Dragon Hopper Explained

Dragon Hopper
Developer:Intelligent Systems
Publisher:Nintendo
Platforms:Virtual Boy
Released:Unreleased
Genre:Action-adventure
Modes:Single-player

Dragon Hopper is an unreleased action-adventure video game that was in development by Intelligent Systems and planned to be published by Nintendo on a scheduled 1996 release date exclusively for the Virtual Boy. Along with Japan System Supply's Bound High!, it would have been one of the first second-generation titles for the system if not for the poor critical and commercial reception it garnered that led to its planned relaunch being discontinued, which also led to the game's cancellation in the process.

Players control the young dragon prince Dorin as he embarks on a journey through the land of Faeron rescuing fairies and elemental spirits from enemy captivity in order to free his jailed loved ones and defeat a corrupt prime minister. Dragon Hopper was showcased on various trade shows and previewed in video game magazines but it was ultimately shelved due to the failure of the Virtual Boy itself, despite being completed for release.

Gameplay and premise

Dragon Hopper is a top-down action-adventure game similar to and Virtual Boy Wario Land where players take control of young dragon prince Dorin, the protagonist, who lives in the kingdom of Celestia with his family and girlfriend until all but Dorin are captured by a corrupt prime minister. Dorin falls into a hole that leads him to the land of Faeron, where he must climb back up to stop the prime minister through multi-level maze-like stages of varying themes.

Players have the ability to make Dorin jump onto staggered floors floating above the main playfield. Dorin does not get hurt from high falls, though there are obstacles that hurt him if he lands on them. Players explore the levels collecting scattered items, interact with non-player characters, and defeat monsters to progress. Each stage also hosts hidden warps to a magic shop, where players can spend earned Star Coins on new magic spells or enter a bonus room.

At the end of each stage, a boss must be fought in order to progress further on the adventure. After doing so, an elemental spirit grants hints and new abilities to Dorin. Through the journey, Dorin is attended by a small fairy who provides help to the player. With battery-backed memory, a special feature called "Element of Discovery" allows Dorin to wander through each level in search of a star that transports him to the next level.

History

Dragon Hopper was first showcased alongside Bound High! to the attendees of Shoshinkai 1995 and was later showcased in video game magazines in 1996, with plans to reach store shelves during summer of the same year. It went by the name D-Hopper.[1] [2] The game was showcased along with Bound High! in a playable state at the show floor of E3 1996,[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] and was slated for release on 26 August 1996 in both the United States and Japan.[8] [9] [10] [11] It received previews from publications such as Nintendo Power magazine,[12] [13] [14] but was eventually cancelled due to Nintendo discontinuing the Virtual Boy for being a critical and commercial failure.[15] [16] [17] The only remaining proof of its existence are various screenshots taken by several gaming magazines and gameplay footage, while no prototypes containing a ROM image of the game has been found to date despite various rumors.[18] [19] [20] [21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Pak Watch - Dragon Hopper. Nintendo Power. 83. Nintendo of America. April 1996. 101. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20150611030651/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004038003. 2015-06-11. live.
  2. In The Red - Red or Dead - Virtually Here. Total!. 53. Future plc. May 1996. 38. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713191930/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003022003. 2017-07-13. live.
  3. The Second Coming. Total!. 56. Future plc. August 1996. 9. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713185952/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s003023001. 2017-07-13. live.
  4. Cutting Edge - E3: Nintendo rekindles Mario's magic. Edge. 34. Future plc. July 1996. 8.
  5. E3 Expo Los Angeles - 1996 Software Lineup. GameFan. 4. 7. Shinno Media. July 1996. 32.
  6. Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 - 16-bit Das Finale. MAN!AC. 33. Future-Verlag. July 1996. 24. de. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131195648/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:MAN!AC_DE_1996-07.pdf&page=24. 2019-01-31.
  7. E3 - Only The Beginning: Virtual Boy. Nintendo Power. 86. Nintendo of America. July 1996. 18. 9 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530080004/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004041002. 30 May 2019. live.
  8. Messe - E3 Expo Los Angeles '96 - L.A. Messe. Video Games. 56. Future-Verlag. July 1996. 20. de. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131195648/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AVideoGames_DE_1996-07.pdf&page=20. 2019-01-31.
  9. Super Express - Virtual Boy Games Explosion!. Super Play. 46. Future Publishing. August 1996. 10.
  10. Reporte Especial: Expo E3 Los Angeles '96 - Dragon Hooper. Club Nintendo. 56. Editorial Televisa. 1996. 43. es.
  11. Este Mes En El Barrio.... Club Nintendo. 57. Editorial Televisa. 1996. 61. es.
  12. Informacion Virtual - Dragon Hopper. Club Nintendo. 59. Editorial Televisa. 1996. 20. es. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530075007/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s050198001. 30 May 2019. live.
  13. Preview: Dragon Hopper - Virtual Boy. Nintendo Power. 86. Nintendo of America. July 1996. 26–27. 9 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530023735/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s004041003. 30 May 2019. live.
  14. Eggebrecht. Julian. Julian Eggebrecht. Reportage - Virtual Boy - Die rot-schwarze 3D-Revolution?. Total!. 41. X-Plain-Verlag. October 1996. 58–61. de. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713204900/http://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s001007002. 2017-07-13. live.
  15. ProNews: Nintendo Kills the Virtual Boy. GamePro. 101. IDG. February 1997. 27. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707033430/https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_091_February_1997#page/n28/mode/1up. 2018-07-07.
  16. Moore. Jason. The Lost Big Brother: Virtual Boy. Retrogames. 22. 2004. 9 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530123435/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s034133001. 30 May 2019. live.
  17. Web site: Ciolek. Todd. Creative, Compelling, and Canceled: Lost Games that Could Have Shaken the System. 1UP.com. 6 August 2012. 2019-09-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20150416121952/http://www.1up.com/features/creative-compelling-canceled-lost-games. 2015-04-16. dead.
  18. Moore. Jason. World of Nintendo - Faceball Discovered for Virtual Boy. Retrogames. 23. Summer 2004. 9 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530084920/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s034140002. 30 May 2019. live.
  19. Web site: Ciolek. Todd. Among the Missing: Notable Games Lost to Time. 1UP.com. 15 October 2012. 2019-09-09. https://archive.today/20151026024831/www.1up.com/features/missing-notable-games-lost-to-time. 2015-10-26. live.
  20. Nintendomania - Tips, noticias y Reviews (6min 38sec). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/0Za3dAmtBKU . 2021-12-19 . live. YouTube. 17 January 2017. El Roh. Rodríguez. 2019-09-09.
  21. Web site: Dragon Hopper. Entertainment Software Rating Board. Entertainment Software Association. 2019. 2019-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190928230413/https://www.esrb.org/ratings/1840/Dragon+Hopper/. 28 September 2019. live.

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