Crimson Dragon

 Xbox One
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 39
  3. Negative: 10 out of 39
  1. NowGamer
    Nov 27, 2013
    45
    Not nearly next-gen in any aspect and not even all that fun to play.
  2. Level7.nu
    Sep 29, 2014
    40
    With fire breathing dragons and breathtaking views Crimson Dragon could be an intense and unique experience. But it isn’t. Instead it’s a dull and ugly adventure that doesn’t take advantage of the premises of the genre nor the dragons.
  3. games(TM)
    Dec 17, 2013
    40
    Simply a bit boring. [Issue#142, p.92]
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  5. Gameblog.fr
    Dec 2, 2013
    40
    With its attractively designed dragons, its music and its targeting system, Crimson Dragon had potential. Unfortunately, this spiritual successor to Panzer Dragoon fails in terms of gameplay and graphics, as if everything was stuck in the past... and sometimes nostalgia can't transcend reality.
  6. SpazioGames
    Nov 21, 2013
    40
    Bad controls, absolutely no atmosphere and an old gen graphics make Crimson Dragon the worst game for the Xbox one line up.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Nov 19, 2013
    40
    Spiritual or not this is a poor sequel to the Panzer Dragoon games, and its tame and repetitive action will certainly not win the series any new fans.
  8. Meristation
    Nov 18, 2013
    40
    Panzer Dragoon always was a showcase of Saturn and Xbox hardware, but this spiritual sequel fails to take advantage of Xbox One hardware, and doesn't capture the flow of the originals, resulting in a game that doesn't touch its legacy.
  9. Polygon
    Nov 18, 2013
    40
    I could forgive all of these missteps, the weird microtransactions, the underwhelming graphics, the off-kilter systems, if, on a very basic level, it was fun. It's not. Crimson Dragon manages to take riding on a sweet flying dragon and make it a bland, frustrating slog. In my book, that's about as unforgivable as sins come.
  10. GameCritics
    Jan 22, 2014
    35
    Crimson Dragon is clumsy, frustrating and often downright hideous. I realize that the Xbox One's launch lineup was pretty underwhelming, but even those new owners desperate for software to play on it should keep Crimson Dragon low on their lists.
  11. GamesBeat
    Nov 18, 2013
    35
    If Crimson Dragon had been released for iOS or Android devices at a cheaper price, it would be one of the year’s more interesting releases. Instead, the final product is a rushed, homogenized mess of a game that fails to live up to its loosely associated pedigree.

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Best Xbox One Game of 2013
15
#15 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2013
12
#12 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 259 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 147 out of 259
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 259
  3. Negative: 80 out of 259
  1. shimmera4
    Nov 22, 2013
    10
    I’ve been playing Crimson non-stop (tired). First, I’m a huge Panzer/shooter fan so I must thank the team for actually bringing this game toI’ve been playing Crimson non-stop (tired). First, I’m a huge Panzer/shooter fan so I must thank the team for actually bringing this game to the XBOX. I have to say the gameplay is nothing like the reviews describe. There is a ton of replayability, Ive evolved/unlocked multiple dragons, collected a variety of different skills (lasers of death) and have a ton of cash for more stuff. The levels are gorgeous, but of course I was not expecting much visually from a game that only costs $20. Having wingman you can hire from other players is pretty neat especially since you get rewarded if players use yours. Also I liked the free flight areas, it was nice being able to go faster or stop and float to hit key spots on the bosses.

    Is the game hard? Yes, if you are playing Classic. But that’s what I love about the game. If Crimson was easy, I would have been disappointed. But there is a Casual mode, which I assume is less difficult for people who just want to see the story or are simply not good at shooters. I should note that a wingman is a must if you are playing classic mode, you will get pwned if you do not bring one. I read complaints about MTX, but I never needed to use it. It seems MTX options are there if event you want something quickly. But again, the missions give you aton of cash so I never needed it.

    One small wish item, it would have been nice to swtich the controls to something more like the old Panzer games where the reticle was fixed to the dragon. Not a biggy as the new controls are easy to pickup.

    In summary, for $20, you’ll get an awesome shooter with lots of repalyability. I for one am looking forward to seeing the next designation of Draco.     … Full Review »
  2. Zikkyn
    Nov 25, 2013
    10
    I don't know what's up with the "official" reviews, but those guys must not be playing the same game I'm playing. Haven't been able to put it down!!!!
  3. yaketyYak
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    I believe Crimson Dragon is a prequel to Panzer Dragoon.

    Did you love Panzer Dragoon? Then you will love this too. It feels like a classic    I believe Crimson Dragon is a prequel to Panzer Dragoon.

    Did you love Panzer Dragoon? Then you will love this too. It feels like a classic Sega arcade game with some modern sensibilites. You control the dragon flight with one analogue, the shooting reticle with the other. It takes a certain time, but you finally achieve a "flow" created by the gameplay, outstanding visuals (some reviewers have called it ugly? I don't get it. It's very Moebius.) and the awesome music.

    When playing this game, I'm always smiling. I'm so happy to be playing what I consider a prequel to Panzer Dragoon. You see, the story tells of humans recently arriving on this planet populated by dragons, then they start getting infected and some survivors can bond with their dragons. They also start discovering some ancient ruins. If you know your Panzer history, you totally realize that this could be the background for when Panzer begins, except Panzer is probably thousands of years in the future of Crimson. The "ancient" technology looks very similar and the "bonding" with dragons, which is common in Panzer, but just beginning here in Crimson.

    As you keep on playing, it opens up and you can feed & evolve dragons, just like Panzer Dragoon Saga! You start off with some dragon powers, but you eventually get some that act pretty much like the original Panzer lasers you remember, you just don't start off with them. You equip/gain dragon powers, like you would equip weapons in RPG's.

    I remember when Panzer Dragoon came out. It was criticized for the horrible frame rate (15fps), rough graphics (even for a Saturn Game) and the on-rails gameplay. Reviews were average. Later came Panzer Dragoon Zwei, which got way better reviews due to it being more polished and having higher production values. Then came Panzer Dragoon Saga which was a culmination of all three and was just an outstanding action RPG.

    I can tell from most of the "professional" reviews, that all they know about Panzer Dragoon is that it was a Saturn game. By reading the reviews, they make no mention of its gameplay history and background, just that a few members of the team worked on it. However, Panzer Dragoon was not regarded as a classic back then, but only through time (and its sequels) has it gained that achievement. None of the reviewers seem to acknowledge this.

    If this game had been $60, I would give it a 8 or 9. However, it's $20. The cinematics are mostly hand-drawn images. You can tell they just put all their money into the gameplay sections. And that's ok. If we get a full $60 game, I would expect super-cool CG cinematics. Let's hope they can do that in a new "prequel". I am glad someone at Microsoft took the chance on this team and this game. Congrats!    … Full Review »
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