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 this is obtained, Amul becomes white, and will shoot flames similar to anti-aircraft fire.
 * Earthquake: When this is obtained, the ground will start shaking, and any enemies on screen will be instantly killed.
 * Power Wing: When this is obtained, Amul becomes temporarily invincible. Any enemies flying into him will be instantly killed.
 * Homing Fire: When this is obtained, Amul becomes gold, and his flames will home in on any enemies on screen.
 * Magic Eye: Only appears on the eighth stage. When obtained, it will temporarily make Amul's field of vision much larger.
 * Power Down: If you see this one, avoid it at all costs. Obtaining it equals a hit.
 * Dia: Obtaining this gives you 100 extra points.
 * Gold: Obtaining this gives you 10000 extra points.