Play Dragon World 2001 Online

Dragon World 2001 was an arcade release from that year, developed and published by an outfit whose name doesn't ring many bells these days. It came out during a time when beat 'em ups and side-scrollers still had a foothold in arcades, though fighting games and racers were starting to dominate. You don't hear much about it now, but back then it was just another cabinet tucked in the corner, waiting for someone to drop a coin.

You control a knight who moves screen by screen, clearing enemies before you can progress. Your main goal is to defeat a series of dragons, each guarding a piece of an artifact you need to reassemble. The combat relies on timing your sword slashes and watching enemy patterns; there's a block button, but it drains a meter, so you can't rely on it. The difficulty is pretty relentless, with enemies swarming and projectiles coming from all sides. It feels tense and deliberate, like every move could be your last if you aren't paying attention.