Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: DragonStrike

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: DragonStrike takes the fantasy world of Dragonlance and turns it into something quite unusual for the NES: an aerial combat game where you actually fly a dragon into battle. Released in North America in July 1992, the game was developed by Westwood Associates and published by FCI. Unlike the earlier computer versions, the NES edition was redesigned as a top-down action shooter rather than trying to reproduce the original flight-simulation style.

The setting is the War of the Lance, with the forces of evil threatening Ansalon. You take the role of a knight riding one of the powerful dragons of Krynn and are sent on a series of missions against enemy forces. Depending on the mission, you may find yourself hunting enemy dragons, attacking ships and castles, or dealing with other dangerous flying creatures.

One of the game's most interesting ideas is its altitude system. Your dragon can fly at high or low altitude, and choosing the right level is important during combat. Some enemies can only be attacked from certain positions, while flying too close to the ground can expose you to archers and other hazards. Your dragon also has breath attacks and other weapons, while successful missions can provide useful magical items and upgrades.

Players can choose between different dragon types, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold, each offering different strengths. The game supports one or two players, with the second player taking part in alternating play rather than simultaneous combat.

DragonStrike is not a traditional Dungeons & Dragons RPG, but that is part of what makes it memorable. It is a fast, mission-based NES action game with a genuinely unusual premise, and controlling a dragon gives it a personality that few other NES games can match.