Xemn Drasle
The father of the family and a balanced fighter who uses a sword.
Documented for this version
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move |
|---|---|
Arrow Up | Enter doors or ladders when positioned correctly |
Arrow Down | Duck or descend where supported |
A | Jump |
B | Use the equipped weapon or item |
Start | Pause the game and open the status display |
Select | Switch the selected family member or item in the status display |
Controls refer to the NES version.
Different characters and equipment can change how an action behaves.
How it plays
The game uses a side-view platform perspective inside a large, interconnected castle and cave maze. The main objective is to collect four crowns and defeat the guardian Drasle, while locating keys, weapons, and items that open new routes.
Five family members are available, and their different abilities determine which rooms they can enter or traverse. Players jump across platforms, attack monsters, push or break blocks, and return to earlier areas after gaining new equipment. The maze has no conventional stage-by-stage order, making mapping and experimentation central to progression.
Plan your run
Map the castle before spending valuable keys or committing to a route. Mark rooms containing locked doors, crowns, shops, and permanent equipment.
Switch characters frequently. A passage that looks inaccessible may require Roas, Lyll, Pochi, or Meyna rather than a stronger weapon. Buy and test equipment carefully, and return to earlier rooms after major discoveries.
Avoid unnecessary damage while exploring, because long trips through the maze can leave the active character without enough health or magic for a boss encounter.
Meet the cast
The father of the family and a balanced fighter who uses a sword.
The mother, who uses magic and can access routes unavailable to some other family members.
The son, whose digging ability helps him pass through certain blocks and terrain.
The daughter, a small character with movement abilities suited to narrow passages.
The family dog, able to pass through some barriers and use a distinctive attack.
The dragon-like guardian at the center of the family's quest.
Before you begin
Treat the castle as one connected map rather than a sequence of stages.
Keep track of which character can use each route or obstacle.
Save keys and money until the surrounding area has been explored.
Legacy of the Wizard is an exploration-focused action-adventure platformer developed by Compile and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1989. It is an adaptation of Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family, a Japanese computer and console game built around a large, interconnected maze. The player controls members of the Drasle family as they search for crowns, magical items, and the dragon-like guardian Drasle. Each family member has different movement abilities and weapons, so progress depends on choosing the right character for each obstacle. Its demanding layout and limited guidance divided contemporary players, but the game later earned a strong cult reputation for its depth, atmosphere, and unusual exploration design.
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