History VideoGame / DungeonsAndDragons

'''''Dungeons & Dragon: Tower of Doom''''' is a side-scrolling [[BeatEmUp beat-'em-up]] by {{Capcom}} originally released for the arcades in 1994 which ran on the CP-System II hardware. It was followed by a single sequel in 1996 titled '''''Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara''''', along with a compilation of both games titled '''''Dungeons & Dragons Collection''''' released exclusively in Japan for the SegaSaturn in 1999. They are notable for their unique blending of the ''DungeonsAndDragons'' game system and Capcom's then-popular 2D scrolling-brawler engine, put in the limelight by ''FinalFight'' back in 1989. The duology is also respected for Capcom's [[ShownTheirWork showing their work]] in regards to using the RPG system's lore and combat rules, and for providing a certain amount of depth to the beat 'em up genre that wasn't previously explored: Characters have multiple special moves, can use items and magic, can collect money to spend in towns, can equip weapons and armor, and can even choose branching paths as well as look for hidden areas, of which there are many.

Both ''Mystara'' and its prequel were released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live, Wii U eShop and {{Steam}} in June 18th, 2013 as '''''Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara'''''.

* AdaptationDistillation: Capcom did a pretty good job of breaking down an encyclopedia's worth of Pen and Paper game into a beat em up. The closest thing anyone has come close to recreating the experience can pretty much be only found in ''VideoGame/CastleCrashers'' or ''DungeonFighterOnline'' (the latter being a ''real'' RPG, of the MMO variety.)
* AntiMagic: In a nice nod to the source material, magic users won't be able to cast spells when the Beholder's central anti-magic eye is open and looking in their direction. Of course, [[GuideDangIt good luck figuring out what's going on]] if you don't know D&D monsters.

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: The Glantri Air Force in the ending.]]

* CastFromHitPoints: [[LimitBreak Final Strike.]] With high enough total EXP count and a Magic User who's equipped with the Staff Of Wizardry, having every playable character hit every button on the console brings down a literal wrath of the gods that instantly shreds all opponents but the final boss, at the cost of all but one of everybody's hit points and Staff Of Wizardry.

** {{Glass Cannon}}s: The Elf in ''Tower of Doom'' and Magic User in ''Mystara''. In ''Mystara'', the former is a FragileSpeedster.

* TheDragon: Tel'Arin the Shadow Elf is the Dragon to Demios in Tower of Doom, and arguably to Synn in Shadows of Mystara.

* DualWielding -- The Fighter can do this if he finds a short sword.
* DummiedOut / NoExportForYou -- Some of the boss dialogue is cut from the World version of the game.

* GuideDangIt -- How to uncurse the two cursed swords. Also, the Spell of Final Rest.

* HighCollarOfDoom -- Synn's outfit.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Sword of Legend
* KillItWithFire: Fireballs and Oil of Burning obviously. A little GuideDangIt for those who haven't played [[ShownTheirWork the source material]], the troll boss at the end of one of the stages in Tower of Doom will continue to get up, [[HealingFactor regenerating lost life]] until you do this. If you don't have any fireballs/oil on you and time is about to run out, [[TheCavalry some archers with flaming arrows]] will finish the job.

* RememberTheNewGuy: ''Mystara'' treats the Thief and Magic-User as if they have been adventuring with the party since the beginning. The thief even mentions procuring a MacGuffin from the first game that is important to unlocking the final stage.

* SealedEvilInACan: The Fiend in Mystara.
* ShownTheirWork: Aside from accurately incorporating rules and monsters from ''DungeonsAndDragons'', the games are set in the world of Mystara, the campaign setting that originated with the early ''DungeonsAndDragons'' release. The Night Dragon Synn is a major villain in the campaign.
* {{Shoryuken}}: All characters but the Magic-User can do this. The fighter can hit twice with his, and the Thief's includes a free Large Burning Oil for combo purposes.

Both ''Mystara'' and its prequel will be released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live, Wii U eShop and {{Steam}} in June of 2013 as '''''Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara'''''.

Both ''Mystara'' and its prequel will be released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live and Wii U eShop in June of 2013 as '''''Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara'''''.

* BiggerBad: The fiend in the second.
** More like SealedEvilInACan.

Both ''Mystara'' and its prequel will be released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live and Wii U eShop sometime in 2013.

* {{Shoryuken}}: All characters but the Magic-User can do this. The fighter can hit twice with his, and the Thief's is ranged.

* AntiMagic: In a nice nod to the source material, magic users won't be able to cast spells when the Beholder's central anti-magic eye is open and looking in their direction. Of course, [[GuideDangIt good luck figuring out what's going on]] if you don't know obscure details of D&D monsters.

Both ''Mystara'' and its prequel will be released on the Playstation Network and Xbox Live sometime in 2013.

