Capcom's medieval brawler, up to three players in arcade and two on SNES. Solid, fun, a bit dated but still pleasant.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up2 players12+
Co-op
Description
Capcom beat-'em-up featuring adventurers battling dragons, Japanese version. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in 1994. Same content as the European version with five character classes, medieval castle levels and dragon bosses. Japanese version of Capcom's King of Dragons on Super Famicom.
King of Dragons, The review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Capcom treats its medieval brawler like an animated tapestry: deep forests, drawbridges, dragon caverns and vaulted halls, with enemies drawn from the classic bestiary, goblins, minotaurs, wyverns. The five classes are recognised instantly by weapon and bearing, and the equipment you pick up visibly changes on the sprite itself.
The score borrows from medieval adventure film music: fanfare brass for the level openings, fast strings during the melees, organ in the crypts. The pieces stay short and loop cleanly, and each dragon encounter gets a heavier theme, built on held chords rather than on speed.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Choosing between five fantasy heroes then clearing hordes of monsters in a medieval beat'em up bursting with character: the adventure blends brawling and role-playing-style progression. Levelling up, upgrading your weapon and advancing in co-op multiplies the fun. Colourful, snappy and generous, an epic blow-off that comes into its own with several players, pad in hand.
The original Super Famicom version of Capcom's medieval brawler, released in Japan in March 1994, a few weeks ahead of the West. It is the most affordable source of the title, carrying its Japanese branding and packaging: SFC cardboard box and spine card, both decisive for a valued complete copy. The draw is the earliest release date and the strength of the Capcom port, without the short print runs that thin out the Western editions.
Is King of Dragons, The still worth playing in 2026?
A medieval beat-em-up by Capcom adapted from the arcade, where five hero classes carve through hordes of goblins, ogres and dragons. The light leveling and character choice add a welcome tactical layer to the genre. The clear presentation and snappy co-op stay very enjoyable, even if the pace sits a notch below the studio's best. A safe bet among the console's beat-em-ups, ideal in two-player.
