Editing Dragonstomper (section)

==Plot and gameplay==
''Dragonstomper'' is set in a [[sword and sorcery|sword and sorcery–themed]] world.{{sfn|Cavanaugh}} It takes place in a kingdom where a king once ruled peacefully. After a [[druid]] magician enchanted a powerful amulet which he believed would subdue a dragon, they entered the dragon's cave and accidentally left the amulet to fall into the hands of the dragon, increasing its power. The creature used its newfound powers against the kingdom, causing crops to die and creating savage creatures across the land.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}} With the king's knights vanquished by the dragon's warriors, the Dragonstomper was the only person left to restore the kingdom. The Dragonstomper travels through the countryside and a township to prepare themselves to battle the dragon.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}} The ending features different ways, chosen by the player, to deal with the dragon.{{sfn|Harris|2018}}

[[File:Dragonstomper-screenshot-bridge-Atari-2600.png|thumb|left|The Dragonstomper represented by the small white square being stopped by a guard near a bridge. The text interface and menu options are displayed at the bottom of the screen.|alt=An open field with rows of trees and a prompt reading "Oh No! A Guard" a player is stopped from moving across a bridge.]]
John Harris of ''[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]]'' described the game as a [[role-playing video game|role-playing game]]; like most games in the genre in the early 1980s, it adhered closely to the template established by ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.{{sfn|Harris|2018}} Michael J. Tresca wrote in his book on the history of role-playing games that it was the only true role-playing game on the Atari 2600.{{sfn|Tresca|2011|p=137}} The game is set in three different in-game areas: The Enchanted Countryside, The Oppressed Village, and The Dragon's Cave.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}} In the countryside, the objective is to gain power and magic needed to enter the village, with the Dragonstomper battling enemies in the field to be able to have enough gold to pass the guard at the bridge.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}}{{sfn|Harris|2018}} The use of each item in this area is randomized each play, such as gaining strength and dexterity, losing half your strength, losing dexterity, or revealing traps on the playing field. Items found in the village all retain their abilities each playthrough, such as vitamins restoring strength or medicine that can cure poisoning.{{sfn|Harris|2018}}

Enemies are met as [[random encounter]]s.{{sfn|Harris|2018}} Each battle in the game can lower the player's [[hit points|strength]]; when this reaches zero, the game is over.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}}{{sfn|Harris|2018}} Strength is regained over time during the game.{{sfn|Harris|2018}} Battling is [[Timekeeping in games#Turn-based|turn-based]] and done through an in-game text menu choosing to fight, using a magic spell, use weapons, or attempt to flee from the battle.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}}{{sfn|Harris|2018}} Once within the village, the user can buy items and recruit other warriors to aid in the final battle before entering the dragon's cave.{{sfn|Starpath|1982|ref=manual}}{{sfn|Harris|2018}}