Game:

Dragon Slayer (1984)

Duration: 1:53:57

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2

I play "Dragon Slayer Gaiden: Nemuri no Oukan" for the first time! This game is an action RPG released in 1992, only in Japan. By using my very limited knowledge of the Japanese language and my handy Japanese dictionary, I slowly flounder my way through the first area in the game. I think my two hours of gameplay could've been done in around 15 minutes if I had any clue what I was doing.

There's some great documentation for non-Japanese speakers here:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gameboy/569753-dragon-slayer-gaiden-nemuri-no-oukan/faqs

Pros:
* Great world to explore
* Good graphics and atmosphere
* Good music
* Four different character classes to play as, all quite different

Cons:
* Tile-based movement is clunky in an action game

Is it worth playing without knowledge of the Japanese language? In my opinion, no. The game has a lot of specific quests that you get from various characters, asking the player to go to specific locations, talk to specific people, and find specific items. Unless you have the path through the game memorized, it's going to be a struggle.

It'd be a different situation if the fighting mechanic was engaging and fun, but unfortunately the clunky tile-based movement makes it difficult to enjoy.

Also, that last setting in the menu, I found out it changes the way the screen changes, from a "scrolling to the next screen" animation to a snap to the next screen. Kind of a strange option to have.

00:00:00 Starting up the game for the first time!
00:01:16 Choose a name
00:02:18 Choose a character class
00:02:57 SO MUCH AUTO SCROLLING TEXT
00:06:50 Gameplay begins
00:07:23 Going through the menus
00:11:45 Exploring the first town
00:22:47 Let's goooooo! Leaving town
00:25:10 ...the battery in my controller died, so embarrassing...
00:26:47 ...ok, I'm back
00:52:23 I get the empty jar
00:56:57 I fill the jar with special water from the special fountain
01:13:25 I use the special water in the dirty pond, and the pond clears up!
01:14:19 DUNGEON 1
01:15:26 First boss!
01:20:21 The other town is now clear of the evil fog! And I get the item I needed
01:23:53 The elderly person at my home can now make the medicine
01:24:16 And Mommy is now cured!
01:24:59 The king gives me permission through the next town
01:28:50 The guard will let me pass after I show him the king's letter
01:31:31 I finish for now and give some thoughts
01:34:12 I forgot to try the other character classes!
01:37:00 ARROWS! ...after I remember to buy a bow AND buy arrows
01:40:35 YOU CAN PLAY AS PAC-MAN!
01:43:20 Some more thoughts and review
01:46:34 Would I buy it today? SPOILERS: Nah