one of the few games with a dragon protagonist

Dragon Saber: After Story of Dragon Spirit (1990) is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game developed and published by Namco. One interesting fact about the game is that it serves as a sequel to Namco's earlier title, Dragon Spirit: The New Legend, continuing the story of Amul and Princess Alicia as they battle against the demonic forces threatening their world. Dragon Saber introduced several enhancements to the gameplay mechanics of its predecessor, including the ability for players to freely navigate their dragon through the vertical-scrolling stages and collect power-ups to enhance their firepower. Despite being less well-known than its predecessor, Dragon Saber remains a cherished classic among shoot 'em up enthusiasts for its challenging gameplay and engaging storyline. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KPofSE4UFg