This version, while being the last VHS release release of the unaltered original trilogy, is also the same edition I had growing up. It was this set that introduced me to this amazing universe. Not a bad find for 5 bucks.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
SW The Original Trilogy: 1995 boxed set
If you thought that 50¢ for the old Empire Vhs was a steal, then check out this boxed set I got for $5.00!
This version, while being the last VHS release release of the unaltered original trilogy, is also the same edition I had growing up. It was this set that introduced me to this amazing universe. Not a bad find for 5 bucks.
This version, while being the last VHS release release of the unaltered original trilogy, is also the same edition I had growing up. It was this set that introduced me to this amazing universe. Not a bad find for 5 bucks.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior
The beginning of one of the oldest RPG series that is so going, and among the first RPGs from Japan, this 1986 game has been released on multiple platforms and in many regions, starting with the 1989 North American remake for the NES.
Originally called "Dragon Warrior" in the U.S due to there being a pen-and-paper RPG at the time called "Dragon Quest", this was more of a remake than a direct port due to many changes, especially graphically. In Japan, the main character always faces down and when talking to people, you have to choose the direction they're facing in from a menu. In the NES version and all versions since, the character faces the direction on the map just like in most RPGs since.
Speaking of graphics, if you are familiar with the "Dragon Ball" manga and animes, you might notice that the art style here is very similar to that style, especially on the cover art. It can't be seen in this version, but it can be seen on the Japanese cover. That is because the artwork for this, as well as all of the other Dragon Quest games, was made by the manga-ka Akira Toriyama, the creator of manga like Dr. Slump, Cowa, and yes, Dragon Ball. He's also done work on several other games such as "Chrono Trigger" and "Blue Dragon".
As for the game itself, it is pretty simple. The main character has to save a princess and slay the Dragonlord, known as Draolord in the Game Boy Color port and King Dragon in Japan. The princess can be saved about halfway though the game and you can even go through the game without saving her. Yeah...the story is not much, but it did pave the way for many sequels with better stories starting with its sequel, "Dragon Quest 2" which is set 100 years later and features many references to the first game, including the three main characters being the descendants of the hero from there and characters like the Dragonlord's descendant making an appearance. Heck, you even visit the land the first game took place in during the course of the game.
It's been release a few times. The only releases besides the NES one in the U.S. is on the Game Boy Color and iOS and Android, the latter being the first time it was released in Europe and the first time it kept it's original title outside of Japan as the trademark for the other Dragon Quest had since expired.
If you're looking for this game, the easiest to find is the iOS and Android version getting that one's as simple as going to the app store and buying it. The first six are available through there as well as, strangely enough, the eighth game. However, the other two versions aren't hard to find. The NES version is EXTREMELY common and is usually pretty cheap because copies of it were given away with "Nintendo Power" subscriptions when the magazine started. The GBC version isn't hard to find, either. I recommend getting that version since it's gameplay seem to be the best of the versions, the translation is closer to the Japanese version, and it comes with the second game.
Originally called "Dragon Warrior" in the U.S due to there being a pen-and-paper RPG at the time called "Dragon Quest", this was more of a remake than a direct port due to many changes, especially graphically. In Japan, the main character always faces down and when talking to people, you have to choose the direction they're facing in from a menu. In the NES version and all versions since, the character faces the direction on the map just like in most RPGs since.
Speaking of graphics, if you are familiar with the "Dragon Ball" manga and animes, you might notice that the art style here is very similar to that style, especially on the cover art. It can't be seen in this version, but it can be seen on the Japanese cover. That is because the artwork for this, as well as all of the other Dragon Quest games, was made by the manga-ka Akira Toriyama, the creator of manga like Dr. Slump, Cowa, and yes, Dragon Ball. He's also done work on several other games such as "Chrono Trigger" and "Blue Dragon".
