C&VG
1st October 1983
Publisher: Starpath Corporation
Machine: Atari 2600
Published in Computer & Video Games #24
Dragon Stomper
Dragon Stomper is a classic adventure. It has hidden treasures, nasty villains and an evil monster to overcome. The graphic displays are interesting but not overwhelming - which is a bit disappointing since other games in the Atari Starpath Supercharger range are pretty nifty on the graphics front.
The action - all-important in an adventure, graphic or otherwise - is substantial enough to keep your interest. And with three parts to this challenge, you're sure to be playing for some time.
The biggest criticism I've got of this otherwise good game is the graphic representation of the hero. You are shown on-screen as a small yellow blob! Not very inspiring. Come on, Starpath, you surely could do better than that!
Meanwhile, on with the scenario. You take the part of the heroic Dragon Stomper wandering a land devastated by an evil Dragon. Your task is to destroy the Dragon and restore peace and tranquility to the land.
There are three scenarios to work your way through. The first is the Enchanted Countryside, haunted by evil beings such as ghouls, demons, spiders and other assorted nasties. Dragon Stomper has to travel the countryside collecting the gold, weapons and other items he needs to cross the bridge into the Oppressed Village.
Once over the bridge - you'll have to have the right items to get past the guard - you enter the village.
This means loading the next part of the game from the tape - and an instruction to that effect flashes up on the screen. In the village you have to purchase or trade for the goods and weapons and magical tokens needed before you enter the final phase of the game, the Dragon's Cave.
In the village you'll appreciate the need to gather together a good hoard of gold while in the Enchanted Countryside - those magic spells don't come cheap! Once you've spent all your gold it's off into the Dragon's lair - where things get really tough.
I won't spoil the game by telling you what you'll find once you step into the darkness through the - suffice it to say that you'll need all your wits about you to survive and defeat the Dragon.
The joystick controls are easy to master - you just look at the read out at the bottom of the screen which gives a running commentary on what's going on.
And the multi-load feature is equally easy to cope with - again, all the instructions are flashed up on screen. The game comes in an attractive box with a detailed booklet which gives a background to the game.
An interesting departure from the normal space games. But will you want to play it again once you've solved all the puzzles?