Developed by J-Force and by SEGA Japan and releasing worldwide in 1996, Dragon Force immediately became a juggernaut Saturn game, earning great contemporary reviews and awards and truly showcasing the Saturn’s sprite-handling prowess. Decades later, the title has lost very little sheen, remaining high on lists of the Saturn’s very finest software.
A strategy game set within the fantasy world of Legendra, the player takes control of one of six (later, eight) kingdoms and is tasked with searching the continent for members of the Dragon Force. Finding these heroes and uniting civilization behind your just rule is the only chance the world has of defeating the dark god Madruk, who stirs from his slumber and once again casts a pall over all of humanity. Aside from this main objective, many character-oriented side quests and stories await intrepid players.
The game is split between an administrative mode, a map mode, and battle. Administration includes upgrading your armies, fortifying positions, and interacting with your prisoners. In map mode, you direct units to guard or attack to advance your cause. Battle mode is where the game shines — each of your generals is able to command up to 100 troops as they take on enemy generals and their armies.
Troop types include soldiers, archers, cavalry, and more exotic warriors such as zombies and dragonmen. Each troop type has strengths and weaknesses against other troop types, inviting strategy. Whilst armies skirmish, generals can unleash magic spells to influence the battle’s outcome. Defeating the opposing general wins the battle.
Thus, generals and castles are defeated and captured (or lost) and the boundaries of kingdoms change. Agents of the Dark God make random appearances to keep the player on their toes, and “killing” them is a temporary condition, as ‘into death they must go, however briefly.
The music is crisp and appropriate, the visuals colorful and technically stunning, and the game addictively progresses in a “I’ll play just one more week!” pattern. With eight kingdoms to play through, the amount of content is impressive.
Working Designs handled the English translation, both for release under their banner in North America, and by licensing their work to SEGA Europe for European consumption — and the translation is generally top notch with few pop culture references for which the translation house is (in)famous for.
In America, the game released in four disc variants as well as including one of three different Backup Cartridge stickers — and of course, came in Working Designs’ famous full-color, foil embossed packaging. A great game, an excellent localization, and timeless gameplay rightfully earns this title a Gold ranking.
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