spoonshiro
@spoonshiro.com
Old man gamer, lover of retro games (especially RPGs), computer geek, writer, retired streamer. Guy who's reviewed over 500 RPGs and always hunting for more awesome ones.
https://www.spoonshiro.com
https://www.rpgreats.com
https://www.spoonshiro.com
https://www.rpgreats.com
There were more than a few of these first person flight sim games on NES, and several were actually decent. But they decided to do something different for the NES port, basically just keeping the title and sticking it on an entirely different style of game.
January 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
There were more than a few of these first person flight sim games on NES, and several were actually decent. But they decided to do something different for the NES port, basically just keeping the title and sticking it on an entirely different style of game.
And for our final game of the day, let's talk about Dragonstrike. Released on computers by Westwood in 1990, it's actually a flight simulator game. Probably the only one you'll ever see based on a sword and sorcery fantasy franchise.
January 13, 2026 at 3:44 PM
And for our final game of the day, let's talk about Dragonstrike. Released on computers by Westwood in 1990, it's actually a flight simulator game. Probably the only one you'll ever see based on a sword and sorcery fantasy franchise.
It came out in 1993 too, so it's not like too many people were still playing the NES at that point either.
Well at least it's more entertaining than another infamous 1993 RPG on the platform... *Shudder*
Well at least it's more entertaining than another infamous 1993 RPG on the platform... *Shudder*
January 13, 2026 at 3:40 PM
It came out in 1993 too, so it's not like too many people were still playing the NES at that point either.
Well at least it's more entertaining than another infamous 1993 RPG on the platform... *Shudder*
Well at least it's more entertaining than another infamous 1993 RPG on the platform... *Shudder*
The NES version of Pool of Radiance was actually a pretty decent port, and even offered the ability to export characters via a password system
Hillsfar doesn't take advantage of it though, and Curse never had a console port. So why they bothered releasing Hillsfar on NES at all is a mystery.
Hillsfar doesn't take advantage of it though, and Curse never had a console port. So why they bothered releasing Hillsfar on NES at all is a mystery.
January 13, 2026 at 3:37 PM
The NES version of Pool of Radiance was actually a pretty decent port, and even offered the ability to export characters via a password system
Hillsfar doesn't take advantage of it though, and Curse never had a console port. So why they bothered releasing Hillsfar on NES at all is a mystery.
Hillsfar doesn't take advantage of it though, and Curse never had a console port. So why they bothered releasing Hillsfar on NES at all is a mystery.
Having to buy three separate, full priced games to get the full benefit of the experience, one of which was from an entirely different developer, is something you don't really see today.
The NES port's existence is baffling though, to say the least.
The NES port's existence is baffling though, to say the least.
January 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Having to buy three separate, full priced games to get the full benefit of the experience, one of which was from an entirely different developer, is something you don't really see today.
The NES port's existence is baffling though, to say the least.
The NES port's existence is baffling though, to say the least.
Hillsfar was pretty novel on computers and is definitely an artifact of its time. In an era of massive, sprawling RPGs with hundreds of hours of content to experience it's interesting to take a look back and see the humble origins of that school of design.
January 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Hillsfar was pretty novel on computers and is definitely an artifact of its time. In an era of massive, sprawling RPGs with hundreds of hours of content to experience it's interesting to take a look back and see the humble origins of that school of design.
This also means that if you're not playing as a thief you'll need to hire one for heist runs, giving them half your spoils in exchange for opening chests for you. Or just hoard an ungodly number of Knock Rings from random townspeople and merchants.
January 13, 2026 at 3:19 PM
This also means that if you're not playing as a thief you'll need to hire one for heist runs, giving them half your spoils in exchange for opening chests for you. Or just hoard an ungodly number of Knock Rings from random townspeople and merchants.
I should note that regardless of your class choice you'll end up doing all of these things eventually. So even if you're a wimpy mage you'll fight in the arena, shoot arrows and go on heist runs. In fact the only time you ever get to use spells as a caster is in pubs, showing off for some cash.
