Coryoon: Child of Dragon (PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16) Playthrough

Coryoon: Child of Dragon is a delightful horizontal shoot 'em up developed and published by Naxat Soft exclusively for the Japanese PC Engine in 1991. Combining colorful cartoon graphics, imaginative enemies, and frantic arcade action, it offers a refreshing alternative to the genre's usual spaceships and military hardware. Its adorable protagonist and cheerful presentation conceal a remarkably polished shooter whose accessible gameplay and inventive mechanics make it a standout in the console's extensive library. Rating: 9/10 The story follows Coryoon, a baby dragon determined to rescue a princess who has been transformed into a little girl by an evil wizard. His adventure spans eight stages filled with whimsical environments, unusual enemies, and enormous bosses. The narrative is minimal, but the charming character designs give the journey plenty of personality. Coryoon's arsenal consists of three elemental weapons: a powerful fire attack, a piercing water projectile, and a wide-reaching lightning spread. Collecting matching power-ups increases their effectiveness, encouraging players to experiment with different offensive strategies. The weapon system adds variety without becoming overly complicated, while charged attacks provide another way to deal with tougher enemies. Additional items offer valuable assistance, including protective fairies, a miniature transformation that makes Coryoon harder to hit, and a magnet that attracts nearby collectibles. Choosing the right equipment can make a significant difference, particularly when navigating crowded sections or confronting larger bosses. The game's most distinctive feature is its fruit-based scoring system. Defeated enemies release enormous quantities of bouncing fruit, which players collect for points and extra lives. Chasing these rewards while avoiding enemy fire creates an entertaining risk-and-reward dynamic, transforming the battlefield into a colorful explosion of activity. Coryoon is considerably more forgiving than most traditional shooters. Taking damage while equipped with an upgraded weapon removes the power-up rather than immediately costing a life, while generous scoring opportunities provide frequent extra lives. This makes the game particularly approachable for newcomers, although experienced players may find the standard difficulty somewhat lacking. Visually, Coryoon is outstanding. Large, expressive sprites, vibrant environments, and impressive parallax scrolling demonstrate the PC Engine's graphical capabilities. The action remains remarkably smooth even when enemies, projectiles, and fruit fill the screen. The upbeat soundtrack and energetic sound effects perfectly complement the game's playful atmosphere. Unfortunately, the visual spectacle occasionally becomes a weakness. The sheer quantity of fruit can obscure incoming projectiles, making certain collisions difficult to anticipate. The generous difficulty also reduces the tension during extended sessions, while the relatively short adventure offers limited variety beyond its core mechanics. Fortunately, additional difficulty settings and dedicated two-minute and five-minute score-attack modes provide welcome replay value. Players interested in maximizing their scores will find plenty of opportunities to refine their strategies and weapon choices. Coryoon succeeds through its responsive controls, imaginative presentation, and consistently entertaining action. Its forgiving difficulty and occasional visual clutter are minor shortcomings in an otherwise excellent experience. With its infectious charm and impressive technical execution, Coryoon: Child of Dragon is one of the PC Engine's most enjoyable cute 'em ups and a memorable addition to its exceptional shooter library.