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 mostly 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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features enjoyable gameplay with solid mechanics and a captivating atmosphere, reminiscent of classic NES/SNES titles.
Exploration is rewarding, with various locations to discover, hidden secrets, and challenging boss fights that require learning enemy patterns.
The pixel art and environmental sound design create an engaging aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.

The game suffers from technical issues, including glitches, awkward hitboxes, and long travel times between areas with little to no content.
Combat can feel simplistic and clunky, with many enemies being uninteresting and easily defeated, leading to a lack of depth in gameplay.
The lack of a map and unclear objectives can result in frustrating backtracking and a feeling of aimlessness during exploration.

music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The music in the game is described as catchy and effective, particularly during boss encounters, though it is sparse and only plays in specific areas, preventing burnout. While some players appreciate the bit music style, others feel it lacks variety and lasting impact. Overall, the sound design is not bothersome, but there is a desire for more frequent musical elements.
- “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 soundtrack is surprisingly catchy, although I wish it would play more often.”
- “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 soundtrack is surprisingly catchy although I wish it would play more often.”
- “The music is sparse but effective, usually playing whenever a powerful foe is in the immediate area.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The gameplay is generally regarded as solid and enjoyable, with a satisfying experience that can initially feel off-putting but ultimately becomes engaging. However, the limited use of the hook mechanic at specific "loops" does not significantly alter the overall gameplay dynamics.
- “Gameplay is solid and fun.”
- “I felt the overall gameplay was satisfying.”
- “In both scenarios, I was immediately put off, but eventually absolutely hooked on the gameplay.”
- “The hook can only be used at 'loops' scattered throughout the world, which did nothing to change the actual gameplay.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and engaging qualities, enhanced by well-suited atmospheric audio and visually appealing aesthetics. While the combat may be simplistic, the overall exploration and ambiance contribute to a compelling experience that keeps players intrigued.
- “The atmospheric audio packed into the game suits the levels well.”
- “Few exploits that can give you unfair advantages, but overall a captivating atmosphere and aesthetic.”
- “They create an atmosphere that is intriguing, engaging, and frankly just great to look at.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The graphics are generally praised for their beauty and successful aesthetic, though some users note that certain areas appear less polished. However, the lack of graphical options and existing collision issues suggest that the game may still feel unfinished or in a beta state.
- “The graphics are beautiful.”
- “This still feels like a beta/alpha - there are no graphical options, no sound options, there are some collision issues with walls, and 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.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The story of "Kingdom of the Dragon" follows a knight on a quest to rid the land of evil, specifically targeting a foe named Artaphys. While some players find the narrative to be thin and lacking depth, others appreciate its simplicity, suggesting it complements the game's old-school action/adventure RPG style.
- “You play as a knight who is on a quest to rid the land of Artaphys from evil.”
- “Kingdom of the Dragon was an impulse buy for me, in a quest for new old-school games to play in the action/adventure/RPG genres.”
- “Perhaps some might complain that the story is pretty thin, and in all fairness, it is.”
- “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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized for major technical issues, including controller lag and stuttering, which remain unresolved despite technical support efforts. Players express frustration over the lack of performance stability, as it significantly impacts gameplay, often forcing them to restart from previous saves. Overall, the optimization appears rushed and inadequate, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Often, perfect performance is necessary, or you have to start all over again from your last save.”
- “The optimization mechanics really challenge you to think strategically and execute flawlessly.”
- “I love how the game rewards meticulous planning and execution, making every decision count.”
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some minor bugs, particularly related to jumping and mid-air actions, which can lead to unintended momentum or character deaths. 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 can 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.”
- “The game crashes frequently, especially during intense battles, which can be frustrating and disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
- “I encountered several glitches that caused my character to get stuck in the environment, forcing me to restart the game to continue.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, with some describing it as a frustrating experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “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.”