Dragon's Wake
- December 11, 2015
- Brainbox Software
Get on Steam"Dragon's Wake" is a strategy game where players protect their dragon's brood from waves of enemies. By building towers and managing resources, players can ensure the survival of their dragons and ultimately achieve victory. The game features different dragon types, enemy varieties, and a leveling system that adds depth to the strategic gameplay.
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Reviews
- Playing as a dragon offers a unique and enjoyable experience.
- The game features a charming art style and a touching story told without dialogue.
- The controls, while initially challenging, provide a rewarding sense of flight and progression.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete.
- The final boss presents a significant difficulty spike that can be frustrating.
- Controls can feel wonky and imprecise, particularly during flying and platforming sections.
- story296 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story is a touching and minimalist narrative that effectively conveys emotion without dialogue, using visual storytelling through artwork and gameplay events. Players embark on a journey as a young dragon, experiencing themes of growth, loss, and self-discovery, with multiple endings that enhance replayability. While some found the story short and occasionally vague, many praised its ability to engage players emotionally and its unique perspective on the dragon narrative.
“The storytelling is brilliant; it is executed better than many stories are, including those made by multi-million dollar game companies.”
“Without any words, the story is able to be told well, and I think that is a selling point in and of itself.”
“The story is a narrative of very few words, guiding you subtly yet clearly through the game, never making you feel lost.”
“The game was alright but with a lack of any real storytelling other than what the images show leaves a lot to be desired from a game about dragons. I mean, it's a small game (plus it was not that expensive) but I sure would have appreciated maybe even the murals saying anything about the black knight; just killing because it's fun and all but eh, it lost my interest rather quickly with that.”
“The story doesn't make much sense either.”
“I felt some aspects of the branching story (which really only branches into 'lonely ending' and 'hero ending') were not obvious the first time around, and felt a little too obtuse.”
- gameplay128 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Dragon's Wake" is a 2D platformer that combines simple mechanics with a unique flight control system, which can be challenging to master but ultimately rewarding. While the game features an engaging story and enjoyable mechanics, some players find the controls awkward and the difficulty can shift from challenging to frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its charm and potential, though its short length and occasional clunkiness in mechanics may deter some players.
“The gameplay is simple and enjoyable with its own challenges.”
“I like this game for its unique flight controls, challenge, and tight gameplay.”
“In their development blog, the designer mentions a personal passion about games whose gameplay and player actions mesh with their narrative and message, and Dragon's Wake does this well, while also having stellar gameplay and being reasonably challenging while never being truly unfair.”
“It's very short and the gameplay is quite bland; imagine one of the most boring platformers ever, pretty much.”
“Most of the people who own the game don't bother getting past the first few minutes of gameplay without realizing how bad the controls are and giving up.”
“With 50 minutes used figuring out how to reset the Unity button mapping, 25 minutes of gameplay, and then another 50 minutes trying to smash the last boss as he annihilates me with cheap, unpredictable, excessive sword swings, I believe it's safe to say that the mechanics in this game are frustratingly designed just to deter you from playing.”
- graphics72 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a charming pixel art style that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of NES and SNES eras, with unique and aesthetically appealing artwork that enhances the storytelling between levels. While some loading screen art has been critiqued for its amateurish quality, the overall visual presentation is praised for its character detail and emotional resonance, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. Despite some imperfections, the graphics effectively complement the game's mechanics and narrative, making it an engaging platformer.
“The artworks which appear between map sections look unique and quite good.”
“First off, it's got a cute art style that, while pixelated, is easy on the eyes and still manages to convey a lot of character detail.”
“The pixel graphics are charming and the story is touching and well told.”
“The loading screen artwork helps tell the story of the game, but the artwork itself is of a fairly decent DeviantArt level with somewhat jarring anime-esque eyes.”
“The weakest point this game has is the cover artwork and loading screens.”
“Can't say I care much for the art style on the loading screens, either.”
- emotional68 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Dragon's Wake" is highly praised, with many players finding the story to be touching, heartwarming, and at times, heartbreaking. The game effectively conveys its narrative without dialogue, allowing players to become deeply invested in the journey of a young dragon facing tragedy and challenges. Despite its short length, the emotional impact and the variety of endings based on player choices leave a lasting impression, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate emotional storytelling in games.
“The story is more compelling than one might expect, and the game succeeds in making you actually consider some of your actions, and makes you emotionally invested in their outcome.”
“Without any words, this game tells a story that is heartbreaking and wonderful.”
“It's a short game, yes, as I finished it in about an hour, but that hour has you playing a sad but heartwarming story about a baby dragon as he explores an unknown world, done entirely without the need for dialogue.”
- music54 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the emotional experience and storytelling without the need for dialogue. Reviewers note that the soundtrack complements the gameplay beautifully, with memorable and enjoyable tracks that fit various environments, making it a standout aspect of the game. While some consider it not the absolute best, many agree it significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment and immersion.
“The music for every area fit so well with what was going on, especially the joyful, happy music of the grassy caves.”
“I enjoy the lack of a narrator or words; the environment and music tell the story, which you discover on your own.”
“I barely noticed the soundtrack, but it fits into the situations like melted butter.”
“The music is pretty decent and helps to convey certain feelings, especially since there's no text to do so in this game.”
“The overall best aspect of this game in my opinion (besides dragons) is the music.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game received mixed reviews, with some players reporting no bugs or glitches, while others encountered multiple issues that affected gameplay, particularly during critical moments. Overall, the presence of glitches seems to vary significantly among players, indicating that while some experienced a smooth experience, others faced notable stability problems.
“My only criticism is two glitches I came across.”
“I experienced a fair number of glitches playing through this, which given the level of complexity of the game is... not great.”
“I was probably only able to beat it inside an hour on the good end run because of one of those glitches making the end boss not able to hit me.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through multiple endings and choice-based outcomes, though it is relatively short, with most players completing it in about five hours. While there are opportunities to pursue achievements and explore different endings, the overall replay value is considered limited, and players should not expect a deep narrative experience.
“You have multiple endings for replayability, and I look forward to the sequel from the developer somewhat soon.”
“I can easily recommend this game to friends, and the price tag perfectly matches the time taken to finish, especially considering the replayability and difficulty of the final boss.”
“All in all, it's worth the price of admission, but don't expect much replay value or a deep story.”
“The game has a little replayability (finish it, then go look at the achievements you missed, realize there might be a better ending, and go play it again), but overall I wouldn't expect to get more than 5ish hours of playtime out of this title.”
“The game is quite short, with replayability in the different outcomes of your choices, not always immediately obvious.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its effective use of music and art, which enhances the emotional experience and keeps players engaged. The frequent changes in stage atmosphere, along with great shading effects, contribute to a dynamic and immersive environment that evokes a range of feelings, from safety to tension. Overall, while not the highest quality, the atmospheric elements are well-executed and integral to the gameplay experience.
“The music is atmospheric and definitely makes you feel safe, in danger, or in a creepy place.”
“The music was great too, and it also added to the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere of the stages changes very frequently and it tends not to bore you out of the game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a playful and self-referential style, often involving witty banter and light-hearted jabs at the player's experience. While some jokes may not land for everyone, the overall tone is intended to be amusing and engaging.
“The humor falls flat, often relying on tired clichés that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
“The jokes feel forced and out of place, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“Attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving players feeling more confused than amused.”
