Dragon Warrior II (1987). Play online

Summary

Dragon Warrior II took the simple top‑down charm of its predecessor and turned it into a surprisingly deep adventure for the NES. I loved how the game starts with just my hero, then slowly adds two cousins—one a spell‑wielding princess, the other a wizard‑warrior prince—letting us control three characters in turn‑based battles that can involve up to six enemies at once. The world feels massive; after unlocking the sailboat I can drop anchor anywhere on the overworld, exploring fields, towers, caves, seas and dungeons at my own pace. Each party member carries eight items, and some weapons even cast spells, while a quirky lottery‑ticket mini‑game peppers the journey with luck‑based rewards. Saving is a breeze thanks to the battery‑backed SRAM, a big upgrade from the original password system. The American version spices the dialogue with archaic English and even swapped a coffin for a ghost sprite, but the core experience—larger maps, richer combat and a steep difficulty curve—remains one of the most memorable early RPGs on the console.

Storyline

Dragon Warrior II, the NES sequel to Dragon Quest, takes place a century after the original adventure. The wizard Hargon attacks Moonbrooke Castle, trying to summon the demon Malroth and bring ruin to the world. A dying soldier flees to Midenhall and warns the king before he collapses.

The king orders his son, a direct descendant of the legendary hero Erdrick, to stop Hargon. The young prince begins alone, then his cousins—the Prince of Cannock and the Princess of Moonbrooke, who has been cursed into a dog—join him. Together they restore the princess, acquire a ship, and sail to distant lands, even revisiting Alefgard.

Guided by the Dragonlord’s grandson, they gather five hidden crests to forge the Charm of Rubiss. With the charm they confront Hargon in his ice‑bound castle on the Rhone plateau, defeat him, and after he summons Malroth they slay the demon. Returning home, the hero is crowned king of Midenhall.