January 13, 2026 at 3:18 PM
I should note that regardless of your class choice you'll end up doing all of these things eventually. So even if you're a wimpy mage you'll fight in the arena, shoot arrows and go on heist runs. In fact the only time you ever get to use spells as a caster is in pubs, showing off for some cash.
Basically this is what would be a bunch of side quests in a modern RPG like Kingdom Come or Elder Scrolls, but back in the '80s it was a separate piece of software you had to shell out another $40 for.
January 13, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Basically this is what would be a bunch of side quests in a modern RPG like Kingdom Come or Elder Scrolls, but back in the '80s it was a separate piece of software you had to shell out another $40 for.
There is at least a decent amount of variety though. You get an archery range, a combat arena, riding your horse and hopping over obstacles in the road, and some top-down smash-and-grab heist segments where you search for treasure and plot leads.
January 13, 2026 at 3:09 PM
There is at least a decent amount of variety though. You get an archery range, a combat arena, riding your horse and hopping over obstacles in the road, and some top-down smash-and-grab heist segments where you search for treasure and plot leads.
Yep, there's no way to import characters from Pool, or export them to Curse. Curse never got a console port anyway so there'd be no point even if it did.
So yeah... The NES version really has no reason to exist, unless you just really like mediocre minigame compilations.
So yeah... The NES version really has no reason to exist, unless you just really like mediocre minigame compilations.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Yep, there's no way to import characters from Pool, or export them to Curse. Curse never got a console port anyway so there'd be no point even if it did.
So yeah... The NES version really has no reason to exist, unless you just really like mediocre minigame compilations.
So yeah... The NES version really has no reason to exist, unless you just really like mediocre minigame compilations.
Again, for 1989 this was a pretty clever concept. You could import characters from Pool of Radiance, do some minigames and follow class-based storylines to power them up, then export them into the next game in the Gold Box series, Curse of the Azure Bonds.
Guess what the NES version leaves out.
Guess what the NES version leaves out.
January 13, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Again, for 1989 this was a pretty clever concept. You could import characters from Pool of Radiance, do some minigames and follow class-based storylines to power them up, then export them into the next game in the Gold Box series, Curse of the Azure Bonds.
Guess what the NES version leaves out.
Guess what the NES version leaves out.
Speaking of action RPGs, another PC game that got a pretty superfluous NES port was Hillsfar. Originally released in 1989 by Westwood, it was built as a different kind of Dungeons and Dragons experience by mostly being focused around minigames.
January 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Speaking of action RPGs, another PC game that got a pretty superfluous NES port was Hillsfar. Originally released in 1989 by Westwood, it was built as a different kind of Dungeons and Dragons experience by mostly being focused around minigames.
Hell even in 1988 the NES already had games like Rygar and the Zelda games, and by 1991 we had other great action RPGs like River City Ransom and Crystalis. So if you want a more actiony game with an RPG bent, there were already plenty of better options.
January 13, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Hell even in 1988 the NES already had games like Rygar and the Zelda games, and by 1991 we had other great action RPGs like River City Ransom and Crystalis. So if you want a more actiony game with an RPG bent, there were already plenty of better options.
I'd compare it to Hydlide, which was a fairly novel game when it debuted in 1984. But by the time it showed up in the US (in 1989 - two years after Zelda!) there was pretty much no reason to care anymore, as other games already did everything it did, just way better.
January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I'd compare it to Hydlide, which was a fairly novel game when it debuted in 1984. But by the time it showed up in the US (in 1989 - two years after Zelda!) there was pretty much no reason to care anymore, as other games already did everything it did, just way better.
So yeah, definitely not one of the most auspicious D&D games out there. It had a brief stint of popularity in the late '80s but by 1991 expectations had grown substantially, even for the niche subset of console RPG fans.
January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM
So yeah, definitely not one of the most auspicious D&D games out there. It had a brief stint of popularity in the late '80s but by 1991 expectations had grown substantially, even for the niche subset of console RPG fans.
It also had a port to the Sega Master system. It does at least look better than the NES version, but considering the conversion was handled by the notorious schlockmasters at Tiertex, I doubt it plays any better.
January 13, 2026 at 2:35 PM
It also had a port to the Sega Master system. It does at least look better than the NES version, but considering the conversion was handled by the notorious schlockmasters at Tiertex, I doubt it plays any better.
