Dragon Power

Infobox VG
title = Dragon Power


developer = TOSE Software Company
publisher = Bandai
designer =
engine =
released = 1986
genre = Action-adventure
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = NES
media = NES cartridge
requirements =
input =

"Dragon Power", known in Japan as nihongo|"Dragon Ball: Shenron no Nazo"|ドラゴンボール 神龍の謎|Doragon Bōru: Shenron no Nazo|lit. "Mystery of Shenlong" and released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, was the second Dragon Ball console game published in Japan, but the first published in United States and Europe. It was followed by the sequel . The game stars Son Goku and very roughly follows the first two volumes of the Dragon Ball manga, culminating in the first wish from Shenlong. (In the US, this portion of the storyline is often called the Emperor Pilaf Saga.) The game consists of 2D overhead areas where Goku must fight many enemies and side scrolling sequences for the boss fights. This was notably the only Dragon Ball-related game to be released in the US for the NES.

This game is one of the two Dragon Ball NES/Famicom games not part of the Card Battle series.

Modifications for American release

Although the Japanese and European editions of the game used the familiar art and music from the Dragon Ball anime, the US edition made several graphical and translation changes to make the game more easily understood by the audience as the series would not be dubbed into English, at least not on a widespread basis, for another ten years. Goku now more closely resembles an Americanized Kung Fu stereotype and is pictured on the box with a white gi (instead of his traditional orange which he wears in the game itself) and blue headband. In the game, he has been modified to look more like a monkey. While in the 1st issue of Nintendo Power it is explained that this version is based on the Chinese story Hsi Yu Chi sometimes known in English as (the Monkey), there is no mention of the "Dragon Ball" anime series in its review. [ Nintendo Power issue 1, page 82] Muten-Rôshi, similarly has been changed to look more like a traditional martial arts master. Despite these cosmetic changes, the game is still very recognizably a Dragon Ball game and all other plot elements (the search for the Dragon Balls, etc.) remain the same, despite the name changes. Like the TV series, there are a number of edits here, for instance a scene in which Master Roshi asks for Bulma's panties.

As typical for early Dragon Ball imports, character names are not wholly consistent with the ones from the current translations. Bulma here is called "Nora", Yamcha is called "Lancer", and Oolong is called "Pudgy", the Kamehameha is the "Wind Wave", and the Dragon Balls are referred to as "Crystalballs".

Censorship

The US version of the game was also subject to censorship, like many Nintendo games at the time: In the original Japanese version of the game, there is a sequence where Muten-Rôshi is depicted with panties floating around his head. (He had just negotiated to be allowed to see Bulma's panties, in exchange for a Dragon Ball.) In the US version, the sprite for the panties was turned upside down and called a sandwich instead.

It should be noted that the game was released in the US at the time when Harmony Gold USA had the dubbing license for the series.

References

External links

*StrategyWiki
*moby game|id=/dragon-power|name="Dragon Power"
* [http://www.planetnintendo.com/superpope/dbzshrine/games/dpower.html "Dragon Power" (US Edition) at dbz.superpope.com]
* [http://www.planetnintendo.com/superpope/dbzshrine/games/dbnes1.html "Mystery of Shenlong" (Japanese Edition) at dbz.superpope.com]