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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_king_of_dragons.png]]
2''The King of Dragons'' is a 1991 MedievalEuropeanFantasy-themed BeatEmUp[=/=]HackAndSlash with a spice of ActionRPG from Creator/{{Capcom}}, released first in [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcades]] and later ported to the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} in 1994. The game is very similar in gameplay to ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheRound'', specially in its level-up system, but it has also weapon upgrading similar to ''VideoGame/MagicSword''. Each of the 5 selectable characters has their own strengths and weakness, and they gain experience with each slain {{Mook|s}} and treasure picked. Added to this is a total of 8 swords and shields, found in certain treasure chests, which enhance their attack and defense even more.
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4The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Malus, where the evil red dragon Gildiss has woken up after years of slumber. Following his rise, hordes of monsters loyal to him start raiding Malus, spearheaded by the Dark Wizard from Castle Garenos. With even the knights of Malus and Princess Mary unable to face this threat, the task lands upon a group of wandering adventurers who have just come to Malus at the right time.
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6The game has 5 playable characters, originally [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep only referred by their character class]], but later given official names in one of [[AllThereInTheManual Capcom's artbook compilations]].
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8* '''Derek''', the [[BarbarianHero Fighter]]: A 26-year-old swordsman, wielding an assortment of swords (including a broadsword and scimitar). He's a [[JackOfAllStats well-rounded character]] in all stats save for magic strength, which he sucks at, making him the ideal starting character.
9* '''Leger''', the [[SquishyWizard Wizard]]: A 28-year-old magician who fights by throwing magic blasts from his staff. He wields different types of staves, some of which grant him a two-hit ability. He's a GlassCannon, with rather low defense and speed, but compensates with great range and (obviously enough) magic strength. Rather than shields, he finds different amulets to boost his defense.
10* '''Reval''', the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Elf]]: A typical elven archer. He's the FragileSpeedster, having the highest speed stat and range, but lousy defense. His bows increase the speed with which he can fire his arrows.
11* '''Aldo''', the [[TheMedic Cleric]]: A 34-year-old GentleGiant who prefers maces and the like over sharp weapons. He's the MightyGlacier, with great strength (both physical and magical), but slow like a snail. He's also able to heal his allies alongside him after picking up a healing item.
12* '''Vargas''', the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwarf]]: The [[TheNapoleon very small]], axe-wielding dwarf. He's a [[LightningBruiser hard-hitting speedster]], with good speed and great defense stats, but has weak magic strength and lacks range. Though his small size works for him in avoiding certain attacks.
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14This game was one of the seven classics re-released in Capcom's 2018 BeatEmUp bundle.
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16!!This game provides examples of:
17* AerithAndBob: Vargas, Aldo, Reval, Leger, and... Derek?
18%%* AllThereInTheManual: The characters' names.
19* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The Hydra and Gildiss. They're so big you don't even see their whole bodies.
20%%* AutomaticCrossbow: Used by the werewolf mooks.
21%%* BarbarianHero: Derek.
22%%* BigBad: The Red Dragon, Gildiss.
23* BoltOfDivineRetribution: The only explanation for the Great Dragonian's rather random demise.
24* BlackKnight: One of the bosses, even named as such. Somewhat of a NinjaPirateZombieRobot, as he appears to be wielding a {{s|inisterScimitar}}cimitar and moves like a {{Ninja}}.
25* BlindIdiotTranslation: Some characters you meet have dialogue which appears to be messed-up English. Even the end title screen says "Thank you for ''your'' playing."
26* BlobMonster: A variety of {{mook|s}}, it crawls along and tries to [[ShockAndAwe electrocute you]].
27* BreathWeapon: Gildiss (of course) as his main attack (which is also the most damaging attack in the game), the two Wyverns, the Hydra, and the Dragon Rider bosses.
28%%* CarryABigStick: Aldo.
29%%* CharacterLevel: Gained during play.
30%%* ChestMonster: ''Toothed'' chest monsters, at that.
31* {{Crossover}}: All the good guys and Gildiss appear in the crossover quiz game ''Adventure Quiz: Capcom World 2''.
32* DamselInDistress: The only reason Princess Mary exists at all.
