![]() ![]() I know the trope has become old hat by now, but I still think about this scene from time to time. It also shows you how different Symphony of the Night is from traditional Castlevania games. Not only that but what the hell even was this kind of intro in 1997? Since when did video games start off with boss battles? Could you imagine a Mario game where you kill Bowser in the first minutes? It was a shock to the system that still sticks around because of how epic the sequence is. The dramatic tunes ramp up in intensity until Dracula transforms and you start to believe you’re going to die. The cheesy dialogue sets up a Shakespearean atmosphere that is combined with some truly outstanding music. It starts the game off with a kick to the face that never lets up. This one might be cheating a little, but the opening battle in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the greatest first enemies in any game. Either way, I don’t think any other punching bag in video gaming has catapulted itself into the limelight better than the Dragon Quest Slime. Plus, there’s that anecdote on how people in Japan will draw the Dragon Quest Slime if you ask any of them to just draw slime…which now that I think about it seems kind of leading. It’s the mascot of the franchise, instantly recognizable by millions around the world, and the star of an absolutely wonderful spin-off called Rocket Slime. Since that very first encounter, the Slime has become an international icon. Slimes are the dodo birds of the Dragon Quest universe expect it’s impossible to make these things go extinct. You really can’t hate a creature that doesn’t come at you full blast but instead sidles up next to you for a quick and prompt beating. The Slime isn’t as aggressive as enemies encountered in later parts of the game. The intent of the creature was to ease players into the RPG system with an enemy it was near impossible to lose to. The character’s design was inspired by Wizardry, one of the early Western RPGs that influenced a great deal of what we know as Dragon Quest. The first time I saw a Slime I thought it looked like a blueberry Hershey’s Kiss. And there is no Dragon Quest enemy more familiar than the Slime. Toriyama used all the tools at his disposal to create an incredibly unique army of baddies that today remain some of the most recognizable in the industry. Though the overworld sprites were nothing spectacular, it’s the details of the enemies in battle that really allowed the personality of the game to shine through. Its dedication to tradition, impeccable artwork by Akira Toriyama, and an amazing soundtrack by Koichi Sugiyama combined for an experience that was unlike anything else in the era. The Dragon Quest series is as popular as it is for a variety of reasons. ![]()
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