Wizards & Warriors

The legendary Kuros is out to save various damsels in various states of distress from various big creatures.

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Prototype Info

Unused Item#

Watch on YouTubeA map special item is fully programmed into the game, but is unobtainable by normal means. To put it into your inventory, use the FCEU cheat 0078:0B. The map will appear in the fifth slot, like the other special items. Pressing Select will allow you to bring up the map screen at any time rather than just at the beginning of each level. The map will also track where you are in the level.

It would have come in handy in the early part of the game, especially in the purple caves.

Hidden Copyrights#

Almost every bank in the English versions of the game starts and ends with the same copyright text:

(C) COPYRIGHT 1987 RARE LTD. ENGLAND.

The Japanese version has the same string and the start of every bank, but ends with:

[ PP + RME ] (C) COPYRIGHT 1987 RARE LTD. ENGLAND.

The same names or initials can be found in other games by the same developers team from Rare: Marble Madness and California Games, as well as the same names often mentioned in the default records table for these games and in the Wheel of Fortune series.

The initials stand for Paul Proctor and Rachel M. Edwards, the game's developers.

Additionally, the same initial is used for the RAM check during the RESET sequence in the Japanese version:

PP + RME

But in all English versions it says:

ThE tAlE

You can also note, that "PP" and "RME" are 1st and 2nd initials in top players score in the Japanese version, but in both US versions "RME" were moved to the 4th place, and completely removed from the list in the European version!

Regional Differences#

To do: The European version has a few differences.

Title Screen#

US	Europe	Japan

The game title and publisher were changed for the Japanese version. The European version removes the mentions of the US and Canada.

The Japanese version shows the logo of arcade game developer NMK for some reason; Jaleco was definitely the publisher, judging by the box. This may have something to do with it... The game's serial number in Japan also indicates NMK: NMK-ER.

Wizards & Warriors	Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond

The scene of Kuros fighting two enemies was rotated and recolored in the Japanese version, possibly because the original POV looks pretty goofy. One of his swords was also replaced with a shield.

Wizards & Warriors	Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond

The high score screen has numerous differences in the Japanese version. The initials were shuffled around, the colors were changed, and the castle from the map was added.

These two screens have also switched places in Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond, with the second title screen appearing before the high score screen.

HUD#

Wizards & Warriors	Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond

Health System#

In Wizards & Warriors, Kuros has a health bar with twelve health points. In Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond however, Elrond uses a numerical health point system, starting levels at 1500 HP.

The Meat, which restores two bars of Kuros' lost health, will increase Elrond's life points by 200 instead. Elrond can also gain health points above the starting value, with an impossible-to-achieve-through-normal-means limit of 9999.

Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond only gives you one life and then it's game over, as opposed to Wizards & Warriors giving you three, likely to balance the difficulty because of the new health system.

Levels#

To do: Check the other levels for differences

The Forest#

In Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond, Level 1 has no enemies on the outside and some items have been moved to different locations. The Gems at the bottom of the blue door tree have been replaced with a Potion of Levitation to help Kuros reach higher places easier, mainly the very top which, in Wizards & Warriors you could only access via a Purple Potion dropped from enemies, or purposefully taking a hit to bounce up.

Additional hidden rooms with Gems have also been added to Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond, rather than just the one at the very top of the level.

Wizards & Warriors	Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond

Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond adds a blue gradient to the sky at the top, alongside some moving clouds.

Bosses#

Many bosses in Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond will not turn into a pack of spirits when defeated, as they do in Wizards & Warriors, with one example being Rock Face exploding into rocks instead of souls.

Some bosses have also been moved to different levels.

After Kuros has defeated Malkil in Wizards & Warriors, he can safely reach the exit and rescue the last princess. In Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond, however, as soon as Elrond beats Anis to dust, the room will start to tremble, and rocks will fall from ceiling, dealing 500 damage per hit, until Elrond reaches the exit.

Miscellaneous#

• In Wizards & Warriors, Kuros cannot use more throwing weapons if there's already the maximum amount on screen. In Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond, however, when Elrond tries to use more throwing weapons, the one currently on screen will disappear.
• The Wand of Wonder and Staff of Power are fired automatically using the B button in Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond.
• Some of the minor enemies are different in both versions. For example, the ghosts from Wizards & Warriors do not appear in Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond.