Dragon Wars

53%
Game Brain Score Based on 16 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • replayability
Dragon Wars Game Cover
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The designers of the Bard's Tale series, Wasteland, and Battle Chess pooled their talents to create the ultimate role-playing fantasy. They knew it had to be a first-rate story with sophisticated graphics. The result was Dragon Wars. Sailing across uncharted seas, you and your party are in search of a legendary paradise called Dilmun — a place where the streets are paved with gold and no one want…

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Reviews

53%
Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews
replayability2 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers great replay value and is super fun once you understand the mechanics.
  • It successfully evokes nostalgia for players who enjoyed classic RPGs from the late 80s and early 90s.
  • The game features a large, open world with multiple paths to explore and a focus on character building.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including poor graphics defaults and sound quality.
  • Save files can be lost, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • Combat can be slow and repetitive, with many battles feeling similar and grindy.
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics in this game have received criticism for their lack of customization options, with players noting that the default settings are subpar, often limited to a low-quality CGA mode. Comparisons to other versions, such as the Amiga, highlight a significant disparity in visual quality, leading to disappointment among users who expected better graphical fidelity. Overall, the graphics are described as outdated and not reflective of the game's potential.

    • “You can then change the graphics to 16-color mode, instead of 4-color CGA, then hit 's' to save.”
    • “This was a game from back in the day when you had to tell the game what type of monitor you had and what type of graphics it could display.”
    • “I tried searching on the web but the only thing I could find was that the Amiga version was 10x better in sound and graphics and that it's shameful they didn't put that version up for sale.”
    • “First off, the game defaults to crappy graphics.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics don't represent this as mobs are only ever one size and position.”
    • “It's sad the game requires you to set up its graphics and the sound is so poor.”
  • story4 mentions

    The story is characterized by a slow unfolding pace, with sparse narrative elements that require players to explore the open world to piece together the plot. While it offers freedom similar to games like Fallout, the main storyline and essential quests are limited to specific areas, leaving much of the narrative experience optional.

    • “The story unfolds quite slowly, along with the side quests, allowing for a gradual immersion into the narrative.”
    • “Like Fallout, it's open-world, and essentially everything except the starting area, final boss, and a few necessary quests to access the final boss are optional, encouraging player exploration.”
    • “The story element is minimal, leaving much for players to discover on their own.”
    • “The story unfolds quite slowly, as do the side quests.”
    • “The story element was sparse as well.”
    • “From there, I suppose you're meant to find the story.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the strong replay value of the game, noting that it becomes increasingly enjoyable once the mechanics are understood. Comparisons to titles like Wasteland and The Bard's Tale suggest that, despite its lesser fame, it offers a more engaging experience than some older classics.

    • “Great replay value, and once you understand the mechanics, it's super fun.”
    • “Similar to Wasteland and The Bard's Tale (and made by the same people), Dragon Wars was never as famous, but still a groundbreaking work in its time, and probably more playable than the older games, especially the original Bard's Tale games.”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its great replay value and fun mechanics, especially once players become familiar with them. Additionally, it is noted for its smoothness, particularly in comparison to similar games from the same era, such as the M&M series and SSI's Pools Tetralogy and Krynn Trilogy.

    • “Great replay value, and once you understand the mechanics, it's super fun.”
    • “You will not find smooth gameplay like M&M from the same era, Pools Tetralogy, or Krynn Trilogy from SSI.”
  • music2 mentions

    Users appreciate the option to supply their own music, but many find the loading screen's music to be jarring and outdated compared to contemporary standards.

    • “The game allows you to supply your own music, which adds a personal touch to the experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredibly immersive and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, making every moment feel more engaging.”
    • “The loading screen's music is jarring by today's standards.”
    • “Supply your own music.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players have noted that the game can be quite grindy, particularly if poor skill point choices are made, necessitating additional leveling to compensate for deficiencies. This highlights the importance of strategic character development, as high levels alone do not guarantee success.

    • “The game can be grindy, especially if you make bad choices with skill points, and need to keep leveling up to compensate for deficiencies, since high levels mean nothing unless you spend the character points wisely.”
    • “Grinding feels excessive and tedious, making the gameplay experience more of a chore than an enjoyable challenge.”
    • “The constant need to grind for resources and experience can become frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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