Falcom Reveals an Upcoming Dragon Slayer Project for Consoles

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Falcom has revealed its plans to introduce a new project titled Dragon Slayer Project. The announcement, however, did not include critical details such as the specific genre, platforms to be supported, and the expected release date.

Dragon Slayer series has a rich history that dates back to 1984 when the first game in the series was launched for PC-8801. The genre was then characterized as a novel and realistic role-playing game. The game brought forward intuitive controls, such as attacking adjacent foes simply by ramming into them. Unique features were introduced, including growth attributes that strengthened characters by bringing experience points and items back home. Other noteworthy features included puzzles requiring particular items and magic spells to overcome.

As a result, Dragon Slayer was well-received by a significant number of PC users, who praised it as an early action RPG masterpiece. Overtime, several other titles such as Xanadu, Romancia, Legacy of the Wizard, and Sorcerian, were successively released under the Dragon Slayer series.

The series elevated its gameplay when Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes, the sixth entry of the series, integrated a command-based battle system. This enhancement put an emphasis on distinctive characters, a meticulously created game world, and evolved story development. This sequel eventually led to the creation of a spin-off series named The Legend of Heroes. The said series later became the roots of the narrative RPG series Trails, which originated from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.

Falcom’s decision to introduce a brand new chapter to the Dragon Slayer series marks a significant milestone in the development journey of the company. Fans of the series are eagerly awaiting more detailed information about the anticipated Dragon Slayer Project. Industry observers, too, are keenly following the development, hoping for another milestone that will push the boundaries of RPG gaming to new heights.

The first Dragon Slayer game launched for PC-8801 in 1984 as a “new-type, real-type role-playing game.”

The game garnered attention for its unique systems such as simple and easy-to-understand controls like ramming into adjacent enemy characters to attack; distinctive growth elements where players bring experience points and items back home to strengthen their characters; and puzzles that require specific items and magic to clear obstacles; and it was praised by numerous PC users as a masterpiece of the early days of action RPGs.

After that, titles such as Xanadu, Romancia, Legacy of the Wizard, and Sorcerian were released as part of the Dragon Slayer series.

The sixth entry in the series, Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes, utilized a command-based battle system, as well as emphasized unique characters, a carefully crafted world, and story development. This entry led to the spin-off series The Legend of Heroes, which later gave birth to the story RPG series Trails that began with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.