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Wizards & Warriors

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Title Screen

Wizards & Warriors

Also known as: Densetsu no Kishi: Elrond (JP)
Developer: Rare
Publishers: Acclaim Entertainment (US, EU), Jaleco (JP)
Platform: NES
Released in JP: July 15, 1988
Released in US: December 1987
Released in EU: January 7, 1990


DevTextIcon.png This game has hidden development-related text.
ItemsIcon.png This game has unused items.
RegionIcon.png This game has regional differences.


DCIcon.png This game has a Data Crystal page

The legendary Kuros is out to save various damsels in various states of distress from various big creatures.

Unused Item

A map special item is fully programmed into the game, but is unobtainable by normal means. To put it into your inventory, use the FCEU cheat 0078:0B. The map will appear in the fifth slot, like the other special items. Pressing Select will allow you to bring up the map screen at any time rather than just at the beginning of each level. The map will also track where you are in the level. It would have come in handy in the early part of the game, especially in the purple caves.

Hidden Copyrights

Almost every bank in the English versions of the game starts and ends with the same copyright text:

(C) COPYRIGHT 1987 RARE LTD. ENGLAND.

The Japanese version has the same string and the start of every bank, but ends with

[ PP + RME ] (C) COPYRIGHT 1987 RARE LTD. ENGLAND.

The same names or initials can be found in other games by the same developers team from Rare: Marble Madness and California Games, as well as the same names often mentioned in the default records table for these games and in the Wheel of Fortune series.

The initials stands for Paul Proctor and Rachel M. Edwards, both are the game developers.

Additionally, the same initial is used for the RAM check during the RESET sequence in the Japanese version:

PP + RME

But in all English versions it says:

ThE tAlE

You can also note, that "PP" and "RME" are 1st and 2nd initials in top players score in the Japanese version, but in both US versions "RME" were moved to the 4th place, and completely removed from the list in the European version!

Regional Differences

Hmmm...
To do:
The European version has a few differences.

Title Screen

US Europe Japan
Wizardswarriors-title.png Wizards & Warriors europetitle.png Densetsu no Kishi - Elrond (J)-0.png

The game title and publisher were changed for the Japanese version. The European version removes the FOR THE U.S.A AND CANADA line and of course removes the OF AMERICA INC from LICENSED BY NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

The Japanese version shows the logo of arcade game developer NMK for some reason; Jaleco was definitely the publisher, judging by the box. This may have something to do with it... The game's serial number in Japan also indicates NMK: NMK-ER.

US Japan
W&W-Title2.png Elrond-Title2.png

The scene of Kuros fighting two enemies was rotated and recolored in the Japanese version, possibly because the original POV looks pretty goofy. One of his swords was also replaced with a shield.

US Japan
W&W-Score.png Elrond-Score.png

The high score screen has numerous differences in the Japanese version. The initials were shuffled around, the colors were changed, and Malkil's castle from the map was added.

Bosses

Many bosses in the Famicom version will not turn into a pack of spirits when defeated, as they do in NES version. The Rock Face boss explodes into rocks instead of souls in the Japanese version and some bosses appear in different orders in the Japanese version too.

3rd Boss 4th Boss 6th Boss
International Rock Face Evil Ghost Skeleton Changeling
Japan Skeleton Changeling Rock Face Evil Ghost

After Kuros has defeated Malkil in the NES version, he can safely reach the exit and rescue the last princess. In the Famicom version however, as soon as Elrond beats Anis to dust, the room will start to tremble, and rocks will fall from ceiling, dealing 500 damage per hit, until Elrond reaches the exit.

Miscellaneous

  • In the Japanese version, Level 1 has no enemies on the outside and some items have been moved to different locations (for example the Gems at the bottom of the blue door tree have been replaced with a Potion of Levitation to help Kuros reach higher places easier) but to balance the difficulty, you only have one life!
  • In the NES version, Kuros has a life bar of twelve bars. In the Famicom version however, Elrond uses a life point system.
  • The Meat, which restores two bars of Kuros' lost life (NES version), will increase Elrond's life points by 200 instead (Japanese version). Additionally, while Kuros starts a stage with a full lifebar, Elrond starts with 1500 life points instead, and can collect meat to gain more life points above the starting value.
  • In the NES version, Kuros cannot use more throwing items if there are already max numbers on the screen. In the Famicom version however, when Elrond tries to use more throwing items, the older one will disappear.
  • The Wand of Wonder and Staff of Power are fired automatically using the B button.
  • Some of the minor enemies are different in both versions. For example, the ghosts from the NES version does not appear in the Famicom version.