Drakengard | PlayStation 2 | PS2

About the Game

Drakengard follows the story of a kingdomless prince named Caim who fights for the Union against the Empire. Under the Union's protection are the Hierarchs and the Goddess, currently Caim's sister Furiae, who is a human manifestation of one of the four seals that protect the world from being broken. As the game begins, Cain is fatally wounded in a battle with the Empire. Encountering a captured Red Dragon who is also near death, Caim makes a fateful choice.

Story & Setting

You control Caim on his quest. It is used mainly to tell story sequences.

Gameplay & Core Systems

The game is separated into three distinct modes: Aerial combat, Ground combat and Event Combat. In Aerial Combat, Caim rides dragonback against a variety of airborne foes breathing fireballs (strong single shots and weaker multiple lock-on shots). In Ground combat, the game is shown in 3rd person though usually large, open areas. Controlling Caim, his primary ability is the use of a variety of weapons found on the battlefield. These are leveled up through continued usage, and specifically through the killing of individual enemies.

Standout Features

• Though magic (determined by weapon choice), timed attacks and evasion, Caim breaks through enemy armies.
• Characters recruited as allies by Caim can also be summoned during battles, steadily losing health until control is returned to Caim.
• Event combat is similar to Ground combat, but shown isometrically, restricted to a single weapon and without the aid of a dragon.
• Levels that have been visited before might become "Expedition Missions" which are optional and contain new objectives, enemies and weapons.
• Depending on Caim's choices (and prerequisites for those choices), there are five different endings to Drakengard.
• Caim: In ground combat, Caim may also call forth his Dragon to ride and strafe enemies from the air.
• The Dragon's movements are generally the same as in aerial combat but more limited and less agile.
• Additionally, any level previously played in the storyline may be revisited at any time.