Review: Dragon Hopper (Virtual Boy) – A Zelda-Like With Height, Heart, And A Spring In Its Step

Editor’s word: As a result of low decision and peculiarities of how screengrabs show for Digital Boy video games on NSO, all of the screens listed here are Nintendo press photographs.

When Nintendo pulled the plug on 1995’s Digital Boy after roughly a yr available on the market, Dragon Hopper was one among its instant casualties. Developed by Clever Programs, this bold and seemingly release-ready journey had been closely publicised as a flagship title for the fledgling system — however it will by no means attain store cabinets.
30 years later, its launch by way of Nintendo Classics has lastly given the renamed D-Hopper its long-delayed debut as a lovingly crafted Zelda-like whose layered vertical platforming and exploration have been purpose-built for the Digital Boy’s stereoscopic show.
Out of the gate, it makes a powerful impression with a storybook-like opening introducing Dorin, an lovable dragon forged out of his kingdom after a sudden takeover. With the realm now in hostile fingers, he units out to find 4 imprisoned elemental spirits whose powers might assist him discover his manner residence and reclaim what was taken from him.
Introduced from a top-down perspective, a lot of its exploration and traversal unfolds vertically. With each hop, the bottom seems to recede beneath Dorin, and better platforms transfer naturally into view. More often than not, you solely uncover the route forward on the peak of a bounce, when one other ledge reveals itself above the surroundings.
The Digital Boy’s stereoscopic depth makes judging every bounce remarkably intuitive, and a further push of the bounce button (the ‘R’ set off) in mid-air slows Dorin’s descent with a further flutter, permitting for extra exact landings or assaults. Leaping upwards by means of stacked multi-storey dungeons shortly turns into second nature.
Every of the sport’s 5 visually distinct phases features like a compact dungeon with keys to trace down and Star Medals to gather, culminating within the liberating of an elemental spirit and a singular boss battle. Rescuing one imbues Dorin with a brand new dragon transformation and a corresponding capacity important for ahead progress. The heavier Earth Dragon type smashes by means of weakened flooring and strikes a number of foes concurrently, whereas the Water Dragon type freezes stretches of water to create new paths, making for a satisfying loop of exploration, discovering new powers, and instantly placing them to make use of.
The Zelda similarities lengthen to the supporting techniques. Dorin has a fairy companion who can forged magic spells, and his well being is even measured in hearts. However D-Hopper’s vertical traversal ensures that, acquainted as its inspirations could also be, the expertise of really taking part in it feels distinctive.
Fight, although, can really feel a little bit underdeveloped. Dorin can launch himself in the direction of enemies or pounce from above, however combating hardly ever develops a lot past lining up a bounce and touchdown consecutive hits. Its most memorable boss battles make use of the sport’s verticality by folding in platforming, with fight going down at completely different elevations.
It’s all pleasantly approachable all through and by no means particularly demanding, which makes its three-to-four-hour playthrough simple to settle into. Bolstered by an ideal chiptune soundtrack, expressive spritework, and dashes of quirky persona, Dragon Hopper is a elegant journey from the Digital Boy vault that may be a genuinely welcome addition to its library.



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