Drake of the 99 Dragons
- March 7, 2018
- Idol FX
In "Drake of the 99 Dragons," players assume the role of Drake, a member of the 99 Dragons Clan who has been resurrected to avenge the murder of his clan and retrieve a stolen artifact with the power to trap souls. This 3D action-shooter features five stages with 25 missions, a variety of firearms and martial arts weapons, and the ability to summon a dragon companion. The game is set in an animated Batman-style environment and offers a slow motion and freeze motion mode for combat.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and visually appealing art style reminiscent of classic animated series.
- Despite its flaws, some players find enjoyment in the absurdity and charm of the game, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate 'so bad it's good' titles.
- The PC version is considered to be an improvement over the original Xbox version, with better controls and gameplay mechanics.
- The controls and shooting mechanics are widely criticized for being clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Many players report that the game is plagued by bugs, poor enemy AI, and unbalanced difficulty, making it feel unfair and unenjoyable.
- The story and character development are often described as incoherent and lacking depth, contributing to an overall sense of disappointment.
- story29 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The story of "Drake of the 99 Dragons" is widely criticized for its lack of coherence and depth, often described as a generic good vs. evil narrative featuring a clichéd protagonist and villain. While some players find humor in its absurdity and charm in its low production values, many agree that the plot is poorly executed, with confusing elements and frustrating gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its infamy, the game has garnered a niche appreciation for its unintentionally comedic storytelling.
“Haters would say this game is bad, but they just don't understand the nuance of the story and near perfect gameplay.”
“I actually like the story and the character Drake is an amazing character.”
“Five seamless game stages with 25 intense missions intertwined with 30 characters in an in-depth storyline.”
“Voice acting is bad, and the story just happens with no reason at all.”
“It's very buggy, the story is a mess, and going to the spirit realm every time you die gets annoying, but I still had fun.”
“Drake of the 99 Dragons is a terrible game, but let’s talk about the story.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews for the game are highly polarized, with some players criticizing the shooting mechanics, movement, and level design as poor and broken, particularly on console. However, others appreciate the gameplay's potential, noting that it becomes more enjoyable with keyboard and mouse controls, and that it features interesting mechanics and a satisfying gameplay loop once players become accustomed to it. Overall, while there are significant flaws, there are also redeeming qualities that some players find engaging.
“Haters would say this game is bad, but they just don't understand the nuance of the story and near-perfect gameplay.”
“People say this is one of the worst games ever, but I disagree. I can see how on controller it'd be pretty bad, but with keyboard and mouse, the controls are tight and the gameplay is fun.”
“This sets up a straightforward and satisfying gameplay loop.”
“So I open it to play and realize... 'Oh my god... I wasn't bad at this game... this game just plays and is shit!' Holy fuck, how can a game have this bad of shooting mechanics and movement?”
“This game also features the most broken wall-running mechanic I have ever seen.”
“A lot of the mechanics are either pointless or broken.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and campy charm, stemming from its low production values, bad voice acting, and absurd storylines. While it starts off amusing, the humor tends to wear thin as the gameplay becomes increasingly frustrating and broken. Overall, players find the game's flaws to be so pronounced that they become a source of entertainment, making it a "so bad it's funny" experience.
“Yes, this game is arguably one of the worst games ever made, but it's just so bad that it can be hilariously entertaining.”
“The game is so terrible that it can be funny, especially due to its very nonsensical story.”
“But even those low points don’t cancel out the simple pleasures of battling common grunts and laughing at the campy scriptwriting.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as having a unique, comic book-inspired art style reminiscent of classic animations, which some players find appealing. However, many reviewers note that the visuals have not aged well and are considered subpar, especially for the Xbox era, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the mixed opinions, the art style is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to the game's charm.
“Amazing comic book art style.”
“Some legit positives: the art style is neat, the manual is cool, it's Swedish.”
“It has its own charm, which of course includes story, graphics, and gameplay.”
“Also for a comic book style game, it hasn't aged particularly well graphically.”
“The graphics are really bad even for the Xbox era; the voice acting is also bad and the sound quality is annoying as well.”
“Some people may say poor graphics or gameplay.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is described as a "buggy mess," with frequent glitches and unexpected shifts to 16-bit color that disrupt gameplay. While these issues can be frustrating, some players still find enjoyment despite the instability, likening it to an unfinished product.
“Aside from the game itself being a buggy mess, it frequently forces itself into 16-bit color for seemingly no reason, and you suddenly have a mess of pink, green, and blue on your screen.”
“It's very buggy, the story is a mess, and going to the spirit realm every time you die gets annoying, but I still had fun.”
“Look, yes, it's essentially a buggy, unfinished Max Payne clone.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players who describe it as an "emotional masterpiece," with some expressing deep feelings, such as crying during pivotal moments like Drake's death. However, there are contrasting opinions that label the story and atmosphere as boring, suggesting a divide in emotional engagement among players.
“I cried every time Drake died.”
“Emotional masterpiece.”
“Others may say it's a boring story or atmosphere.”
“The emotional depth feels lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I expected a gripping narrative, but it fell flat and left me feeling indifferent.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The original soundtrack of the game is praised as a standout feature, but it suffers from repetition, with the same songs being played across multiple levels, detracting from the overall experience.
“The original soundtrack is truly exceptional and elevates the entire gaming experience.”
“The music in this game is a standout feature, perfectly complementing the gameplay.”
“I was blown away by the quality of the soundtrack; it adds so much depth to the game.”
“The music is repetitive, with the same songs playing multiple times across different levels, which really detracts from the experience.”
“I found the soundtrack to be quite dull and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“The music doesn't fit the game's atmosphere at all, leaving me feeling disconnected from the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users finding it engaging, while others describe it as boring and lacking depth.
“Others may describe the story or atmosphere as boring.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and fails to engage the player.”
“There is a lack of immersive elements that make the atmosphere feel flat.”