Dragon Saber

[Moogs]

I just recently acquired Namco Museum Encore for the sole purpose of being able to finally play Dragon Saber. I've been a fan of Dragon Spirit ever since I played it in the arcades so many years ago, and I also enjoyed the TG-16 version, even though it was missing entire levels (I also find it odd that the NES version didn't have any level cuts, but oh well).

Anyway, when I had heard about a sequel being made (this was what, about 15 years ago?) I was really excited. I never saw it in an arcade, but I figured I'd be able to play a home port. Unfortunately, the PC-Engine port never made it stateside.

Wait, did I say unfortunately? I meant thankfully.

Now maybe the PS1 version is just ported/emulated badly, but Dragon Saber pales in comparison to its predecessor. The level design is awful, with some of the worst colour combinations I've seen in a long time. There's one level that looks something like a floating garden, and the colour scheme looks like someone violently vomited all over the place. The hit detection hasn't gotten any better (I swear, I think this is the only shooter I've played where your hit box grows and changes along with the animation of your character), and some of the bullet patterns -- especially the bosses -- are just flat out cheap. The whole thing just feels dodgy and forced. Even the music doesn't compare to the first game; the compositions are just unremarkable for the most part.

I don't know, maybe I just haven't given it much of a chance, but I think it's safe to say that Dragon Saber just isn't that great. I'm a little disappointed now, cos the rest of the games on Encore aren't anything I'm interested in (by the way, Rolling Thunder is atrocious on this collection... slow as molasses).

So, does anyone else have any comments on Dragon Saber? I haven't really heard anyone speak of it.

[ccovell]

Well, I absolutely love the music to Dragon Saber, especially the Volcano Area music. And since it also contains remixed versions of the Dragon Spirit tunes, it can't be beat.

As for the gameplay, I don't know what to say since both games are very annoying and frustrating. I've gotten farther on Dragon Spirit, but I believe both games are too frustrating (with the huge hitbox of your dragon) to enjoy playing casually.

[Ghegs]

(by the way, Rolling Thunder is atrocious on this collection... slow as molasses).

Actually, this is one of those PS1 games that run in slow-motion when played on a PS2. So no blaming the port

[JBC]

I enjoy it. It's not the best shmup in the world but i prefer it to Dragon Spirit. I actually thought the graphics in Sabre weren't that bad. You should maybe give it a go on MAME now that you own the home version.

Or you could just play Cyvern for your dragon shmupping kicks.

[Moogs]

(by the way, Rolling Thunder is atrocious on this collection... slow as molasses).

Actually, this is one of those PS1 games that run in slow-motion when played on a PS2. So no blaming the port

That's the first time I've ever seen this happen. What other PS1 run games run slow on the PS2?

[Ghegs]

That's the first time I've ever seen this happen. What other PS1 run games run slow on the PS2?

At least Gradius Gaiden (luckily only Stage 7), Gradius 2 from Gradius Deluxe Pack, Toaplan Shooting Battle (not Tiger Heli, though)...few others, I believe.

[BrianC]

That's the first time I've ever seen this happen. What other PS1 run games run slow on the PS2?

At least Gradius Gaiden (luckily only Stage 7), Gradius 2 from Gradius Deluxe Pack, Toaplan Shooting Battle (not Tiger Heli, though)...few others, I believe.

Another game in a Namco Museum Pack, Xevious in Namco Museum 2 runs slow on PS2. Oddly enough, the Xevious in Xevious 3D + G runs just fine.

[Moogs]

That's the first time I've ever seen this happen. What other PS1 run games run slow on the PS2?

At least Gradius Gaiden (luckily only Stage 7), Gradius 2 from Gradius Deluxe Pack, Toaplan Shooting Battle (not Tiger Heli, though)...few others, I believe.

I wish you hadn't said Gradius Gaiden; I just got that a few weeks ago but haven't reached Stage 7 yet. Now I kinda don't want to. I have no other means to play it, though, so I guess I shouldn't let that deter me.

[CecilMcW00t]

Back when I got Dragon Saber on the Encore pack, it was the best thing since sliced bread to me. This was because I had previously tried to play it on MAME. But my old PC souldn't handle it and messed up the graphics and slowed way down. So maybe it's not arcade perfect.. but I love Dragon Spirit and Saber. Even managed to 1CC Dragon Spirit. They are tough shooters and not for the faint of heart.

[yojo!]

I've gotten farther on Dragon Spirit, but I believe both games are too frustrating (with the huge hitbox of your dragon) to enjoy playing casually.

Did you try to set the dipswitch to 'new version' (default to old when you load the game up). According to the namco museum data, the new version has an improved collision detection scheme.

[gameoverDude]

I wish you hadn't said Gradius Gaiden; I just got that a few weeks ago but haven't reached Stage 7 yet. Now I kinda don't want to. I have no other means to play it, though, so I guess I shouldn't let that deter me.

If you have no other means to play Gradius Gaiden, you could use ePSXe. It runs GG just perfect.

[ROBOTRON]

I loved Dragon Spirit and hated Dragon Sabre. Playing Dragon Sabre was frustrating, almost like playing Deep Blue.

UGH.