Falcom fans have been eating good recently. Even better news? The feast continues with the recent announcement from Nihon Falcom confirming the Dragon Slayer Project, the working title for their 45th anniversary game. A teaser website has gone up but we are light on specifics currently. The release date is currently unknown. So are the platforms the project will release on and even the exact genre of game we’re going to get.
There is some safe speculation as to that last genre question though, as Dragon Slayer has a long history. The original Dragon Slayer released back in 1984 for the PC-8801 (pause for Google journey) as a new style of role-playing game. It featured a system close to what early Ys games would use years later, a sort of bump system where you would run into the enemy to attack. There was also familiar things such as collecting experience points to make your human battering ram stronger. PC users raved about Dragon Slayer and considered it a masterpiece as it was among the earliest action RPGs.
Its influence reaches further than the memory of the game itself. The Dragon Slayer series has spawned multiple other series that are more widespread today. Besides being an obvious inspiration for the Ys series, as previously mentioned, the Xanadu series originally owed itself to Dragon Slayer and was loosely connected to the progenitor action RPG, as does the side-scrolling Sorcerian. In fact, the 6th Dragon Slayer entry is called The Legend of Heroes which morphed into the ever growing (both in size and popularity) Trails Saga.
Falcom, with its larger profile after the successful Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter remake, are bringing this classic back to consoles, or at the very least modern gaming. Fans are excited to see the company explore their roots for their 45th anniversary.
How surprising do you find it that Nihon Falcom are reaching this deep into their bag for this? Perhaps another JRPG has caught your attention such as the recently announced Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter? Or are you looking more to Kyoto Xanadu or the recently released Ys X: Proud Nordics? Whatever has caught your attention all these titles are by JRPG workhorses, Nihon Falcom.
Let us know your excitement level for this title and other JRPGs in the comments down below. Feel free to also keep the conversation going in real time by joining us in the GSC discord. Be sure to keep returning to Gamer Social Club for all your gaming news!