So while it may have been pretty novel on computers of the '80s, its 1991 release definitely fails to impress. It's too slow and choppy to be a decent sidescrolling action game, and It's too shallow to be a decent RPG; by 1991 we already had Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, among others.
January 13, 2026 at 2:32 PM
So while it may have been pretty novel on computers of the '80s, its 1991 release definitely fails to impress. It's too slow and choppy to be a decent sidescrolling action game, and It's too shallow to be a decent RPG; by 1991 we already had Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, among others.
Then you get your experience tally (which, as mentioned, affects nothing) and your name goes on the high score list. Hooray...
January 13, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Then you get your experience tally (which, as mentioned, affects nothing) and your name goes on the high score list. Hooray...
And that's about all there is to say. Once you get to the final screen and confront the big bad dragon, you just have Goldmoon (or one of the others who can wield her staff) chuck her staff at the Dragon to instantly kill it, pick up the Disks of Mishakal, wait about 10 seconds and you win.
January 13, 2026 at 2:28 PM
And that's about all there is to say. Once you get to the final screen and confront the big bad dragon, you just have Goldmoon (or one of the others who can wield her staff) chuck her staff at the Dragon to instantly kill it, pick up the Disks of Mishakal, wait about 10 seconds and you win.
The only other sticking point is dragon enemies, who can pelt you from afar with acid breath (and constantly run out of your range to do just that). Casting Protection from Evil completely negates the damage though, and It's not like you gain anything from fighting them, so just run past.
January 13, 2026 at 2:25 PM
The only other sticking point is dragon enemies, who can pelt you from afar with acid breath (and constantly run out of your range to do just that). Casting Protection from Evil completely negates the damage though, and It's not like you gain anything from fighting them, so just run past.
Combat in the game is shallow - as mentioned, everything is governed by dice rolls, so you mostly just stand next to an enemy and press the A button to attack until one of you drops. You also have to hold up or down to attack high or low enemies, even though the attack animation doesn't change.
January 13, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Combat in the game is shallow - as mentioned, everything is governed by dice rolls, so you mostly just stand next to an enemy and press the A button to attack until one of you drops. You also have to hold up or down to attack high or low enemies, even though the attack animation doesn't change.
You also need Goldmoon's staff to finish the game - it's the only thing that will kill the final boss. So if she drops down a pit you're SOL and have to restart.
The game does at least have a save system (with battery backup, not passwords) but I have to question the point when it's so short.
The game does at least have a save system (with battery backup, not passwords) but I have to question the point when it's so short.
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
You also need Goldmoon's staff to finish the game - it's the only thing that will kill the final boss. So if she drops down a pit you're SOL and have to restart.
The game does at least have a save system (with battery backup, not passwords) but I have to question the point when it's so short.
The game does at least have a save system (with battery backup, not passwords) but I have to question the point when it's so short.
This also means that if Goldmoon dies, you lose about half of her repertoire of spells. A couple of other characters in the party can pick up her staff and use spells with it, but you can't use anything but basic healing and attacks. If Raistlin is gone nobody else can use mage spells.
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
This also means that if Goldmoon dies, you lose about half of her repertoire of spells. A couple of other characters in the party can pick up her staff and use spells with it, but you can't use anything but basic healing and attacks. If Raistlin is gone nobody else can use mage spells.
There's also no non-hostile NPCs to interact with, and character upgrades are limited to whatever you can find on the way.
Also instead of having to manage memorized spells you only have two casters - Goldmoon and Raistlin - who wield staves that have a finite number of charges to cast spells.
Also instead of having to manage memorized spells you only have two casters - Goldmoon and Raistlin - who wield staves that have a finite number of charges to cast spells.
January 13, 2026 at 2:18 PM
There's also no non-hostile NPCs to interact with, and character upgrades are limited to whatever you can find on the way.
Also instead of having to manage memorized spells you only have two casters - Goldmoon and Raistlin - who wield staves that have a finite number of charges to cast spells.
Also instead of having to manage memorized spells you only have two casters - Goldmoon and Raistlin - who wield staves that have a finite number of charges to cast spells.