Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes is a 1989 RPG developed and published by Japanese studio Falcom. It is the sixth entry in the Dragon Slayer series and the first game in The Legend of Heroes franchise. First released for the NEC PC-8801, it was later ported to platforms including the PC-9801, MSX2, X68000, Mega Drive, and Super Nintendo (Super Famicom).
Set in the Kingdom of Farlene, the story follows Prince Serios: ten years after King Asiel was killed in a monster attack with minister Arkdam ruling as regent, monsters invade again. While fleeing, Serios learns both incidents are part of Arkdam’s plot. To avenge his father and reclaim the throne, he gathers a volunteer army and embarks on a quest to restore the kingdom.
Featuring classic medieval fantasy themes, players control Prince Serios, lead a party across a vast world, battle enemies, complete quests, and overthrow the usurper to bring peace back to the land. Battles use a turn-based system, requiring players to strategically plan party actions for different combat scenarios.
The game also features a praised soundtrack: the original score was composed by Mieko Ishikawa and Masaaki Kawai, with the PC Engine version arranged by Koichi Yamada.
As the starting point of The Legend of Heroes series, this title established the franchise’s worldview and gameplay style with lasting influence. Its sequels evolved in story depth, character development, and game systems, making the series one of Japan’s classic RPG franchises.