Dragon Blaze

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Dragon Blaze
Dragon Blaze.png
Developer(s) Psikyo
Publisher(s) Psikyo
Artist(s) Kouji Ogata
Composer(s) Masaki Izutani
Platform(s) Arcade, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ReleaseArcade: 2000
PlayStation 2: June 23, 2006
Nintendo Switch: April 5, 2018
Windows: August 3, 2020
PlayStation 4: June 29, 2022
Xbox One: January 11, 2023
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system Psikyo SH2

Dragon Blaze is a shoot 'em up arcade game developed and published in 2000 by Psikyo. It was ported to the PlayStation 2 as part of Taito's Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 3: Sol Divide & Dragon Blaze compilation in 2005. [1] The game was later also released on its own as a budget range title for the PlayStation 2 in Europe by 505 Games on 2006. [2] In 2018 the game was ported to the Nintendo Switch by Zerodiv as part of their series of re-releases of classic Psikyo games. [3] The game was later ported to Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Contents

Gameplay

Arcade version screenshot ARC Dragon Blaze.png
Arcade version screenshot

Dragon Blaze plays like many typical 2D vertically scrolling shooters by Psikyo, although this game is closer to the bullet hell genre than most of the company's other output and the color of the enemies' bullets has been changed from Psikyo's trademark orange to a neon purple. The game gives each character (Quaid, Sonia, Ian, Rob) the standard normal shot, charged shot, and magic bomb, but each character also rides a dragon, which can be dismounted and be used as a weapon itself. The dismounted dragon initially acts as a piercing weapon, and then remains stationary shooting until the player calls it back using the same button. It can also be used to collect items. [4]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Dragon Blaze on their November 1, 2000 issue as being the fourth best-performing arcade game at the time. [5]

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References

  1. "彩京シューティングコレクション Vol.3 ソルディバイド&ドラゴンブレイズ | ソフトウェアカタログ | プレイステーション® オフィシャルサイト". Jp.playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  2. "Dragon Blaze for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. 2006-06-23. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  3. "Dragon Blaze Nintendo Switch Review - SwitchWatch". SwitchWatch. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. "ドラゴンブレイズ SYSTEM". Psikyobabble.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  5. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 621. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 November 2000. p. 21.