The Dragon and the Djinn
- July 28, 2022
- Choice of Games
Get on SteamIn "The Dragon and the Djinn," a 710,000 word interactive novel by Athar Fikry, you're caught in the middle of religious and social unrest in Ghariba while hunting for your sister who stole your magical sword to slay the dragon. As the dragon's attacks escalate, you receive a mysterious gift from Jaafar, the Grand Wazir, that will impact your destiny. Your choices will shape this Arab epic fantasy adventure.
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Reviews
- Excellent story and world-building, with high replayability and plenty of options for character development.
- The setting is unique and well-crafted, with a logical approach to magic that enhances the overall experience.
- Characters are well-written with distinct personalities, making interactions engaging and enjoyable.
- The game suffers from a lack of character depth and agency, often feeling railroaded with limited meaningful choices.
- There are technical issues, such as repeated events and unclear outcomes, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The romance options are narrow and gender-locked, limiting player choice and engagement in character relationships.
- story16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its well-written narrative and rich world-building, while others criticize the limitations of the format that lead to a lack of character depth and player agency. Many players feel rushed through the plot, resulting in a disjointed experience, though the romance elements are noted as a positive aspect. Overall, while the setting and premise are appreciated, the execution leaves some players wanting more engagement and development.
“Very well written story, I loved everything about the setting.”
“Overall, I'm actually quite happy with what's already there, I don't think anything should be changed... but I absolutely love this world and characters and I'd just want the story to never end.”
“Excellent story and world-building, with high replayability.”
“Perhaps the cog formula forces the game-maker to pack too much into it so that there is not enough of anything to give the storyline any definition beyond the main character dashing around like a headless chicken, as if they are always two minutes late for the main event, while the player feels railroaded into situations they have little or no agency over.”
“The limitations of the cog format seem to give many imaginative storytellers problems as they try to fit in everything they want to tell into too few chapters and words, and I suspect this is exactly what has happened here.”
“I suppose the premise was entertaining, but at no point did I ever encounter an interesting character, and the dialogue between these uninteresting characters did very little to draw me into the story.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent story and world-building, contributing to a high level of replayability. Reviewers highlight the amazing setting and well-written narrative as key factors that encourage players to revisit the game.
“Excellent story and world-building, with high replayability.”
“Amazing setting, well written, replayable.”
