Rise of the Dragon is a graphic adventure game released in 1990. The game features a captivating cyberpunk-themed narrative and gameplay that was innovative at the time. The game was developed by Dynamix, a company known more for its action and flight simulator games. Rise of the Dragon was originally released for DOS and Mac, but the game later received adaptations for the Sega CD and Amiga with slight modifications. Here we’ll take a look at the game’s premise, characters, and cheats.
Rise of the Dragon Premise
Rise of the Dragon is set in a dystopian future version of Los Angeles in the year 2053. Players step into the shoes of William “Blade” Hunter, a former police officer turned private detective. The game’s narrative revolves around Blade’s investigation into a dangerous new designer drug called MTZ. The investigation leads him to find out about a complex set of circumstances involving crime and conspiracy. Gameplay involves navigating various locations, solving puzzles, and interacting with characters, all while managing a unique time meter that influences events based on the player’s actions and choices.
The gameplay features a room-based perspective from Blade’s viewpoint, which also inspired future Dynamix titles. Players use a cursor for movement and interaction, with the game’s innovative time meter adding a layer of strategic planning. Key events occur at specific times, and Blade’s actions consume time, making efficient decision-making crucial. The game also includes action sequences with an option to skip these challenges after multiple attempts.
Rise of the Dragon Characters
In Rise of the Dragon, the characters play a pivotal role in the game’s cyberpunk narrative. Each character, from the protagonist William Hunter to the sinister antagonist Deng Hwang and every minor character caught in the middle, is integral to the story. The characters feature unique backgrounds and the game ties them together in the dark and gritty setting of futuristic Los Angeles. As an adventure game, the interactions between the characters are of the utmost importance.
- William “Blade” Hunter: The protagonist, a former LAPD officer turned detective. He is tasked with uncovering the mystery behind the lethal drug MTZ.
- Chandra: The rebellious daughter of the mayor, whose death from MTZ serves as the introduction to the game.
- The Jake: A streetwise friend of Chandra’s who provides the protagonist with crucial information about his friend and the events.
- Karyn: Blade’s girlfriend, who works at the Crime Records Bureau and assists in the investigation.
- Chen Lu: A drug dealer involved in the MTZ trade, whose assassination is a major turn in the narrative.
- Deng Hwang: The game’s main antagonist, a drug kingpin with aims for world domination.
Games in the Series
While Rise of the Dragon stands as a standalone title, it’s part of a trio of adventure games developed by Dynamix, each unique in its storytelling and gameplay mechanics. The series started in 1990 with the release of Rise of the Dragon. After that Dynamix released The Adventures of Willy Beamish a year later, which focuses on a little bit more mundane story of a nine-year-old Willy. The series concluded in 1991 with the release of Heart of China, set in 1930s Hong Kong. In it, a struggling former fighter pilot is recruited for a dangerous mission. Each game offers a distinct narrative and visual style but shares a similar control and gameplay schematic.
- Rise of the Dragon (1990)
- The Adventures of Willy Beamish (1991)
- Heart of China (1991)
Rise of the Dragon Cheats
Rise of the Dragon is an adventure game, which usually means that there are no traditional cheat code systems. As advancing in the game is largely done by solving puzzles and interacting with characters and the environment, cheats would not make much of a difference. However, we can give some help in the form of the password to Chen’s safe. To access Chen’s Safe without being chased by cops, enter the digits “0772” in the safe’s panel.
Rise of the Dragon Cheats FAQ
What is the story of Rise of the Dragon?
Rise of the Dragon is set in a cyberpunk world, inspired by Blade Runner. The game follows a detective investigating a case of an illegal and lethal street drug called MTZ.
Is Rise of the Dragon suitable for all ages?
The game features mature themes and a complex narrative, which might not be suitable for the youngest gamers. Rise of the Dragon with its darker story is more suitable for older gamers, and The Adventures of Willy Beamish might be a better choice for a younger audience.
What platforms is Rise of the Dragon for?
The game was initially released for DOS, the predecessor to Windows, and Mac. Later the game was already released for Amiga and Sega CD, an accessory for Sega Genesis.