Dragonview

About

"Dragonview" is a single-player, fantasy open-world game that offers a unique and immersive experience with its real-time 3D scrolling and Hero's Eye View feature. Battle against brutal demons and unforeseen evils in various landscapes, from caves of fire to meadows of ice, leading up to an epic showdown. The game boasts an original soundtrack that adds depth to the gaming experience. This isn't just another RPG adventure, it's a brilliant new vision of action-packed fantasy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

story4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Dragonview offers a unique blend of first-person exploration and side-scrolling beat 'em up combat, providing a refreshing take on the action RPG genre.
The game features beautiful sprite work and a charming atmosphere, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to experience.
Despite its flaws, Dragonview has a cult following due to its engaging gameplay and nostalgic value, making it a worthwhile play for fans of retro RPGs.

The story is generic and lacks depth, often feeling clichéd and uninspired compared to other RPGs of its time.
The combat system can be inconsistent, with difficulty spikes that may frustrate players, especially when bosses become too easy due to over-leveling.
The emulation quality is lacking in features, such as limited display options and no ability to adjust the in-game music volume, detracting from the overall experience.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The story of the game serves as a sequel to the classic RPG Drakkhen, featuring a more action-oriented narrative centered around a hero's quest to rescue his girlfriend from an evil wizard. While the plot is simple and somewhat generic, it is engagingly presented with atmospheric elements and dynamic NPC dialogues that encourage exploration. Overall, the storytelling is not groundbreaking but effectively maintains player interest through its storybook-like presentation and pacing.
- “While not groundbreaking, it does a good job at keeping the player engaged, telling the story in a way reminiscent of dungeon masters in pen & paper roleplaying campaigns.”
- “The story is uniquely told through an almost storybook presentation, and you control a warrior named Alex, questing to rescue his beloved from the clutches of an evil wizard.”
- “The story is likewise given a fair amount of focus, and while it is not anything out of the ordinary, it is well done and will hold your attention.”
- “The 2D story and battle elements feel loose and generic, the 3D engine looks inferior and pixelated compared to the SNES Drakkhen (which looked poly), and the soundtrack is a generic, boring SNES reverb-laden fantasy soundtrack.”
- “It's a generic story about a hero in a fantasy setting having to save his girlfriend (and the world) from an evil wizard who wants to destroy the world.”
- “Otherwise, you're a hero slashing his way through countless enemies to save his girlfriend and kill the bad wizard, so don't expect a plot that's terribly deep.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise it as gorgeous and enjoyable, others find it generic and clichéd, often likening it to typical fantasy soundtracks with common instrumentation. Despite its solid moments, many feel it lacks originality and could have been improved. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for some players, but not universally acclaimed.
- “An excellent beat'em up RPG hybrid and an early entry into the action RPG sub-genre, the wonderful music and beautiful sprite-work make this a feast for the eyes and ears.”
- “And finally, the music - it's absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The soundtrack is solid and enjoyable.”
- “The 2D story and battle elements feel loose and generic, the 3D engine looks inferior and pixelated compared to the SNES Drakkhen (which looked poly), and the soundtrack is a generic, boring SNES reverb-laden fantasy soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack could have been better, although it does have a few highlights here and there.”
- “I wish I could tune the in-game music down, but it’s an old game, so I'm not surprised.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is a blend of basic beat-em-up mechanics and platforming, featuring first-person exploration in a visually appealing overworld alongside hack-and-slash combat in dungeons and towns. Players encounter a diverse range of enemies and face various hazards, though the simplistic attack-defense damage system can diminish challenge, particularly against bosses. Overall, while the initial experience may be enjoyable, it may not sustain long-term engagement.
- “The gameplay is basic yet solid, as it is a beat-em-up with some basic platforming mixed in as well.”
- “Gameplay is a hybrid between first-person exploration of a quite pretty (if somewhat spacious) overworld, and hack-and-slash 2D fighting in dungeons, overworld encounters, and towns.”
- “The damage mechanic is a simple attack-defense system, so if your defense is higher than the enemy's attack, they will be almost completely ineffective against you... this includes bosses.”
- “I gave it a positive review only based on the first two hours of gameplay, and am now regretting it.”
- “The gameplay offers a wide variety of enemies to face, and the dungeons are filled with hazards and traps.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are highly praised for their quality relative to the time of release, featuring vibrant colors, detailed large sprites, and a variety of environmental effects such as weather and fire. Overall, they contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The graphics are very nice for the time and day it was created.”
- “Great story, great pacing, and awesome graphics!”
- “Graphics are a pleasant surprise for the time, with verdant greens and desolate plains, excellent large sprites for each enemy and environment, and a variety of effects like weather and fire.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding can significantly ease difficulty in the game, allowing for power increases through leveling. However, some have managed to complete the game with minimal grinding, suggesting that it is not strictly necessary for success. Overall, while grinding can be beneficial, it is not the only path to achieving upgrades and completing the game.
- “As with most ARPGs of the time, your power increases with levels, so difficulty can be mitigated by grinding.”
- “It may be cheating, but it does help in very tedious situations.”
- “It took me around 8 hours to beat the game having gotten almost every single optional upgrade and without having done much grinding.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a simple and humorous story, but it excels in creating a vibrant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, complemented by enjoyable beat 'em up combat.
- “The story and dialogue are simple and goofy, but the game is incredibly atmospheric, and the combat feels like a fun beat 'em up.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its 16-bit symphonies, featuring a diverse range of heartfelt tunes that evoke feelings of heroism, adventure, and nostalgia, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “The 16-bit symphonies of heartfelt tunes range from heroic anthems to spooky sirens, creating themes that inspire you to adventure into the sunset and fight monsters.”