List of version differences in Dragon Quest I

This article is a listing of the version differences of Dragon Quest.

Famicom (1986)

• Game progress is saved through a password, the Spell of Restoration. HP and MP are not tracked by passwords, and are reset whenever a game is loaded.
• All character sprites always face forward no matter the direction of their movement, including the Hero.
• Interacting with objects or talking to non-player characters requires the player to choose one of four directions first.

NES Version

• Battery-backed SRAM system.
• Dragon Warrior release was allocated more memory for graphics improvements
• Characters were given directional appearance and was also applied to all moving NPCs.
• Coastline graphics were slightly upgraded to appear better.
• When you want to talk to someone, the direction you face is used. This also applies to all moving NPCs as well.

SFC Version

• Hero is able to carry multiple weapon and armor items. Previously, only 1 of each type of equipment could be held.
• Scale of dungeons is greatly increased.
• Craggy Cave is greatly redesigned.
• Experience needed to gain levels is decreased.
• Experience and gold given by monsters is increased.
• The dragon guarding the princess is given an on screen sprite.
• Shrines are given world map sprites rather than simply staircase sprites.
• Shrines are given a unique soundtrack. The same music which is used for shrines in Dragon Quest II.
• The Lyre of Ire will summon any enemy in the area when used, as opposed to the NES Version which would only summon monsters from around Tantegal or the Mountain Cave.
• Erdrick's Tablet is now a tombstone that appears in place of the chest containing it.
• The music for Damdara was changed from the dungeon theme to the Requiem from Dragon Quest II.

GBC Version

• Many names in the game have been shortened due to GBC's display constraints.
• A few convenience changes such as a field log save, that quits to the main menu.
• The golem guarding Mercado is given an on screen sprite.

Cell phone Version

• The Olde English speak is brought back, save for Erdrick's Tablet having the legendary Hero speaking modern English hinting to the character's place of origin.

Addendum

• Name alteration: Dragon Quest is the original name. It was launched under that name in Japan. The North American release came across some trademark issues over that name, and as a result; began as Dragon Warrior.
• Dragon Quest has the logo on a solid-color background.
  

  Japan Release / Trademark free logo
• Dragon Warrior has a simpler logo on a less simple background. It also moves all the options to menus following the title screen.
  

  North America Release / Compare this... And...

  

  PRG0... When it looks good on paper
• At some point shortly after its launch in North America, someone with infinite wisdom noticed that there were some issues/typos with the translated copy, and so came the birth of a second version.
  

  To this. And...

  

  PRG1...See? Infinite wisdom
• Some townspeople sprites from the Japanese version are present in the monster graphics of Dragon Warrior, unused.
• The locations of "SEARCH" and "DOOR" (しらべる and とびら, respectively) in the control menu, were switched out due to the longer English text.