                              DRAGONFIRE

                               by Imagic

My sons and I have been avid players of Dragonfire on our
Atari 2600 for quiet some time.  It was always one of our
favorite games although we seldom got past the White Dragon.

When we received the Adam version, we couldn't wait to sit
down and boot it up.  Wow!! There is no comparing it to the
2600 version.  Its a whole new and definately more exciting
(also more dangerous according to my oldest) game.

Dragonfire is a one or two player game and you can start at
any of 9 levels.  On levels 1 and two it is very similar to
the 2600 version.  You must cross  the moat and then pick up
all the treasures without getting burned to a crisp by the
dragon (which changes colors on each level as in the 2600
version).  Beginning on level 3, crossing the moat becomes
more dangerous as the drawbridge starts opening and closing.
It is safest to time your crossing when the drawbridge is
closed, although my son has had some success with jumping
the open bridge.  (I always end up hitting my face against
the castle wall when I try to jump.)  Once you enter the
room with the dragon, you also have to face an elfin like
creature who will try his best to slay your man.  Levels 4
and 5 are just tougher versions of Level 3.

Starting with Level 6, you have a new danger to contend
with.  There is an archer in the castle tower shooting
arrows at you.  You cannot afford to stay in any one spot
more than a few seconds as his aim is deadly on target.  On
both this and Level 7, you do not have to worry with the
moving drawbridge.  Once you clear the moat, you have the
dragon and elfin creature to deal with as you gather
treasures and you now have a hidden archer shooting arrows
at you.

Beginning with Level 8, you have the moving drawbridge
again, as well as all the opponents in the previous rounds.

In comparing this to the Atari version, everything is a
great improvement. The graphics are superb.  When your man
falls in the water while trying to cross the moat, you see
and hear the water splash.  My youngest likes to jump his
man against the castle wall just to see him slide in to the
water after his collision.  In the room with the dragon, the
dragon does not move as in the Atari version, but just sits
in one place and directs his fiery breath in random
directions (usually right where you are standing if you are
unlucky enough to have stayed in one place more than a
second).  In this room, the treasures are drawn in great
detail so you see what you are picking up.  Also your man is
much larger than when crossing the moat and you can see him
actually running.

This is really a great adaptation of the arcade game.  My
sons have already informed me that they will only go back to
the Atari version, if the Adam is not available when they
want to play.

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