*Quick warning...the game is what, almost 20 years old, but if you never played it, there may be spoilers ahead. But seriously...20 years.

I've been playing video games ever since I was four. I was introduced into this magical world by my aunt. She'd be asked to babysit me, and being the responsible adult she was, she took me to the bar up the street.



She was awesome.

It was at this bar that I was introduced to the pinball machine, and later, arcade games. Friends of hers would give me quarters to play. Fortunately, no dancing or sexual favors were exchanged for the money.

I think.

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Moving on...

I was later introduced to the Atari, and eventually the NES. It was here where my gaming hobby really took off. Sure, Atari was fun...but holy shit! Did you see Mario just squash that Goomba? He actually looks like a person and not some creepy block interpretation of one! And he really squashed that thing! It didn't just disappear! And the music! Oh, the music!

And while the plumber threw me down the dark, slippery slope of gaming, one game is responsible for my love affair with RPGs...Dragon Warrior, the game that popped my RPG cherry.



Just look at that cover! How could any 12-year old boy resist it?

Dragon? Check. Castle? Check. Knight decked out with shield and sword? Check. The word "epic"? Double-fraking-check.

Yes, by this time, I had played The Legend of Zelda, but this was different. This game had towns to visit. It had weapons and armor to purchase. Hell, it even had rudimentary stats...strength, agility, HP, and MP. And you learned spells as you leveled up! Spells! Link couldn't do that shit! I even get to name the hero!

And the monster battles...completely random. One minute, I'm walking along, chilling out to the medival-esque 8-bit tune, and the next...BAM! A monster draws near! And I wasn't just pushing a button to swing my sword. No way. I had to use actual strategy: do I fight, use a spell or item, or try to run?



Slimes? Wyverns? Golems? Be still my heart! This game really is epic!

It was different than any other game I had played. It took hold of me. I'd play for hours. I'd sneak downstairs late at night, turn the volume down low, and continue my journey in the land of Alefgard. I had to defeat the Dragonlord. I drew my own maps, made notes as to which monsters would appear where and which ones gave the most experience or gold. At school, I'd imagine the adventures my hero was having while I wasn't playing the game. Sad, yes, but the game grabbed ahold of my very soul.

One day, I was ready. It was time to go after the Dragonlord and save the land from his grip. I had Erdrick's Armor, Erdrick's Sword, and Erdrick's Token. I was stocked with herbs. It was time to fight. After busting through monsters in the castle, I got to the Dragonlord. He tried to tempt me with power, but I refused. I was stronger than he was. His promises rang empty in my ears. The battle was on...

...and I lost. Shit. The dude isn't affected by magic, and my level apparently wasn't high enough. So it was time to grind, another aspect of RPGs that DW introduced me to. After getting to a decent level, I went back to Charlock Castle, determined to defeat this guy. I mean, c'mon...all he has is a staff. He can't be that hard.

My strategy was different this time: avoid all monsters when possible and make it to the Dragonlord with all of my healing items and MP. No offensive spells, only healing ones.

And it worked. I beat the fucker. Take that, you son of a...



...wait, what the hell? He just turned into a dragon!?! Fuck me! Though, I should have expected it, what with the whole "Dragonlord" thing...

Alright, alright...calm down. You can do this.

And I did. After a few minutes (back then, a few minutes was a long time to finish off the final boss), the Dragonlord had been defeated. I found the Ball of Light, held it above my head, and peace was restored. Sweet. I went back to Tantegel, where the king asked me to take his place. Of course, I would have...but the game didn't give you that option. I was told I thought it over and declined, as I'd want to find my own land to rule over.

Well, at least the princess decided to come with me. She'd leave the castle and her fancy lifestyle behind to spend her life with me...searching for some land where people are just waiting for a king. Not like she'd take 'no' for an answer. I tried, and she kept saying she must go. Oh well.



I honestly felt a sense of accomplishment after this. I spent all this time in this foreign world, battling monsters, saving a princess, and ultimately freeing the land from an evil man/dragon (Trogdor?). This is something that only happened in those fantasy movies I'd watch with my dad. But now, I got to live it...to a certain extent.

From that point on, I was hooked. RPGs have always mean my main course when it comes to video games. And I have Dragon Warrior to thank for it.

And sure, going back to play it now, it's hard to get over the clunky command screen, the beeping during conversations, and the speed of the game. But it will always hold a special place in my gaming heart.



Sorry ladies...DW was first.