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
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  1. RealGamer
    72
    It seems ironic that in Square Enix’s attempts to make a game appealing to fans of two genres they have actually created a game that features pretty standard gameplay and may not attract its intended audience.
  2. GameReviewer
    72
    One of my biggest annoyances when playing Drag-on Dragoon was that I couldn't save my progress in the middle of a stage. This can be frustrating if after 40 minutes of leveling up your character you die because of a silly mistake. [JPN Import]
  3. GamePro
    70
    The music, sound effects, and voice acting make up for some of the problems, but they ultimately can't overcome Drakengard's problems with graphics and slow controls. [Mar 2004, p.65]
  5. Adrenaline Vault
    70
    With a superb story, three challenging modes of gameplay, plenty of side quests and missions that can climb to almost an hour apiece, Drakengard could easily consume up to 50 hours of one’s time.
  6. My Gamer
    70
    Thanks to the three modes of play, Drakengard remains fairly fresh because the actions always seems to sway right when it should.
  7. GameZone
    70
    It just feels like Drakengard could have used a lot more polish, such as no frame rate issues, a better draw-in distance, and better AI.
  8. 3DAvenue
    70
    The RPG elements keep the game from getting overly repetitive but at the very basic level, the game is a monotonous task of defeating enemies to progress further.
  9. Cheat Code Central
    70
    Don't expect it to be packed with excitement from start to finish since much of the gameplay is repetitive, but there are some decent moments which make wading through the lean times worthwhile - almost.
    All this publication's reviews
  10. Frictionless Insight
    70
    Drakengard is a lesson to game designers everywhere. Variety and color are not things to introduce gradually. Difficulty, sure, but we need fun throughout.
  11. Worth Playing
    70
    Truly, I did not want to finish this game. I found it to be as endearing as The Phantom Menace (which does not even warrant an underline).
  12. Gamestyle
    70
    The strong story spans ninety levels and offers plenty beyond the main story. Make no mistake, Drakengard is not groundbreaking, but coming from Square-Enix it’s a welcome piece of variety, and a fine game as well.
  13. GameSpot
    70
    The core action that dominates the gameplay is highly repetitive and not particularly interesting, but Drakengard is still worth a look from those intrigued by the game's strange theme.
  14. Gamer's Pulse
    66
    While Drakengard doesn’t possess any glaring faults, issues regarding the game’s combat balance and the lack of an action ability system prevent it from being entirely engaging.
  15. Just RPG
    65
    Just isn't fun enough to keep you playing. With repetitive missions, no multiplayer and mediocre gameplay, it often devolves into a chore.
  16. Game Power Australia
    65
    Perhaps if the developers had spent less time trying to blur the lines between roleplaying games and action titles, they could have focused their efforts on compelling combat – something that should be important in a game all about slicing and burning everything in sight.
  17. Deeko
    65
    Though the storyline is unique and satisfying and the musical score is nothing short of brilliant, the overall gameplay elements that make up Drakengard are tedious and irksome, leaving you with a game that you may never actually finish.
  18. GMR Magazine
    60
    None of the game's various segments is better than the source material that inspired it.
  19. GamerArchive
    60
    Two nice game styles, both of which are nice enough to warrant addictive gameplay, yet both suffer from a very shallow nature.
  20. Boomtown
    60
    If you manage to at least enjoy killing hundreds of people in Drakengard’s world, you can enjoy killing thousands to make it to its end.
    All this publication's reviews
  21. Thunderbolt
    60
    I'll say it again, if the game had had the guts to end after the first ending it would have been great.
  22. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    60
    The robust gameplay will keep you coming back. All three level types are totally engaging, and a wealth of secrets (hidden stages, dragons, and weapons) means that a weekend rental won't be nearly long enough. [Apr 2004, p.120]
  23. G4 TV
    60
    Optional chapters, multiple endings, and being able to replay stages amount to a game that's certainly lengthy, but they multiply an already great repetition factor. If you're willing to sacrifice depth of gameplay for depth of story, you may find that Drakengard is a worthwhile purchase.
  24. PSM Magazine
    60
    Definitely a cut or three below usual Square Enix standards, but hack-and-slash fans will still find plenty to love. [May 2004, p.39]
    All this publication's reviews
  25. Armchair Empire
    59
    Two genres thrown together that don’t really try to be better than the games that they’re based on, descending into a mundane exercise in repetition.
  26. Into Liquid Sky
    58
    If you want to fly high above and put yourself into unique and highly intense battles that are actually fun, go try "Sky Gunner" or "Panzer Dragoon Orta." In the meantime, you can probably look at this title and see how not to make a good game.
  27. GameCritics
    55
    While developer Cavia has done a fine job of aping what makes "Panzer Dragoon" so much fun, the "Dynasty Warriors" elements of the game are sorely lacking.
  28. TotalGames.net
    54
    It's uninspired and pretty ugly.
    All this publication's reviews
  29. Xequted
    52
    All in all, a much better effect could be achieved by saving forty dollars, renting Dragonheart and playing through the Adventures of Link -same premise, only with game play that is actually entertaining.
  30. Gamenikki
    50
    Right now it’s average in quality, and what should be amusing feels like a chore. It’s hard to make dragons unexciting, but somehow Drakengard manages to do it.
  31. Yahoo!
    50
    The formula has merit, but if Square expects to launch a dynasty, it should have escorted the game out the door armed with more than a white belt and Etch-A-Sketch graphics engine.
  32. Play Magazine
    50
    The main problem with the game is that it gets old really fast. [Apr 2004, p.64]
    All this publication's reviews
  33. eToychest
    50
    Far from perfect and a mere shadow of its potential, Drakengard gives players only fleeting glimpses of brilliance and these are spread far to thin for this game to carry with it any real merit.
  34. Gamers Europe
    50
    What started off very promising ended up taking a bit of a nosedive – it doesn’t do anything better than the games it draws from.
  35. PSX Nation
    50
    Fans of the movie "Dragonheart" and people who like games that run in the same vein as the "Dynasty Warriors" and "Panzer Dragoon" series' will enjoy Drakengard to the fullest while others will recieve a solid, yet short and lacking, gameplay experience that won't leave them completely satisfied.

Awards & Rankings

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

User Reviews

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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 »
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