Dragonview
- January 21, 2019
- Infogrames
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Super Nintendo
Reviews
- Dragonview offers a unique blend of first-person exploration and side-scrolling beat 'em up combat, making it a fun and engaging experience.
- The game features beautiful sprite work and a charming atmosphere, with NPC dialogues that change throughout the story, encouraging exploration.
- Despite its age, Dragonview is well-emulated and provides a solid action RPG experience, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of retro games.
- The story is generic and lacks depth, often feeling like a cliché hero's journey without any groundbreaking elements.
- Combat can be inconsistent, with bosses sometimes being too easy or too difficult, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The game suffers from some design flaws, such as repetitive level layouts and a lack of exploration rewards, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
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.”
“Npc's dialogues will change depending on which part of the story the player is in, so there's always some incentive to go back to earlier areas to talk to everyone again.”
“The story is probably the game's weakest point.”
“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.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as gorgeous and enjoyable, while others find it generic and clichéd, often likening it to typical fantasy soundtracks. While a few highlights stand out, many feel it lacks originality and depth, with some wishing for more control over the audio settings. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a solid but unremarkable aspect of the game.
“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 since it's an old game, I'm not surprised.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of beat-em-up mechanics and basic 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 mechanic 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, featuring a beat-em-up style with some basic platforming mixed in.”
“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 gameplay offers a wide variety of enemies to face, and the dungeons are filled with hazards and traps.”
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their quality relative to the time of release, featuring vibrant colors, detailed large sprites, and impressive environmental effects like 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, featuring verdant greens and desolate plains, excellent large sprites for each enemy and environment, and a variety of effects like weather and fire.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.
“It took me around 8 hours to beat the game, having gotten almost every single optional upgrade and without having done much grinding.”
“It may be cheating, but it does help in very tedious situations.”
“As with most ARPGs of the time, your power increases with levels, so difficulty can be mitigated by grinding.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a whimsical and lighthearted atmosphere, complemented by simple and humorous storytelling. Players enjoy the engaging combat mechanics, which enhance the overall immersive experience.
“The story and dialogue are simple and goofy, but the game is incredibly atmospheric, and the combat feels like a fun beat 'em up.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and an evocative soundtrack creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
