One of the few console ports of an arcade game that actually improves on the original. Not only is this NES conversion much easier than the arcade game, it also adds a few extra features not present in the original game. For starters, you actually get to choose your difficulty, in the form of an introductory stage. This takes place at the end of the Dragon Spirit arcade, and the difficulty is chosen based on if you finish the stage or not. At the end of each stage, you will be greeted by a fairy who will help you out if you fulfill certain requirements. Fairies mainly just give you health refills and extra lifes, but it's still a nice addition that adds a little more depth to the game. Despite being much less powerful than the original arcade hardware, the graphics and music are faithfully represented on the humble NES. The stage layouts are also pretty faithful, with some even containing new sections. Level six has a section where your dragon moves much faster than normal, and you have to zip around the oncoming hazards. Details like this really show the amount of care that was put into making this game as good as it could be on the NES. There are some minor flaws, such as the occasionly garish colors and enemies that are nearly impossible to avoid first time playing. However, this is still an excellent game and one of the best shooters the NES has to offer.