The King of Dragons (1991). Play online

Summary

The King of Dragons spins classic beat ’em up action with an unexpected RPG‑style leveling twist. As you slash through its 16 bite‑size stages, every monster killed and sack of gold collected feeds an experience gauge that raises your health, range and even grants brief invulnerability. Each of the five heroes—fighter, dwarf, elf, cleric and wizard—carries distinct strengths, from the fighter’s raw melee endurance to the wizard’s potent spell attacks. A single attack button, a jump button, and the option to mash both for a screen‑clearing magic blast keep the controls instinctive yet satisfying.

Shield‑blocking is keyed to a quick joystick tilt, letting the fighter, cleric and dwarf parry looming projectiles. Hidden throughout are three Yashichi icons, a classic Capcom power‑up that adds an extra continue when found. Thanks to its inclusion in the Capcom Beat ’Em Up Bundle and Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, the arcade classic is easily reachable on modern consoles and PC.

Storyline

The King of Dragons (often just called King of Dragons) puts you in the role of a hero traveling across the kingdom of Malus. Your goal is to battle the hordes of monsters that have rallied under the fearsome dragon Gildiss. As you progress, you control your character through varied stages, confronting enemies and bosses that guard the realm. The ultimate objective is to defeat Gildiss and bring peace back to Malus.