Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara

Lore & Background

Shadow over Mystara adds a Thief and a Magic-User to the four heroes from its predecessor, and allows two players to choose the same character via two sprite versions, effectively offering 12 characters. The game uses a four-button control scheme with special moves executed via joystick and button combinations similar to Street Fighter. It employs a Vancian magic system where spells are limited per use and recharged via scrolls or after boss fights.

Reader's Guide

The game features a wide array of weapons, armor, and hidden items, many unknown to average players, along with forking paths and multiple endings, giving it high replayability. It was one of the last 2-D arcade side-scrollers by Capcom, followed only by Battle Circuit in 1997. Home releases include the 1999 Sega Saturn compilation Dungeons & Dragons Collection and the 2013 digital release Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara on Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Steam.

Did You Know?

• The game allows two players to pick the same character due to two separate sprite sets per character.
• Magical items such as boots, gauntlets, and rings are destroyed after the player is damaged a few times.
• The Magic-User can obtain the Staff of Wizardry from a hidden chest near the end of the game.
• The final boss Synn is revealed to be a centuries-old red dragon.