Dragon Spirit/Gameplay

Controls

 * Joystick: Use the 8-way joystick to direct Amul around the screen. He is always moving forward, but you can direct him anywhere (despite his size).
 * Fire Button: Use this button to make Amul spit flames at the air-based enemies. If he has two (or three), heads, they will spit flames simultaneously.
 * Bomb Button: Use this button to make Amul drop bombs on ground-based enemies. If he has two or three heads, they drop bombs simultaneously.
 * 1 or 2 Player Buttons: Push these buttons to begin a 1 or 2 player game.

Amul


This human prince is the protagonist of the game. At the start of the game, he holds his magic sword up to the sky, which gets struck by lightning and transforms him into the blue dragon shown in the image to the right; below that is how he appears with two and three heads in dragon form. Amul can take three hits before dying (or two if the arcade operator has set the "Rank" dip switch setting to "B" in the options menu), and is transformed into the biggest sprite on the screen (except for the bosses) - and the powerups that make him grow additional heads when collected may give him more firepower, but they also give him more exposure to enemy fire and make him a bigger target for the air-based enemies themselves to fly into. When Amul takes a hit, he will "flash" for a few seconds; this means that he is temporarily invincible, so you should use it to your advantage. But you should watch out, because it does not last for very long - and the only way for Amul to recover a rectangle of his lost energy is by collecting an "Extend" powerup that a flashing enemy leaves behind when killed. Amul will also receive an extra life at two predetermined point values in game, which are 80000 points and 180000 points by default.

Powerups
Blue Egg: When Amul drops a bomb on one of these eggs, a blue orb with the Barbadian trident, on it will fly out of it; if you collect it, Amul will grow a second head on the right side of his first one. If you should drop a bomb on another of these eggs and collect another blue orb, Amul will grow a third head on the right side of his second one - but if Amul should ever be hit while he is in his two or three-headed forms, he will lose a head.

Red Egg: When Amul drops a bomb upon one of these eggs, a red orb with the Star of David on it will fly out of it; if you collect it, the first of the three "FIRE" rectangles in the bottom-right corner of the screen will be filled. If you should drop a bomb upon two more Red Eggs and collect two more red orbs, the second and third of the three "FIRE" rectangles in that bottom-right corner of the screen will also be filled, as Amul is upgraded to Level-2 flames - and if you should drop a bomb upon three more Red Eggs and collect two more red orbs the three "FIRE" rectangles in the bottom-right corner of the screen will be filled for a second time as Amul is upgraded to Level-3 flames. However, if he should ever be hit while he has Level-3 flames he will be reduced back to Level-2 flames, and if he should ever be hit while he has Level-2 flames, he will be reduced back to Level-1 ("normal") flames.

Long Fire: When Amul collects one of these orbs, he will become green and shoot flames that are similar to Level-3 flames for a short period of time.

Small Dragon: When Amul collects one of these orbs, he'll become much smaller - but if he should get hit he will be returned back to his normal size.

Wide Fire: When Amul collects one of these orbs, he'll become white, and shoot five small flames (similar to Level-1 flames) for short periods of time.

Earthquake: When Amul collects one of these orbs, the ground will start shaking left and right, and any ground-based enemies will be instantly killed.

Power Wing: When Amul collects one of these orbs, he will become of invulnerable, and any air-based enemies flying into him will be instantly killed.

Homing Fire: When Amul collects one of these orbs, he will become gold and spit flames that will home in on any (air-based) enemies on the screen.

Extend: When Amul collects one of these orbs, one of his empty (from the hit) "LIFE" rectangles in the bottom-left corner of the screen will be refilled.

Magic Eye: These orbs are exclusive to the eighth stage (the second-last one), and when collected, they'll temporarily enlarge Amul's fields of vision.

Power Down: If you see one of these orbs, you should avoid it at all costs - for if it is collected, one of Amul's filled "LIFE" rectangles will be emptied.

Dia: When Amul collects one of these orbs, 100 extra points will be added to your score; they can make a big difference when it comes to extra lives.

Gold: When Amul collects one of these orbs, 10000 extra points will be added to your score; again, they can make a difference regarding extra lives.