Dragons of Flame

Dragons of Flame - the 1989 fantasy action RPG for Commodore 64 from
Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI).

Lead the Companions of the Lance in a desperate struggle against the
armies of the Dragon Highlords, rescuing captives and gathering forces
for the final stand in the world of Krynn.

Core loop
- guide a party of heroes through side-scrolling battlefields
- fight draconians, goblins, and dragons in real-time combat
- rescue prisoners to expand your party and gain allies
- reach the secret stronghold to complete your mission

Systems and items
- character roster - each hero has unique weapons and stats
- combat - melee and ranged attacks with directional control
- magic - cast spells with limited charges
- party switching - change leader instantly to suit encounters

Level design and feel
Large horizontally scrolling levels connected by tunnels and towers.
The mix of tactical swordplay, archery, and spellcasting brings RPG
variety to an arcade format, wrapped in a dark, urgent tone.

Why it is notable
- sequel to “Heroes of the Lance,” continuing the Dragonlance saga
- improved controls, larger maps, and smoother scrolling
- one of SSI’s most cinematic action adaptations of a D&D world

Tips
- switch to archers for flying enemies and draconians
- rescue every captive—some become essential party members
- conserve spell uses for boss or multi-enemy encounters

At a glance
Year - 1989
Developer - U.S. Gold / SSI
Design and programming - FTL / SSI team
Graphics - SSI art team
Music - David Whittaker
Publisher - Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Genre - Action RPG
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2