As for the game itself, it is pretty simple. The main character has to save a princess and slay the Dragonlord, known as Draolord in the Game Boy Color port and King Dragon in Japan. The princess can be saved about halfway though the game and you can even go through the game without saving her. Yeah...the story is not much, but it did pave the way for many sequels with better stories starting with its sequel, "Dragon Quest 2" which is set 100 years later and features many references to the first game, including the three main characters being the descendants of the hero from there and characters like the Dragonlord's descendant making an appearance. Heck, you even visit the land the first game took place in during the course of the game.
It's been release a few times. The only releases besides the NES one in the U.S. is on the Game Boy Color and iOS and Android, the latter being the first time it was released in Europe and the first time it kept it's original title outside of Japan as the trademark for the other Dragon Quest had since expired.
If you're looking for this game, the easiest to find is the iOS and Android version getting that one's as simple as going to the app store and buying it. The first six are available through there as well as, strangely enough, the eighth game. However, the other two versions aren't hard to find. The NES version is EXTREMELY common and is usually pretty cheap because copies of it were given away with "Nintendo Power" subscriptions when the magazine started. The GBC version isn't hard to find, either. I recommend getting that version since it's gameplay seem to be the best of the versions, the translation is closer to the Japanese version, and it comes with the second game.
Dragon Quest
This section is for the games I have in the Dragon Quest series, one of my favorite RPG series.
SW the Prequel Trilogy DVD releases
These are the DVDs I have for the prequel trilogy.
I think these were the original DVD releases, or at least close enough to it. I'm not sure about The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones, but I know I got the DVD for Revenge of the Sith shortly after it first came out on DVD. They're still in pretty good conditions save for some sound issues with I and II. I is expected, but II is strange since I don't watch that one as often as I watch I and III.
I think these were the original DVD releases, or at least close enough to it. I'm not sure about The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones, but I know I got the DVD for Revenge of the Sith shortly after it first came out on DVD. They're still in pretty good conditions save for some sound issues with I and II. I is expected, but II is strange since I don't watch that one as often as I watch I and III.
The Empire Strike Back 1984 VHS release
This was quite a surprise to find. I found this tape a few days ago at a library bookstore of all places.
According to sources I checked, this is the first VHS release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. It still works and while the picture has issues in several places, it still looks pretty good considering the tape is over 30 years old. I'm told that when this version came out, it cost $124. Over 30 years later, I got it for 50 cents.
I'm hoping to find the other two on VHS soon, either in this set or a later set.
According to sources I checked, this is the first VHS release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. It still works and while the picture has issues in several places, it still looks pretty good considering the tape is over 30 years old. I'm told that when this version came out, it cost $124. Over 30 years later, I got it for 50 cents.
I'm hoping to find the other two on VHS soon, either in this set or a later set.
SW The Original Trilogy: 2006 DVD releasess
These are the most recent versions of the original trilogy that I got when my family made the jump from VHS to DVD:
This release is one of my favorites. The first disc of each one contains the 2004 remastered versions which contains many changes that have had some negative reactions. While I don't mind most of the changes as the same great movies still exist underneath them (which makes some of the bad changes extra painful), it is always nice to have the original versions as they do, for one thing, look more professional as they don't have technologies and styles from different decades mixed together. That is something that looks jarring under ANY circumstance. Fortunately, there is a bonus disc with each DVD that contains the original unaltered versions. While the picture quality of those may not be the greatest, they are still acceptable.
As of this writing, this is the most recent release that contains the original versions.
This release is one of my favorites. The first disc of each one contains the 2004 remastered versions which contains many changes that have had some negative reactions. While I don't mind most of the changes as the same great movies still exist underneath them (which makes some of the bad changes extra painful), it is always nice to have the original versions as they do, for one thing, look more professional as they don't have technologies and styles from different decades mixed together. That is something that looks jarring under ANY circumstance. Fortunately, there is a bonus disc with each DVD that contains the original unaltered versions. While the picture quality of those may not be the greatest, they are still acceptable.
As of this writing, this is the most recent release that contains the original versions.
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