Drakensang Online
- May 16, 2023
- Bigpoint GmbH
- 8h median play time
Drakensang Online is the epic new action RPG game that features extraordinary 3D graphics and effects and heralds the next generation of free-to-play online. Enter a world of magic and intrigue, battle evil forces, and become a hero! Developer Drakensang Online was developed by Big Point. Platform Web browser
Reviews
- Drakensang Online offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic ARPGs like Diablo, providing enjoyable hack-and-slash gameplay.
- The game has a vibrant community and can be fun to play with friends, especially for those who enjoy grinding and character progression.
- Despite its flaws, the game has a rich history and many players appreciate the memories and connections made over the years.
- The game suffers from severe performance issues, including long loading times, frequent crashes, and bugs that hinder gameplay.
- It has a heavy pay-to-win model, making it difficult for free-to-play players to progress without spending money.
- Many players are frustrated by the inability to transfer their old accounts to the Steam version, leading to a loss of progress and investment in the game.
- story33 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story of Drakensang Online is often described as simplistic and lacking depth, with many players feeling it fails to engage compared to other MMORPGs like World of Warcraft. While some find the narrative enjoyable and nostalgic, the overwhelming focus on grinding and microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and frustration. Overall, the storyline is seen as a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its light and vivid elements, while others criticize it for being tedious and uninspired.
“Awesome storyline and even better gameplay of free roaming maps and a cool inventory system.”
“But the story is interesting and some mechanics are still fun and well done; for the sake of 2016 nostalgia, I recommend.”
“It has an interesting story, very good action, interesting skills, and a very good character selection. Anyone who likes RPG games will find themselves in this one.”
“Evoking Diablo's thrill, Drakensang Online offers immersive MMORPG mechanics, yet lacks in story depth and originality.”
“However, compared to rivals like World of Warcraft, it lacks depth in story and character development.”
“Boring af, quests are literally copy-paste, everything exciting in the map is gated by microtransactions, no group finder/matchmaking.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Drakensang Online is characterized by repetitive mechanics and a heavy emphasis on grinding, reminiscent of classic MMORPGs like Diablo, but it suffers from limited responsiveness and simplistic storytelling. While some players appreciate its nostalgic elements and free-to-play accessibility, many criticize the pay-to-win aspects, bugs, and poor balance changes that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mixed bag of enjoyable mechanics overshadowed by significant flaws and a lack of innovation.
“Reminiscent of Diablo in its mechanics, Drakensang Online offers an immersive MMORPG experience.”
“It's a browser game client, so do not expect high performance but definitely deserves a try due to rich content and smooth gameplay.”
“This game is not so pay-to-win; it's actually good for free-to-play players, you just need to understand the mechanics of the game, that's all.”
“Bugs or badly implemented balance changes like unlocking a later level ability early, or not being able to level up a seemingly unlocked one happened in a 20 minute span of gameplay.”
“Gameplay is not responsive, mechanics are limited and pre-baked, the story is simplistic to the point of dialogues being a nuisance, and quick travel/teleportation is a paid service.”
“Horrible campaign that forces you to pay to continue it in the end or lose your life following groups of pay-to-win players who, by some miracle, accepted you in their group.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beauty and uniqueness of the visuals, while others criticize them as outdated and poorly optimized. Many users report significant loading issues and lag, detracting from the overall experience, and some describe the graphics as subpar compared to modern standards. Overall, the game's visual presentation seems to be a point of contention, with a notable divide between those who appreciate its aesthetic and those who find it lacking.
“Battling beasts while basking in beautiful graphics.”
“Nonetheless, its graphics and gameplay are commendable.”
“I love the graphics.”
“Bad graphics, even worse UI, and a lack of voice acting for the narration.”
“It's an ancient, 10-year-old World of Warcraft ripoff (and boy, the graphics look more dated than WoW when that came out).”
“The game itself ran terribly, taking literally minutes to build up the graphical assets on each different area.”