* FiveBadBand:
** In the first game:
*** BigBad [[TheEvilGenius Genius]]: Deimos
*** TheDragon: (Tel'Arin?) the Shadow Elf
*** {{The Brute}}s: Ogre Leader, Troll, Mud Golems
** In the second game:
*** BigBad: Synn
*** TheDragon: Tel'Arin
*** TheEvilGenius: Nagpa
*** TheBrute: Dark Warriors
*** TheDarkChick: Ezerhorden
* FiveManBand: Actually, it's a four-man one in the first game. However, the second game ''technically'' solidified the team. It has two [[TheSmartGuy Smart Guys]].[[hottip:*:The Cleric who is a divination expert and Magic User who is a technical RedMage.]]
** TheBigGuy: The Dwarf[[hottip:*:also a GlacierWaif]]
** TheChick: The Elf
** TheHero: The Fighter
** TheLancer: The Thief
** SixthRanger: Magic User
** TheSocialExpert: The Cleric

* FiveManBand: Actually, it's a four-man one in the first game. However, the second game ''technically'' solidified the team.

** TheSmartGuy: The Cleric

** {{Glass Cannon}}s: The Elf in ''TOD'' and Magic User in ''SOM''. In ''SOM'', the former is a FragileSpeedster.
** [[JackOfAllStats Jacks-of-All-Stats]]: The Cleric in ''TOD'' and The Fighter in ''SOM''. In ''SOM'', the former is a StoneWall.
** {{Lightning Bruiser}}s: The Fighter in ''TOD'' and The Thief in ''SOM''.

* CompetitiveBalance: There are two [[JackOfAllStats Jacks of All Stats]][[hottip:*:The Cleric in the first game and The Fighter in the second.]], two {{Lightning Bruiser}}s[[hottip:*:The Fighter in the first game and the Thief in the second.]], and two {{Glass Cannon}}s[[hottip:*:The Elf in the first game and the Magic User in the second.]] on the team.
** The Fighter: TheHero.
** The Cleric: TheLancer. He is also the StoneWall in the second game.
** The Magic User: TheSmartGuy.
** The Elf: TheChick. She is also the FragileSpeedster in the second game.
** The Dwarf: TheBigGuy and MightyGlacier.
** The Thief: TheHeart.

* '''The Fighter''' (CanonName: Crassus), who can use any melee weapon in the game and is capable of DualWielding swords.
* '''The Elf''' (CanonName: Lucia), the original SquishyWizard of the first game. She compensates for low hit points with high speed and ranged attacks, and offensive magic.
* '''The Cleric''' (CanonName: Greldon), who could heal and provide {{Status Buff}}s and Debuffs. All his weapons were blunt and had poor range. He could also TurnUndead, which in the game worked as a SmartBomb against skeletons, zombies and the like.
* '''The Dwarf''' (CanonName: Dimsdale), who can cause additional treasure to spawn. [[MightyGlacier Very slow,]] but hit the hardest.

* '''The Thief''' (CanonName: Moriah), MsFanservice incarnate, who was given a ton of fighting options, trap detection, and a stealing ability to compensate for low damage absorption and inability to use a shield.
* '''The Magic-User''' (CanonName: Syous), who could barely fight physically but started every level with a high amount of offensive magic spells. Also can't use a shield.

* NintendoHard -- Beating the game on a single credit without four players and/or without a Cleric.

* PaletteSwap: ''Shadow Over Mystara'' allows up to two players to choose the same character, even in four-player games. There are 12 character models in that game, two in each of the six classes.

*** BigBad / TheEvilGenius: Deimos

*** TheBrute: Ogre Leader, Troll, Mud Golems

* CompetitiveBalance: There are [[JackOfAllStats Jacks of All Stats]][[hottip:*:The Cleric in the first game and The Fighter in the second.]], two {{Lightning Bruiser}}s[[hottip:*:The Fighter in the first game and the Thief in the second.]], and two {{Glass Cannon}}s[[hottip:*:The Elf in the first game and the Magic User in the second.]] on the team.

* CompetitiveBalance
** The Fighter: TheHero. He is the LightningBruiser in the first game and JackOfAllStats in the second.
** The Cleric: TheLancer. He is the JackOfAllStats in the first game and StoneWall in the second.
** The Magic User: TheSmartGuy and GlassCannon
** The Elf: TheChick and FragileSpeedster. She also doubles as the GlassCannon in the first game.
** The Dwarf: TheBigGuy and MightyGlacier
** The Thief: TheHeart and LightningBruiser

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''TheKingOfDragons''.

** The Fighter: TheHero and JackOfAllStats [[hottip:*: In ''Tower of Doom'', he played the role of LightningBruiser.]]
** The Cleric: TheLancer and StoneWall [[hottip:*: In ''Tower of Doom'', he played the role of JackOfAllStats.'']]

** The Elf: TheChick and FragileSpeedster [[hottip:*:In ''Tower of Doom'', she played the same roles as that of the Magic User.]]