DragonStomper is a pioneering tactical role-playing game created by Stephen Landrum and released by Starpath Corporation for the Atari 2600 in 1982. Designed for the Starpath Supercharger add-on, it stands out as one of the few graphical RPGs on the platform, sending players on a multi-stage quest to defeat a dragon and recover the stolen royal amulet.
How to Play
Your goal is to gain strength, collect gold, purchase equipment in the village, and navigate the dragon’s lair. The quest unfolds across three distinct acts:
- The Wilderness: Explore the land, defeat monsters to earn gold and experience, and dodge environment hazards.
- The Country: Visit village shops to buy weapons, shields, dynamic keys, and hire guards for the final battle.
- The Dragon’s Lair: Navigate a trap-filled cavern to retrieve the royal amulet by defeating or bribing the dragon.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard (Player 1) |
|---|---|
| Move / Navigate menus | Arrow Keys (↑ ↓ ← →) |
| Action / Trigger | Spacebar |
| Select / Reset | F11 / F12 |
| Pause | Alt + P |
Tips
- Stock up before entering the lair: Spend gold on shields, potions, and keys in the second act before stepping into the cave.
- Bribe or battle: If your combat stats are insufficient to slay the dragon outright, bring enough gold to bribe it and secure the amulet.
- Avoid wilderness traps: Watch for static map hazards to preserve your hit points for combat encounters.
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