- grinding21 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express significant frustration with the grinding mechanics in "Drakensang Online," particularly following a recent update that has made gem upgrading and leveling excessively tedious. The introduction of new materials and a lack of meaningful quests has led to prolonged grinding sessions with minimal rewards, often feeling like a pay-to-win scenario. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, many feel it has become a chore, detracting from the overall experience.
“Gem upgrading has become a tedious process. Before, you needed to combine 3 of the same gem to upgrade it, but now you need a new material called 'shiny dust' that you get by salvaging gems. This leads to way more grinding. For example, to upgrade a polished gem to radiant, you need 40 shiny dust, which means salvaging 7 polished gems and combining 3 of them to make 1 radiant gem. It's a frustrating increase in grind.”
“The excessive grinding has reached a new level. The game was always about grinding huge areas for experience and gems, but this update made it worse. With the addition of 45 new levels that barely add any meaningful upgrades, and a lack of main quests, most quests are side quests that barely give experience. You end up grinding the same area for over 5 hours just to level up once, which is extremely boring.”
“The game is almost pay-to-win with endless grinding and little reward. Loot boxes require keys that can only be obtained by spending real money or participating in events. It's frustrating to invest so much time and effort only to feel like you're being pushed to spend more money to progress.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The monetization in this "free to play" game is heavily criticized for its aggressive microtransaction model, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience. Events often revolve around spending money, and essential cosmetic items are locked behind paywalls, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, the monetization strategy has led to significant dissatisfaction among users, with many recommending against the game due to these practices.
“Yes, there are microtransactions; it's a free to play game.”
“All in all, I would not recommend this game as long as the developer has that aggressive microtransaction policy.”
“Microtransactions are an essential part of this 'free to play' game.”
“God, some events are literally about how much you spend on microtransactions.”
“All in all, I would not recommend this game as long as the developers have that aggressive microtransaction policy.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting long load times, texture issues, and broken animations, suggesting it feels unfinished and poorly optimized despite its rich content. While it was previously functional as a browser game, the current performance is deemed abysmal, leaving players frustrated.
“It's a browser game client, so do not expect high performance but it definitely deserves a try due to rich content and smooth gameplay.”
“The performance of this game is abysmal: long load times, textures pop in and out or fail to load entirely, animation breaks or simply doesn't work.”
“It's like the entire game is in its alpha stages with no regard for optimization.”
“I remember playing this back when it was a browser-based game and it worked fine with very little bugs, so to see it in such an unoptimized state baffles me.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with users reporting numerous bugs, frequent server disconnections, and a general lack of polish. Many players describe it as one of the most problematic launches they've experienced, highlighting issues such as gearless cheaters in PvP and a decline in event quality. Overall, the game's stability is considered severely lacking.
“Plus, it's a buggy mess.”
“Never played a game so buggy in my entire life.”
“Steam launch was a fail; the amount of server disconnections has risen since I started playing. Whether I downloaded the game on Steam or not, it's still a buggy mess. There are gearless cheaters in the PvP arena that do whatever they please, and events have been reduced to trash. The Glyphs of Power, which were a great system, have been destroyed.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional experience in Drakensang Online to be a mix of excitement and frustration, likening their journey to that of an underappreciated dragon-slaying office clerk, which adds a relatable yet bittersweet layer to the gameplay.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is perceived as lacking depth when compared to competitors like World of Warcraft, which offers a more intricate narrative and character progression.
“However, compared to rivals like World of Warcraft, it lacks depth in story and character development.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the humor in the game to be effective and entertaining, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious and keeps me laughing throughout!”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and clever puns that never get old.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making every interaction a joy to experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is well-received, contributing positively to the overall environment and gameplay experience. Players appreciate how it enhances their immersion as they explore and engage with the game.
“Great game! I love the environment, music, mounts, skills, etc. Just started playing, and so far, so good.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is frequently noted as a subtle yet impactful element of the game, enhancing the overall experience without overshadowing the main gameplay.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The ambient sounds and visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The environment is lifeless, making it hard to feel engaged or connected to the game world.”