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Dragon Ball: Daimaou Fukkatsu

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NES

This is a game based on the popular manga series "Dragon Ball". The story follows one of the series' episodes. Son Goku's friend Krillin is found dead after a fighting tournament. A demon's symbol is engraved on a note left near the body. Master Roshi says that an evil demon named Piccolo Daimaou...

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Developer
TOSE

Released on
1988

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Role-Playing

Publisher
Bandai

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

This is a game based on the popular manga series “Dragon Ball”. The story follows one of the series’ episodes. Son Goku’s friend Krillin is found dead after a fighting tournament. A demon’s symbol is engraved on a note left near the body. Master Roshi says that an evil demon named Piccolo Daimaou appeared on the Earth again. It is up to Son Goku to find Piccolo and to revive his friend.

The game introduces the card RPG concept that was later used in Dragon Ball Z RPG series. All your movements in the game depend on your choices of cards that are shown at the bottom of the screen. You move around by choosing cards with appropriate numbers and talking steps on a line of squares. In battles, you choose offensive and defensive cards that will determine the outcome of the fight. You can train with the Master, visit various locations and explore the environments in “Japanese adventure”-fashion.

Dragon Ball: Daimaou Fukkatsu

Overview & History

Released by Bandai in 1988 exclusively for the Family Computer in Japan, Dragon Ball: Daimaou Fukkatsu (Dragon Ball: The Resurrection of the Demon King) marks a pivotal turning point in the franchise's early gaming history. Unlike its linear predecessor, this installment abandons pure action-platforming in favor of a hybrid role-playing and board-game progression system based on the iconic Piccolo Daimao arc. Players guide a young Goku across a stylized digital map using a unique card-battle system where playing cards dictate movement, attack power, and defense stats. The narrative faithfully adapts Goku's grueling training with Karin, the devastating loss of friends like Krillin and Master Roshi to Tambourine and Drum, and the ultimate, high-stakes showdown against the revived Demon King Piccolo. While it never received an official Western localization due to the anime's delayed global reach at the time, it remains a beloved cult classic among retro enthusiasts for its faithful storytelling and innovative fusion of traditional JRPG mechanics with collectible card strategy.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Gameplay is divided into two distinct phases: overland map navigation and first-person combat encounters. During exploration, players draw numerical card hands featuring traditional playing card suits and values; the character and suit combination determines how many spaces Goku can advance and triggers random events, stat boosts, or sudden ambushes by King Piccolo’s mutant spawn. When combat initiates, the perspective shifts to a first-person interface where players select card combinations to execute physical martial arts strikes, defensive blocks, or devastating energy attacks like the Kamehameha. Managing your deck and strategically matching suits becomes crucial for bypassing formidable boss fights. Additionally, players can level up Goku's maximum health and ki reserves by completing specific training minigames hosted by legendary mentors, ensuring you are adequately prepared for the grueling trials awaiting at King Castle.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Navigate menus, move Goku on the overland map, and select targets
Action Keys: Confirm selections, draw cards, and execute attacks (typically mapped to Z and X)
Enter: Start / Pause the game and bring up inventory menus