DRACONUS

Draconus is an action-adventure game released in 1988 for the Atari XL/XE, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum computers. Developed and published by the British company Zeppelin Games under the Cognito label, the game has become a notable title in the 8-bit gaming era.

Development Team:

• Programmers: Ian Copeland and Brian Jobling were responsible for coding and designing the game's mechanics. Both collaborated on other Zeppelin Games titles, such as Zybex and Kenny Dalglish Soccer Manager. Brian Jobling, founder of Zeppelin Games, continued his career in the gaming industry, becoming the CEO of Eutechnyx, a company known for developing racing games.
• Graphic Artist: Michael Owens crafted the visual elements, giving the game its distinctive style. Owens also contributed to other Zeppelin Games projects, including Blinky’s Scary School.
• Composer: Adam Gilmore composed the game's music, which became one of its most recognizable features. Gilmore also created soundtracks for other notable games, such as Zybex and Ninja Commando. His compositions on the Atari platform are esteemed for their quality and innovation.

Gameplay and Plot: Players assume the role of Frognum, a dragon-like hero whose mission is to reclaim his kingdom from the Tyrant Beast. The game comprises approximately one hundred screens filled with enemies and traps. Frognum has two primary attacks: limited fire-breathing and an unlimited punch. Throughout the game, players must locate four special abilities essential for defeating the final adversary.

Interesting Facts:

• Draconus is often compared to Metroid due to its similar gameplay style and level structure.
• The game twice secured the top position in the "Readers' Top Ten" ranking of the German magazine Atari Magazin.
• Adam Gilmore's music in Draconus is considered among the best on the Atari platform.

Draconus remains a significant part of 8-bit gaming heritage, with its unique style and mechanics continuing to attract new retro gaming enthusiasts.