Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dragon Saber: After Story of Dragon Spirit continues the classic vertically-scrolling shoot ’em up formula that defined its predecessor. You once again take the helm of a majestic dragon, soaring over land dotted with rivers and fortified banks. Enemy formations swarm from all directions, and your task is to navigate through tight corridors while blasting foes to fragments. Each defeated enemy yields points, and occasionally, a coveted power-up drifts across the screen, offering enhanced breath attacks or supplemental speed boosts.

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While aerial adversaries can be shot down with a well-timed fire breath, ground units present a unique threat: they unleash barrages of return fire, compelling you to weave skillfully through their lines. Since these terrestrial turrets are impervious to your attacks, strategic positioning becomes paramount. Patterns emerge with predictable yet challenging waves, requiring memorization and quick reflexes to avoid being pinned against screen edges.

Compared to the original Dragon Spirit, Dragon Saber refines the controls and introduces subtle new mechanics. You’ll notice tightened hitboxes that allow for more daring maneuvers close to enemy projectiles. Power-up placements have been redistributed to reward risk-taking in heavily populated zones. Level progression maintains a steady difficulty curve, with each stage unveiling novel environmental obstacles—such as narrow canyon passages or flooding sequences—that keep veteran players on their toes.

Graphics

On the TurboGrafx / PC Engine hardware, Dragon Saber delivers vibrant, richly detailed sprites that punch above their weight. The titular dragon appears large and imposing, boasting smooth animations that convey the power behind each wingbeat. Backgrounds are layered with parallax scrolling—from lush green hills to foreboding fortress ramparts—imbuing each level with a sense of depth and dynamism.

Despite the console’s color-palette limitations, the developers employ clever dithering and shading techniques to craft atmospheric backdrops. Blue-tinged rivers sparkle with highlights, while enemy units—from mechanized golems to skeletal warriors—are distinguished by contrasting hues that prevent visual clutter. Boss encounters punctuate each stage with grandiose set pieces, filling the screen with intricate designs that nearly max out the hardware’s sprite budget.

Projectile animations and power-up effects remain crisp, ensuring that critical threats stand out amid chaotic bullet patterns. Explosive fireballs cast fleeting flashes that keep the action legible and exhilarating. Though not a radical departure from Dragon Spirit’s aesthetic, Dragon Saber refines the original’s graphical strengths, polishing the pixel art and expanding environmental variety to sustain player interest over extended play sessions.

Story

Dragon Saber: After Story of Dragon Spirit picks up the narrative thread following your victory over the Demon Lord Zawel. In this new chapter, the mythical realm faces a dire resurgence of dark forces seeking retribution. You, the heroic dragon rider, embark on a quest to unearth the source of this evil revival and restore peace to the land. The plot unfolds through brief interlude screens between stages, combining text with static illustrations to convey the epic stakes.

Although the story isn’t the game’s primary focus, it effectively motivates progression from one fiery battlefield to the next. Each stage’s introductory text sets the scene—whether you’re storming a flooded citadel or scaling a skybound fortress. The succinct narrative works to its advantage, providing enough context to justify relentless aerial combat without bogging down gameplay with lengthy exposition.

For retro shoot ’em up enthusiasts, the storyline injects just enough flavor to complement the high-octane action. Characters are sketched in broad strokes—the stoic dragon knight, the vengeful sorcerers, the reanimated defenders—but their clear motivations ensure players stay invested. The climactic finale hints at further adventures, suggesting this “After Story” may well be a prelude to yet another dragon-bound odyssey.

Overall Experience

Dragon Saber: After Story of Dragon Spirit is a testament to the enduring appeal of arcade-style shoot ’em ups on home consoles. Its balanced blend of tight controls, imaginative level design, and polished presentation ensures that newcomers and retro veterans alike will find plenty to enjoy. The PC Engine’s robust sound chip complements the visuals with a rousing soundtrack and impactful effects, amplifying the thrill of each dragon-breath attack.

Accessibility is a strong point—players can dive into a quick session or commit to mastering the escalating challenges. Checkpoint placement strikes a fair balance between punishing difficulty and forward momentum, while hidden bonuses and branching paths encourage replayability. Those seeking pure, action-oriented gameplay will appreciate Dragon Saber’s refusal to dilute its core shoot ’em up mechanics with superfluous RPG elements.

Ultimately, Dragon Saber: After Story of Dragon Spirit stands as a worthy successor to one of Namco’s beloved classics. It refines the original formula without reinventing the wheel, delivering a compact yet rewarding experience unique to the TurboGrafx / PC Engine library. Whether you’re hunting for a hidden 16-bit gem or craving challenging high-altitude dragon combat, this title earns a place in any shoot ’em up collector’s roster.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10