Dragon Wars

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Description

Dragon Wars takes place in the magical land of Dilmun, an island of salvation perverted into a world of horror by Namtar (as you might expect - the bad guy).

The player starts with a party of four in the city of Purgatory, equipped with nothing more than.. well - nothing. Worst of all your magic users won't help you out, either, because magic has been banned (to correct this unpleasing situation is one of your main objectives). Other main targets are surviving, getting out of Purgatory and toppling Namtar (maybe getting some decent clothing, one or two shiny swords and the like on your way out).

Gameplay instantly reminds of the Bard's Tale series. Step-by-step first person 3D, opponents materialize out of the air. The combat system is turn based.

Unlike its (spiritual?) predecessors the game features a full-blown skill system, auto-mapping and many places to actually use all these abilities.
Reasonable distribution of your skill points is rather critical.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "The Bard's Tale IV" -- Working title
• "ドラゴンウォーズ" -- Japanese spelling

Part of the Following Groups

• Gameplay feature: Auto-mapping
• Gameplay feature: Character development - Skill distribution
• Gameplay feature: Importable characters

User Reviews

I finished it twice	DOS	anton treuenfels (37)
Ever seen an RPG Legend? Well this one's an RPG God!	DOS	Indra was here (20924)
A true classic CRPG I still enjoy playing	DOS	Late (97)

Critic Reviews

Dragon	Apple II	Dec, 1989		100
Amiga Joker	Amiga	Feb, 1991	87 out of 100	87
Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft	Commodore 64	1992	86 out of 100	86
Power Play	Commodore 64	Feb, 1990	81 out of 100	81
PC Leisure	DOS	Jun, 1990		80
Génération 4	DOS	Apr, 1990	76 out of 100	76
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	Amiga	Jan, 1991	9 out of 12	75
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	Commodore 64	Jan, 1990	8.5 out of 12	71
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	DOS	Apr, 1990	8 out of 12	67
Computer Gaming World (CGW)	Apple II	Dec, 1989	Unscored	Unscored

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Trivia

Bard's Tale

Dragon Wars was developed as The Bard's Tale IV, but three months before release the name had to be dropped. Interplay replaced Electronic Arts with Mediagenic as their publisher and Electronic Arts owned the Bard's Tale name. It was decided to rename the game to Dragon Wars. The developers had to rewrite the story so it would fit the new title.

Default Party Characters

The party in the beginning of the game consists of four default party members (which may optionally be deleted and replaced with new characters). The original party members are: Muskels, Theb, Elendil, and Cheetah. Three additional characters may also optionally be recruited in-game, these characters are: Louie, Ulric, and Valar.

The Elendil party character in this game bears the same name with a fictional character created by author J. R. R. Tolkien, the first high king of Arnor and Gondor. One notable scene from Fellowship of the Ring, where Elendil dies fighting Sauron, his broken sword is then used to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand.

Importable Characters

The player may transfer (import) previously made character(s) from Tales of the Unknown: Volume I - The Bard's Tale and The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight into Dragon Wars. Transferring characters will unfortunately delete the previously saved game. Click on the file dwtran.com to transfer characters.

Mythology

Purgatory, the starting city in the game, comes from a legend or a myth referring to a place between earth and hell.

Reversed Spelling/Semordnilaps

Some of the names used in the game have a meaning if spelled backwards. Though it may be coincidental, there are numerous names that are used in this manner, among others:

• Namtar, the bad guy's name read backwards is Ratman.
• Another name used in the game, Lanac'toor, read backwards is Root Canal.

Information here was also contributed by Late and Zzap.

[edit trivia]

Related Web Sites

• Computer Show, The (Dragon Wars Walkthrough)

Contributed to by JRK (11177), Zzap (47), NGC 5194 (17613), ZeTomes (36395), Terok Nor (27208), Scaryfun (17820) and Unicorn Lynx (181705)