Dragon Warrior II (NES)

Dragon Warrior II
Also known as: Dragon Quest II (JP) Developer: Chunsoft Publisher: Enix Platform: NES Released in JP: January 26, 1987 Released in US: December 1990 This game has unused items. This game has regional differences. This game has a prerelease article

Dragon Warrior II is the sequel to Dragon Warrior aka Dragon Quest. And Enix even published it in America this time! (Okay, so it took them nearly four years, but still...)

Unused Items

Item $36 is named みみせん (Earplugs) in the Japanese version and an empty string in the US version. When used, it displays the same message as the Golden Card, but it doesn't actually function as one (it doesn't give you a discount in shops).

Item $3E is named しのオルゴール (Music Box of Death) in the Japanese version and "Perilous" in the US version. It has no effect when used either on the field or in battle.

Japan	US

The Japanese names of these two items hint that they were meant to be used together--perhaps using the music box to kill or weaken some monster (like the Fairy Flute and Golem in the first game) while wearing the earplugs for protection.

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japan	US

The localized game was, like its predecessor, given the name Dragon Warrior. This time, Enix completely changed the title screen and added fancier animations.

Saving

Japan	US

While the Japanese got a password system, Enix let America use battery-backed saves.

Intro

The Japanese game simply begins with the injured soldier speaking to the king. For the localization, Enix greatly expanded the intro, now featuring scrolling text and a cutscene showing what happened to Moonbrooke.

Graphical Differences

Japan	US

In the North American version, the churches are known as Houses of Healing, with their crosses replaced with stars.

Japan	US

The priests were completely redesigned and lost their crosses.

Japan	US

In the North American version, defeated party members follow you around as ghosts. In the Japanese version, they are represented by coffins with crosses on them.

Japan	US

In the chamber where you access the second floor in Hargon's Castle, the safe floor is in the shape of a large cross in the Japanese version. The North American version changed it into a square with an extra indication on where to access the second floor. This room change also forces the player to use the Stepguard-spell more than once to avoid damage.

Japan	US

The church in Cannock Castle didn't have any crosses in the Japanese version but two star icons were added in the North American version.

Japan	US

The North American version received a fancier ending screen showing the Sword, Shield, and Helmet of Erdrick/Loto.

Other Differences

• In the North American version, the priest in the Monolith of Rhone will automatically revive any dead party member in addition to fully restore all party members' HP. In the Japanese version, he only restores your HP.

• Besides the graphical censorship, the North American version removed all religious content from the game's script. The Great Priest Hargon is referred to as a wizard and sorcerer, Shrines became Monoliths and so on. Finally, the game's full title in Japan (seen on the box and manual) is ドラゴンクエストＩＩ：悪霊の神々 (lit. Dragon Quest II: Demon Gods).