbow}}s and those wielding [[BladeOnAStick spears]].

* '''Vargas''', the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]]: The [[TheNapoleon very small]], [[AnAxeToGrind axe-wielding]] dwarf. He's a [[LightningBruiser hard-hitting speedster]], with good speed and great defense stats, but has weak magic strength and lacks range. Though his small size works for him in avoiding certain attacks.

%%* AnAxeToGrind: Vargas and the Minotaur boss.

%%* MagicWand: Leger's WeaponOfChoice.

%%* BalefulPolymorph: The frog spell.

* AerithAndBob: Vargas, Aldo, Reval, Leger, and...Derek?
* AllThereInTheManual: As stated above, the characters' names.

* AutomaticCrossbow: Used by the werewolf mooks.
* AnAxeToGrind: Vargas and the Minotaur boss.
* BalefulPolymorph: The frog spell.
* BarbarianHero: Derek.
* BigBad: The Red Dragon, Gildiss.

* CarryABigStick: Aldo.
* CharacterLevel: Gained during play.
* ChestMonster: ''Teethed'' chest monsters, at that.

* DemBones: {{Mook|s}} enemies.

* DropTheHammer: Aldo gets a few of these.
* DualBoss: The Royal Knights and the second Cyclops battle.

* EvilOldFolks: Dark Wizard.
* EvilSorcerer: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Dark Wizard.]]

* HyperactiveMetabolism

* LostWoods: Trent Woods.

* MagicWand: Leger's WeaponOfChoice.
* MedievalEuropeanFantasy
* {{Mummy}}: {{Mook|s}} enemies.
* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Vargas.

* OurMinotaursAreDifferent: The Minotaur boss.

* TeleportSpam: There's a wizard MiniBoss who just ''loves'' this tactic.
* WhipSword: The Great Dragonian wields a sword like this.
* WorldTree: Trent

* PaletteSwap: The Royal Knights are green- and red-swapped versions of the Black Knight, albeit with fancy helmets instead of a bare head. There's also the grey-swapped Cyclops in the second Cyclops boss fight, and the ice-powered second Wyvern.
* PlayingWithFire: Gildiss (duh!), the Fire Wyvern, one of the Hydra's heads, the Dragon Riders, and the Dark Wizard.
* PowerFloats: The Dark Wizard.

* OurOrcsAreDifferent: [[TheGoomba Most common mook enemy]]. There's also the first boss, the Ork King.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Mary led the knight force against Gildiss...too bad she [[SaveThePrincess creates more problems that way]].
* ShoutOut: The Great Dragonian's design bears a close resemblance to the ''Dragon Knight'' bosses in Capcom's older BeatEmUp ''Black Tiger''.

* WorldTree: Trent.

* OurElvesAreDifferent: Reval.

* DraconicHumanoid: The Great Dragonian. He's much bigger than the normal enemies, but smaller the huge bosses, wears armor and uses a sword.

* DragonRider: The identical-named boss and his {{Palette Swap}}ped mook subordinates. Though the dragons in question are more like [[DinosaursAreDragons 2-legged dinosaurs]].

* ElementalPowers: Each hero has his own magic attack CastFromHitPoints, per the norm in the genre. These attacks are also available in the form of flying spheres that, when hit, activates the magic.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep
* EvilIsBigger: With the exception of the Dark Wizard, all the bosses in the game are much more so than the playable characters, ranging from simply being being the size of big human like the knight bosses and the Orc King, to outright giants like the Minotaur and Cyclops. Then there're the ''big ones'' as the Hydra and Gildiss.

* GiantSpider: Multiple ones, at the boss fight with the exact same name.

* AnIcePerson: The Ice Wyvern, one of the Hydra's heads and [[EvilIsDeathlyCold the Black Knight]].
* InexplicableTreasureChests
** ChestMonster: Teethed chest monsters, at that.
* InTheHood: Regie and the thief {{Mooks}}.

* LostWoods: Trent Wood.
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Derek, Vargas and Aldo can pick up shields to increase their defense.
* MagicWand: Regie's WeaponOfChoice.

* PaletteSwap: The Royal Knights are green and red swapped versions of the Black Knight (albeit with fancy helmets instead of a bare head). There's also the grey-swapped Cyclops in the second Cyclops boss fight, and the ice-powered second Wyvern.
* PlayingWithFire: Gildiss (duh!), the Fire Wyvern, one of the Hydra's heads, the Dragon Riders and the Dark Wizard.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Well, not that much. Gildiss is a typical western dragon, right up to the secret hoard of treasures he guards in a limestone cavern.

* DamselInDistress: The only reason Princess Mari exists at all.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Mari led the knight force against Gildiss...too bad she [[SaveThePrincess creates more problems that way]].

* CreditsMontage

* BreathWeapon: Gildiss (of course) as his main attack, which is also the most damaging attack in the game, the two Wyverns, the Hydra and the Dragon Rider bosses.

* CharacterLevel

* '''Leger''', the [[SquishyWizard Wizard]]: A 28-year-old magician who fights by throwing magic blasts from his staff. He wields different types of staves, some of which grants him a two-hit ability. He's a GlassCannon, with rather low defense and speed, but compensates with great range and (obviously enough) magic strength. Rather than shields, he finds different amulets to boost his defense.
* '''Reval''', the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elf]]: A typical elven archer. He's the FragileSpeedster, having the highest speed stat but lousy defense. His bows increase the speed he can fire his arrows.

* '''Vargas''', the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]]: The [[TheNapoleon very small]] [[AnAxeToGrind axe-wielding]] dwarf. He's a [[LightningBruiser hard-hitting speedster]], with good speed and great defense stats, but has weak magic strength and lacks range. Though his small size works for him in avoiding certain attacks.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The Hydra and Gildiss. They're so big you don't even see their whole body.

** TheDragon: The Dark Wizard.

* BlackKnight: One of the bosses, even named as such.
** NinjaPirateZombieRobot: He appears to be wielding a {{s|inisterScimitar}}cimitar and moves like a {{Ninja}}.

* '''Derek''', the [[BarbarianHero Fighter]]: A 26-year-old swordsman, wielding an assortment of sword (including a broadsword and scimitar). He's a [[JackOfAllStats well-rounded character]] in all stats save magic strength, which he sucks at, making him the ideal starting character.
* '''Regie''', the [[SquishyWizard Wizard]]: A 28-year-old magician who fights by throwing magic blasts from his staff. He wields different types of staves, some of which grants him a two-hit ability. He's a GlassCannon, with rather low defense and speed, but compensates with great range and (obviously enough) magic strength. Rather than shields, he finds different amulets to boost his defense.

The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Malus, where the evil red dragon Gildiss has woken up after years of slumber. Following his rise, hordes of monsters loyal to him start raiding Malus, spearheaded by the Dark Wizard from Castle Garenos. With even the knights of Malus and Princess Mari unable to face this threat, the task lands upon a group of wandering adventurers who have just come to Malus at the right time.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: Some characters you meet have dialogue which appears to be messed-up English. Even the end title scren says "Thank you for ''your'' playing."