Dragon Buster
1985 arcade action-RPG that introduced the double jump.
Dragon Buster, an action role-playing platform game, was created and released by Namco for arcades in 1985. It debuted in Japan that January and arrived in Europe by May. The game holds the distinction of being the first to incorporate a double jump mechanic, and it also ranks among the early titles to display a visual health meter.
The story unfolds in an unnamed kingdom, where a legend speaks of a hero who will save the land from a dragon’s wrath. Clovis, son of the royal family’s chief bodyguard, was sent as a child to train with a monk in the forest after his father disowned him for mischievous behavior. When a dragon and its minions raid the kingdom and kidnap King Lawrence’s 16-year-old daughter, Princess Celia, Clovis learns he is the prophesied hero. He sets out for Dragon Mountain to defeat the dragon, rescue Celia, and restore peace.
Players guide Clovis through rounds of levels on the way to Dragon Mountain. The arcade version features 10 rounds, while the Famicom port expands the adventure to 30 rounds. Each time Celia is rescued after a few mountains, the game restarts, and she appears in a different outfit. Players choose from various paths through each round, with more options appearing in higher rounds. These paths lead to individual levels, each containing multiple bosses and weaker enemies. The player must find the boss that holds the exit to proceed, and Clovis’s vitality refills by 25% after each level. The game ends when his health reaches zero.
Five level types exist: The Cave, The Tower, The Boneyard, The Mountain, and The Ruins. Each emphasizes certain monsters—for instance, The Boneyard features many Skeleton bosses. The Cave is mostly linear, with descents and horizontal movement, and is filled with bats and snakes. The Tower requires extensive climbing across many floors. The Boneyard is the hardest, with numerous enemies and branching paths, often forcing players to defeat every boss before finding the exit. The Mountain has players descend from its peak. The Ruins mixes elements from all other types. At the end of each round lies Dragon Mountain, which always begins with a long drop into the Dragon’s room.
Ports include a Famicom version developed by Tose, and an NEC PC-8801 port by Enix that added an introduction and a new ending with cinema screens showing a battle-worn Clovis and teary-eyed Celia.
- Developer
- Namco
- Publisher
- Namco
- Release Date (Japan)
- January 1985
- Release Date (Europe)
- May 1985
- Genre
- Action role-playing platform
- Platform
- Arcade, Family Computer, MSX, X68000, PSP, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
- Known For
- First game with a double jump mechanic; early visual health meter
Lore & Background
In an unnamed kingdom, legend tells of a brave warrior who will rescue the land from a fearsome dragon. Clovis, son of the royal family's chief bodyguard, was sent to live with a monk after being disowned by his father due to mischievous childhood behavior. When a dragon and his minions kidnap King Lawrence's 16-year-old daughter, Princess Celia, Clovis learns he is the foretold hero and sets off for Dragon Mountain to slay the dragon and restore order.
Reader's Guide
Dragon Buster holds historical significance as the earliest known game to implement a double jump mechanic, a feature that became a staple in later platformers. It also pioneered the use of a visual health meter, influencing game design. The game was a commercial hit in Japan, ranking third in arcade unit sales in March 1985. Its side-scrolling platform gameplay and overworld map presaged later home console and PC platformers. The game spawned a Japan-only Famicom sequel, Dragon Buster II: Yami no Fūin, and a later PlayStation game, Dragon Valor, which served as both a remake and sequel. Ports and compilations kept the game accessible, including its inclusion in Namco Museum collections and as a hidden mini-game in Tales of the Abyss. The Famicom port, developed by Tose, was praised for its 138 levels and grander scale, though some critics noted jerky character movements and plain graphics compared to the arcade original.
Did You Know?
- Dragon Buster is the earliest game to feature a double jump mechanic.
- The game was a hit in Japan, listed as the third most-successful table arcade cabinet of 1985.
- The Famicom version contains 30 rounds, while the original arcade version has 10.
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