Dragonsphere

About

"Dragonsphere is a single-player Fantasy Quiz game with an outstanding story and good graphics. As the newly-crowned King of Callahach, you have 20 years to save the world from the evil Sorcerer Sanwe, whose malevolent force will consume the land. Journey through a fully realized fantasy world, solve mind-bending puzzles, and perform an unprecedented range of actions using the MAD system, all accompanied by dazzling state-of-the-art graphics, haunting music, and fully digitized speech."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

story11 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features outstanding music and nice graphics, creating an engaging atmosphere.
It offers a unique and interesting story with a surprising plot twist, reminiscent of classic adventure games.
The user interface is player-friendly, and the game is forgiving for newcomers to the genre, making it accessible for both veterans and beginners.

Many puzzles are poorly designed and can be overly complicated, often requiring a walkthrough to progress.
The voice acting is generally considered subpar, detracting from the overall experience.
The game can feel slow-paced, with tedious trial-and-error gameplay that may frustrate players.

story
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The story of the game is characterized by a unique plot with a significant twist that enhances the overall experience, particularly in the second half. While some reviewers found the initial narrative to be bland and reminiscent of classic adventure tropes, others appreciated the rich storytelling conveyed through dialogue and the sense of adventure it evokes. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and character depth.
- “The one thing this game does really well is that it tells a rich and complete story, rather than merely throwing out disjointed fragments of barely-navigable mazes and randomly-populated monsters in a treacherous swamp of baffling and incongruent puzzles.”
- “However, the plot twist and overall second half of the game is excellent, and it really ties the entire story together into an unforgettable one.”
- “Originally, I was going to merely recommend Dragonsphere for just the audible and graphical experience, but the story really does pick up about halfway through the game, and for that I've raised my score.”
- “But the story and characters are bland; there's nothing remarkable with the artwork, and the puzzles are not hugely interesting.”
- “Dull, cliched storyline, the most wooden voice acting ever seen in commercial entertainment, clumsy interface with way too many verbs and huge, almost unreadable, 'medieval-style' fonts for captions.”
- “The first half of the game's story is rather dull, and filled with rather drab information about the surrounding lands that you're never going to intimately remember.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally regarded as nice and well-designed for their time, showcasing beautiful hand-drawn art and decent pixel graphics, though they may appear outdated and pixelated on modern systems. While some reviewers appreciate the unique style and high-quality visuals of the era, others note that the artwork lacks remarkable features and that the overall graphical experience may not appeal to those seeking modern realism. Despite these criticisms, the graphics contribute positively to the game's nostalgic charm and immersive atmosphere.
- “Therefore, Dragonsphere captures the best of what text-adventure games were attempting to create (but without the clumsiness of keyboard text entry) while also highlighting the magnificence of hand-drawn (rather than computationally-rendered) graphics.”
- “Even back in 1994, the graphics present in this title were considered high quality, and it definitely has a certain aura to it that no modern retro-revival game could ever hope to replicate.”
- “Beautiful graphics and nice animations for the time.”
- “While the graphics are decent, I haven't been able to adjust the resolution, which appears pixelated on my PC, even when played in DOSBox.”
- “But the story and characters are bland, there's nothing remarkable with the artwork, and the puzzles are not hugely interesting.”
- “Worth taking a look for the graphics, and if you like difficult point & click adventures, but there are other, more enjoyable adventure games nowadays.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many noting its fitting and memorable quality, particularly the semi-dark chiptunes that complement the game's aesthetic. While some players feel it may not be the standout soundtrack in the point-and-click genre, it is still considered relatively good, especially for its time, with higher quality in the CD version. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “The music in this title is highly memorable, and even after you've shut the game off, you will be hearing the semi-dark chiptunes still playing in your head.”
- “Of course, the slightly darkened music fits well with the slightly darkened graphic art.”
- “Yet, with the technology of the given era, dragonsphere doesn't fail to deliver an elegant and beautiful display, accompanied with surprisingly catchy midi music.”
- “The music is okay; I don't think it's my favorite point-and-click adventure game soundtrack, but it fits well enough with the game and is relatively good.”
- “The CD version usually included higher quality music and voice acting.”
- “Music is fine, and I have heard worse voice acting in even modern point-and-click titles.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The gameplay is well-received for its engaging mechanics, allowing players to combine actions with items and the environment through a user-friendly menu. With a low price point, especially during sales, it offers good value for point-and-click adventure fans, providing a stable experience on DOSBox and a compelling story.
- “For the low price you can get this on Steam sale, the relative stability of the game on DOSBox, and the quality of gameplay and story, I'd highly recommend this one to all point-and-click aficionados!”
- “The gameplay menu presents you with a list of actions and an inventory, in which you can combine actions with either items or the environment.”
- “So it's about $1.75-$3.50/hr of gameplay.”
- “Gameplay menu presents you a list of actions and an inventory, in which you can combine actions with either items or the environment.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with users praising the witty and entertaining writing that enhances the overall experience.
- “Great game, very funny writing.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with a story that fails to engage players or foster a strong connection with the characters.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers no replay value, but the single playthrough provides a sufficient level of challenge.
- “There is no replay value at all; one playthrough is challenging enough.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of different endings or choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is characterized as adventurous, immersing players in a thrilling and engaging environment that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The atmosphere is filled with a sense of adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Every corner of the game world is infused with an adventurous spirit that draws you in.”
- “The immersive atmosphere creates a thrilling adventure that feels both exciting and mysterious.”
- “The atmosphere feels more like a dull routine than an exciting adventure.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is flat and uninspiring.”
- “The lack of immersive elements makes the atmosphere feel lifeless and unengaging.”