Drakengard

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 55
  3. Negative: 8 out of 55
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Play.tm
    48
    Drakengard is not shockingly bad, just unadventurous and frankly quite dated.
  2. 1UP
    45
    The predominant problem with Drakengard is that it's boring to look at. The level designs don't seem designed much at all.
  3. Game Revolution
    42
    While Drakengard combines two distinct gameplay styles, neither works well due to the awful AI and severe repetition. Enemy pop-up and some slowdown don’t help either.
  5. ActionTrip
    40
    The good things about this game were only so-so, and the low points could almost redefine low. For all the effort I put into playing this game, in the end I was left very unsatisfied.
  6. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    40
    Despite its lousy gameplay, Drakengard's story is what makes me absolutely hate, hate, hate it...Just try to like any of the characters. Impossible. [Mar 2004, p.98]
  7. VideoGamesLife
    37
    The simplicity ultimately ends the enjoyment prematurely. It only takes a few hours for the combat to grate, and as it’s the only thing you do, it’s the worst thing for an Action RPG to end up doing.
  8. GamerFeed
    30
    If repetitive gameplay, pop up, fog, and a corny story are what we're to expect from the Square Enix merger, they shouldn't have bothered. The game reeks first generation, and the failed attempt to mix genres only added to the game's overall sloppiness.
  9. Gaming Age
    25
    It takes many of the flaws from "Dynasty Warriors" (i.e. repetitiveness and pop-in), and makes them much worse.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2004
15
#15 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 158 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 118 out of 158
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 158
  3. Negative: 24 out of 158
  1. DrunkenSnake
    Apr 4, 2013
    10
    I voted 10 because it just is my favourite game of all times. I know it has its issues and if I was professional reviewer, I'd probably loseI voted 10 because it just is my favourite game of all times. I know it has its issues and if I was professional reviewer, I'd probably lose my job right away, but I don't really care. There is just something that makes me play this game even after all those years. The most interesting thing about the game is definitely story especially thanks to the unique, mostly completely insane bunch of characters that are far from your everyday heroes. I don't want to spoil much, but let's say our party consists of mass murderer that enjoys killing above all, cannibal that eats children, pedophile, and racist. Oh well... Now about gameplay. Most of you probably know that this game is combination of Panzer Dragon and Dynasty Warriors and it's pretty spot on description. There are 3 types of mission Dungeons, where you have to fight alone, in the air, where you fight airships with your dragon and combination of both, mostly on some plains where you are given choice to either fight on foot or from the back of your dragon. You can get down and call for her anytime. Ground battles are the part of the game I found most fun. During the course of the game you come across many many weapons (around 60), everyone can be leveled to level 4, gain unique combos and more importantly magic, which by the end of the game gets really devastating and quite satisfying to use. Then there is fairly interesting chain system that gets you hooked up during longer battles since you get more experience, buffs, health orbs and other bonuses, the higher is your combo count. Air missions have less variety if you ask me, but it's not really bad. Dragon can shoot homing (weaker) fireballs as well as huge fireball with manual aiming. And just like Caim, she has MP gauge that fills up after certain number of kills, which means you can use overdrive. But like I said it is the story and overall atmosphere (I guarantee you, that music in this game is nothing you have ever heard anywhere else and it's awesome!) that keeps you interested. The game has 5 endings, to which applies simple rule They get more and more crazy. This, along with weapon collectibles and leveling, kinda ensures fairly long playtime and high replayability. Just give the game chance and maybe you will like it. Be prepared though. It's definitely not for everyone, that's for sure.… Full Review »
  2. Caffe
    Sep 4, 2023
    7
    Drakengard has a great idea at the base, but a disgusting implementation, both in gameplay and in technical terms. The gameplay is insanelyDrakengard has a great idea at the base, but a disgusting implementation, both in gameplay and in technical terms. The gameplay is insanely repetitive. The story is amazing, but some parts are just down right very poorly acted. The hacknslash style mixes great with the overall RPG style and it feels great to level your stuff, however the game would have been better of with a souls-like style, as some encounters don't seem to mix well with its style. However, for anyone who likes Yoko Taro and for those who want to discover the ancestor of nier this is an absolute must-play.… Full Review »
  3. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    10
    A hidden gem. I played this as a teen, looking for something similar to Dynasty Warriors, and i absolutely loved it. The combat just works,A hidden gem. I played this as a teen, looking for something similar to Dynasty Warriors, and i absolutely loved it. The combat just works, and the amount of different weapons, each one with their own moves and speacial moves, that you can unlock and level up are INSANE. But, even if mechanically it's kind of similar to DW, the story and aesthetics are pretty much unique, and never found anything similar since then... except for, maybe, Fear and Hunger. Depressing, dark and apocalyptic, every character has a tortured sould and nobody is saved at the end. It's a lesson in hopelessness. Some of the endings are so shocking and deep that, to this day, i really think nobody is still able to make justice to them.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »