n Drakengard, a single-player game, the main character is Caim, a tortured young man who resembles a young Keanu Reeves. Caim has been dealt a mortal blow in the opening cinematic. With death weighing on his back, he makes a pact with a captured dragon. If he frees her, both can live and fight in unison. Because of Caim's deal with this pact-beast, his tongue is branded with a tattoo, and he loses the ability to speak.
Drakengard has two main types of gameplay: sword fighting against armed enemies and aerial battles on the back of the dragon. For the first type, players are rewarded with many different kinds of weapons—including swords, axes and spears—each of which is automatically upgraded when used for a lengthy fight. Each weapon also has a corresponding attack, activated with the triangle button, that unleashes either a magic spell or a finishing blow.
Drakengard also includes aerial missions. Initially, Caim rides the dragon and takes out hovering enemies such as airships, bats and gargoyles. Players aim and shoot, using the L1 and R1 buttons to dodge incoming fire and to redirect the dragon as she makes loops and twists over the terrain.
Caim and the dragon also fight army battalions together. Flying low to the ground, the dragon unleashes quick fireballs, as well as a raging special attack with blasts of fire that rain from the sky, knocking the hordes into oblivion. The dragon's one real weakness is arbalesters, who use their crossbows to knock Caim off the beast's back. When that happens, players can either summon the dragon with the select button or fight hand-to-hand for a while.
An interesting story makes up for a lot
So what would happen if Square Enix, makers of Final Fantasy, decided to do their own take on the massively popular Dynasty Warriors series? The result would be Drakengard, which has a few RPG elements but is really more of a third-person hack-and-slash game.
Because Square Enix is the creator of Drakengard, the cutscenes are lengthy, detailed and interesting, just as in the Final Fantasy games. Many of Caim's friends have their own pact-beasts, and players hear more about their struggles as they advance through the story. Along the way, Caim slowly learns more about the destruction his enemies—the imperial forces—have unleashed on this world.
Many things could have gone wrong with the combination of a complicated plot, a sword-fighting adventure and an aerial game involving a dragon—but, happily, almost nothing did. When fighting with the dragon, players soar over incredibly detailed landscapes, shooting enemies out of the sky. The dragon can accelerate and turn on a dime. And the first time the dragon unleashes her super attack, it's all over. Once you fly dragon, you'll never go back.
But Drakengard has its weaknesses. The looping, Fantasia-style music. The repetitive maps for the optional leveling-up missions. The lack of a real combo attack when sword fighting, and the sheer drudgery of some of the levels. In addition, we noticed some frame stutter when the camera closes in on Caim and lots of enemies surround him.
But an interesting story and a well-done dragon make up for a lot. The two types of gameplay—on the dragon's back and on the ground—are well integrated. The game includes lots of great fantasy touches, like the Tolkien-esque maps that are easily accessible using the R3 button. On most levels, players can find hidden weapons, and finishing some challenges early reveals extra rewards.
When evaluating whether to try this game, ask yourself the following: Have I ever sat through an otherwise bad movie in order to see the dragon scenes? Do I sympathize with Hagrid from Harry Potter, because of his dedication to dragons? If you fit that profile, pick up a copy of Drakengard immediately.
— Jennifer
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