Difference between revisions of "DragonStrike (NES)"

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==Music==
 
==Music==
The NES version features a fair amount of songs. However, Westwood's sound driver features dull square waves for the main instruments, so the music can sound a bit bland. Frank Klepacki and Paul Mudra, two of Westwood's main audio personnel collaborated on twelve songs; more than the computer versions which were scored by Mudra alone. However, it doesn't appear any of Paul's compositions from the computer versions made it into the NES version, and it seems that he wrote new music for the game. This was Frank Klepacki's first video game soundtrack.
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The NES version features a fair amount of songs. However, Westwood's sound driver features dull square waves for the main instruments, so the music can sound a bit bland. Frank Klepacki and Paul Mudra, two of Westwood's main audio personnel collaborated on twelve songs; more than the computer versions which were scored by Mudra alone. However, neither of Paul's compositions from the computer versions made it into the NES version, he wrote new music for the game. This was Frank Klepacki's first video game soundtrack.
  
 
One interesting thing about the soundtrack is that not only does the game have a hidden sound test, but also contains official titles for the songs; something unheard of in most video game soundtracks. The track ordering is what is the ordering used in the sound test.
 
One interesting thing about the soundtrack is that not only does the game have a hidden sound test, but also contains official titles for the songs; something unheard of in most video game soundtracks. The track ordering is what is the ordering used in the sound test.

Revision as of 12:14, 2 July 2022

DragonStrike
DragonStrike - NES.jpg
Platform: NES
Year: 1992
Developer: Westwood Associates
For other games in the series see DragonLance.

DragonStrike is a combat flight simulator based on the world of DragonLance. You play a dragon rider who must engage evil dragons and various other monsters of the DragonLance world. You battle your foes with your DragonLance and the breath weapon of your mount.

Though the game shares the same developer as the computer versions, the computer versions featured a 3D environment; something the NES was not fully capable of. Therefore, the game was changed to a top-down vertical shooter. However, unlike most vertical shooters, similar to the computer versions, the levels are a free-roaming environment. You can fly at two altitudes and have two attacks to defeat enemies. Every now and then, you'll encounter a boss that you must defeat; something absent in the computer versions.

One of the more interesting features of this game is that there is a cheat code to play the game in Japanese. This is likely due to plans to release the game in Japan. However, the game remained in the USA only, possibly due to the game's late release, as the SNES was available by 1992. However, the game was released in Japan for Japanese home computers such as the Sharp X68000 and PC-9801.

Screenshots

DragonStrike - NES - Title Screen.png

The title screen.

DragonStrike - NES - Gameplay 1.png

Selecting a dragon.

DragonStrike - NES - Gameplay 2.png

The map screen.

DragonStrike - NES - Gameplay 3.png

Mission objectives.

DragonStrike - NES - Gameplay 4.png

Fighting a silver dragon in the first level.

DragonStrike - NES - Gameplay 5.png

The first boss of the game.

Music

The NES version features a fair amount of songs. However, Westwood's sound driver features dull square waves for the main instruments, so the music can sound a bit bland. Frank Klepacki and Paul Mudra, two of Westwood's main audio personnel collaborated on twelve songs; more than the computer versions which were scored by Mudra alone. However, neither of Paul's compositions from the computer versions made it into the NES version, he wrote new music for the game. This was Frank Klepacki's first video game soundtrack.

One interesting thing about the soundtrack is that not only does the game have a hidden sound test, but also contains official titles for the songs; something unheard of in most video game soundtracks. The track ordering is what is the ordering used in the sound test.

To create the music for DragonStrike, both composers used a Amiga. However, they both used different software; Paul used Deluxe Music Construction Set while Frank used Dr. T's KCS. Their MIDI files were presumably run through a tool (presumably coded by Paul) to convert their MIDI files to the NES. Also, this game uses the DPCM channel for percussion. There are only two snare drums, but it is unknown where they were sourced from.

Frank and Paul should be contacted to see which songs they wrote.

Recording

# Title Composer Length Listen Download
01 Enemy Spotted... Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 2:25
Download
02 Voyage of Yanaadu Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:40
Download
03 The Ebony Dragon Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:53
Download
04 Nadur's Challenge Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:11
Download
05 Conspiracy! Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:40
Download
06 The Mobilizer Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:35
Download
07 The End of Infamy Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 0:05
Download
08 Honor Among Allies Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 0:07
Download
09 Prophecies Recourse Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 1:59
Download
10 Lastius Leggus Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 0:05
Download
11 Most Triumphant! Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 2:00
Download
12 Early Warning Frank Klepacki, Paul Mudra 0:49
Download

Credits

(Sources: 1, 2)

The game credits can be viewed upon the game's completion. Completing the game in the Japanese mode still displays the credits in English.

Game Rip

Issue - Incomplete.svg

This rip is missing songs.

Icon-Help.png

Format

Download

NSF.png


Releases

  USA.svg   USA
DragonStrike - NES.jpg
Title: DragonStrike
Platform: NES
Released: 1992-07-??
Publisher: FCI

Links