Kingdom of the Dragon

About

Kingdom of the Dragon is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Hook Echo Software and was released on February 1, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

Explore a vast, beautiful world in this side scrolling Action/RPG. Each hand drawn, pixel art style level will lead you closer to uncovering the mystery of the land of Artaphys.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

music8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a charming atmosphere with beautiful art design and engaging exploration, reminiscent of classic NES/SNES titles.
Gameplay is solid and fun, with a good mix of challenges and exploration that keeps players engaged for hours.
The developers are responsive to feedback and have shown passion in their work, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.

The game suffers from technical issues, including glitches and awkward controls that can detract from the overall experience.
Exploration can feel tedious due to slow movement and lack of interesting enemies, leading to a sense of wasted time.
The storyline is minimal and lacks depth, which may leave players wanting more context and engagement with the game world.

music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it catchy and fitting for the fantasy theme, particularly during boss fights. However, it is noted that the soundtrack is sparse and rarely plays during regular gameplay, leading to a reliance on sound effects instead. While some appreciate the minimalistic 8-bit style, others feel that the music could benefit from being more prominent and varied throughout the game.
- “The music is very nice as well and doesn't outstay its welcome; giving the excellent sound effects and sound design time to do their magic.”
- “I'm not usually a fan of bit music, however this game's music was catchy and it only played in specific areas so you don't get burnt out on it.”
- “The music has a nice ambient effect that fits the scenery throughout.”
- “This still feels like a beta/alpha - there are no graphical options, no sound options, there's some collision issues with walls, there's next to no music (which I don't necessarily hate), no balance, etc.”
- “The sound effects in the game are very nice but are all you really hear because there is no music playing in the background.”
- “The controls and hitboxes are awful and the soundtrack rarely plays.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The gameplay is generally described as solid and enjoyable, with a satisfying challenge reminiscent of classic SNES/NES titles rather than modern games like Dark Souls. Players appreciate mechanics like the backwards dash for dodging, though some feel that the limited use of the hook at specific points does not significantly enhance the overall experience. Despite initial reservations, many found themselves engaged and hooked by the gameplay.
- “Gameplay is solid and fun.”
- “I felt the overall gameplay was satisfying.”
- “The hook can only be used at 'loops' scattered throughout the world, which did nothing to change the actual gameplay.”
- “Gameplay: 1.5/10”
- “There have been some comparisons to Dark Souls, but I thought the game was more true to a SNES/NES root, with the gameplay being hard simply by not giving the player a ton of free shots at bosses.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that some players find beautiful and fitting for the game's aesthetic, though there are criticisms regarding inconsistencies in later areas and a lack of graphical options. While the overall visual style is appealing, some users feel the game still resembles a beta version due to technical issues and limited features. Overall, the graphics receive a mixed reception, with a score of 7.0/10 reflecting both their charm and shortcomings.
- “If not for the pixels, this could be some kind of watercolor, which I think would have suited it well, but the graphics will win you over. Trust me, don't underestimate the charm.”
- “The graphics are beautiful.”
- “Kingdom of the Dragon is a pixel art game that has pretty good graphics overall.”
- “This still feels like a beta/alpha - there are no graphical options, no sound options, there's some collision issues with walls, there's next to no music (which I don't necessarily hate), no balance, etc.”
- “I found some of the later areas were not as well done; however, they adequately achieved the aesthetic they were going for, I feel.”
- “If not for the pixels, this could be some kind of watercolor, which I think would have suited it well, but the graphics will win you over, trust me, don't underestimate the charm.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
72%
21%
The story of "Kingdom of the Dragon" is minimal and largely serves as a backdrop for exploration, with players taking on the role of a knight tasked with defeating evil in the land of Artaphys. While some may find the thin narrative lacking, others appreciate the focus on gameplay over story. Overall, the storyline has received low ratings, indicating it may not be a strong point of the game.
- “You play as a knight who is on a quest to rid the land of artaphys from evil.”
- “Perhaps, some might complain that the story is pretty thin and in all fairness it is.”
- “Storyline is limited to nearly nothing, but I'm thankful for that.”
- “There is a hint of story at the very beginning but the game is almost all exploration.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game is praised for its charming and captivating atmosphere, enhanced by detailed environmental elements like rustling leaves and swaying grass. The atmospheric audio complements the visuals, creating an engaging and aesthetically pleasing experience, despite some minor gameplay exploits. Overall, the atmosphere is described as intriguing and enjoyable, making exploration a highlight.
- “Very charming game full of atmosphere and nice little touches, rustling leaves and long swaying grass.”
- “The atmospheric audio packed into the game suits the levels well.”
- “They create an atmosphere that is intriguing, engaging, and frankly just great to look at.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized for major technical issues, including controller lag and stuttering, which remain unresolved despite attempts at technical support. Players have expressed frustration over the necessity for flawless performance, as any failure can result in losing progress, leading to a perception that the game was rushed and poorly optimized.
- “Often, perfect performance is necessary, or you have to start all over again from wherever you saved last.”
- “Major technical issues, such as controller lag and stuttering, which their technical support has so far been unable to resolve.”
- “The enemies are repetitive and completely unoriginal, and the optimization just sucks (they must have skipped that part so they could rush this one out and take our cash).”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with repetitive tasks and prolonged periods of walking that detract from the overall experience. This has led to frustration, particularly when facing challenging bosses.
- “The next boss was the most tedious mess I've ever seen.”
- “I explored a bit more, but the next hour or so of tedious walking was enough for me.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some minor bugs, particularly related to jumping mechanics that can lead to unintended momentum or falls. However, these issues are not game-breaking and do not necessitate restarts, allowing for a generally stable experience.
- “It's a little buggy, specifically when using the jump and something else. If you jump, then roll and attack while in mid-air, you pick up enough momentum to fling yourself across an area in seconds or even kill yourself going down a slight hill. However, none of the bugs were game-breaking or required a restart to fix.”