33* DegradedBoss: The Minotaur gets demoted into a MiniBoss, while the Dragon Rider goes all the way down to GiantMook status.
34%%* DemBones: {{Mook|s}} enemies.
35* DraconicHumanoid: The Great Dragonian. He's much bigger than the normal enemies but smaller than the colossal bosses, [[ArmoredDragons wears armor]], and uses a WhipSword.
36* TheDragon: The Dark Wizard, ironically the symbolic dragon to the literal dragon.
37* DragonHoard: Gildiss is fought in a chamber drowning ing gold and treasure.
38* DragonRider: The identical-named boss and his {{Palette Swap}}ped mook subordinates, although these are wyverns and [[DinosaursAreDragons 2-legged dinosaurs]] more than actual dragons.
39%%* DualBoss: The Royal Knights and the second Cyclops battle.
40* ElementalPowers: Each hero has his own magic attack CastFromHitPoints, per the norm in the genre. These attacks are also available in the form of flying spheres that, when hit, activate a magic attack.
41%%* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep
42* EvilIsBigger: With the exception of the Dark Wizard, all the bosses in the game are much larger than the playable characters, ranging from simply being being the size of big human like the knight bosses and the Orc King, to outright giants like the Minotaur and Cyclops. Then there are the ''big ones'', such as the Hydra and Gildiss.
43%%* EvilOldFolks: Dark Wizard.
44%%* EvilSorcerer: The Dark Wizard.
45%%* ForcedTransformation: The frog spell.
46* GiantSpider: Multiple ones serve as the boss fight with the exact same name.
47* HammerOfTheHoly: Aldo the Cleric, a monk, dislikes bladed weapons, and fights with a mace instead.
48%%* HyperactiveMetabolism
49* AnIcePerson: The Ice Wyvern, one of the Hydra's heads, and [[EvilIsDeathlyCold the Black Knight]].
50* InexplicableTreasureChests: They often float down from the sky.
51* InTheHood: Leger and the thief {{Mooks}}.
52* LizardFolk: A variety of mooks. The Great Dragonian, on the other hand, is a Dragon Folk.
53* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Derek, Vargas, and Aldo can pick up shields to increase their defense, and proper directional presses can even block some attacks.
54%%* MagicWand: Leger's .
55%%* MedievalEuropeanFantasy
56%%* {{Mummy}}: {{Mook|s}} enemies.
57%%* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Vargas.
58* OurGiantsAreBigger: The Cyclops. It's one of the largest bosses you face.
59* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Mermen are {{Elite Mook}}s that go hopping all over the place with their sharp [[ProngsOfPoseidon tridents]].
60%%* OurMinotaursAreDifferent: The Minotaur boss.
61* OurOrcsAreDifferent: [[TheGoomba Most common mook enemy]]. There's also the first boss, the Orc King.
62* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Two {{Mook|s}} varieties: those wielding {{Automatic Crossbow}}s and those wielding spears.
63* PaletteSwap: The Royal Knights are green- and red-swapped versions of the Black Knight, albeit with fancy helmets instead of a bare head. There's also the grey-swapped Cyclops in the second Cyclops boss fight, and the ice-powered second Wyvern.
64* PlayingWithFire: Gildiss (duh!), the Fire Wyvern, one of the Hydra's heads, the Dragon Riders, and the Dark Wizard.
65* PowerFloats: The Dark Wizard.
66* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Princess Mary led the knight force against Gildiss. Too bad she only [[SaveThePrincess creates more problems that way]].
67* ShoutOut: The Great Dragonian's design bears a close resemblance to the ''Dragon Knight'' bosses in Capcom's older BeatEmUp ''Black Tiger''. He also looks an awful lot like [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Goldar]].
68* StormingTheCastle: The focus on stages 8/9 (Malus Castle), 11 (a fort) and 12/13 (Castle Garenos).
69%%* TeleportSpam: There's a wizard MiniBoss who just ''loves'' this tactic.
70%%* WhipSword: The Great Dragonian wields a sword like this.
71%%* WorldTree: Trent
72* YoungerThanTheyLook: The supposedly 28-year-old wizard Leger looks like he's ''at least'' in his late thirties or his forties.

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