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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The ‘Drakengard’ series is a beautiful trainwreck The Gamer Z ne
Fans of the cult classic “Drakengard” series, rejoice! “Drakengard 3” (known as “Drag-On Dragoon 3” in its native Japan) is slated for release in Japan at some point later this year as a PlayStation 3 exclusive. The “Drakengard” series may not seem worth exploring to most gamers. Truthfully, it is an acquired taste. If players aren’t turned off by the unrelentingly grim settings and themes, the mediocre-to-tedious gameplay will not win them over. But for those willing to look past its weaknesses, the series is definitely worth checking out. Let’s look back on this undeniably flawed, but notable series: Drakengard (2003) PlayStation 2
Remembered for its rich, multilayered plot and chaotically dissonant orchestrated soundtrack, “Drakengard” was released in a time when most Japanese role-playing games focused on a band of plucky heroes journeying to save the world. Rather than follow this tried-andtrue formula, the game decided to turn it on its head. “Drakengard” is set within a wartorn and dying fantasy world where humans are capable of forming pacts with various mythological creatures in exchange for something precious to them. These pacts have the ability
Drakengard 2 (2005) PlayStation 2
to heal both pact partners upon creation. Once a pact is in effect, if one partner dies, the other will die almost immediately afterward. You play as Caim, a bloodthirsty soldier whom you can easily picture cutting down scores of enemies throughout the game. Forced to make a pact after being mortally wounded on the battlefield, he sacrifices his ability to speak in the exchange. His pact partner, an ancient female dragon who was also mortally wounded before Caim discovered her, despises humans and is not afraid to voice her hatred for him. Other notable aspects of the game are your remaining party, which includes a cannibal and a pedophile, and the five ending paths, each more depressing and bizarre than the last. Also worth noting is its nihilistic approach to storytelling. Once the “Drakengard” gods have decided the world is going to end, there is nothing the heroes can do to stop them. As they journey closer to the main villain’s lair, more and more of the world falls to ruin. Killing the villain actually makes things considerably
“Drakengard 2” is considerably less grim than its predecessor, and has a storyline and characters you’d expect to see in the average JRPG. As a result, it is generally regarded to be far less memorable than other entries in the series. Set 18 years after the original game’s “Ending A,” the game centers on Nowe, a teenage boy working under the Knights of the Seal. The Knights were established by his late adoptive father Oror immediately after the first game ended, and they control what is left of the world. Unfortunately, their methods of preventing another war involve suppressing the world’s populace by placing poison-releasing seals in every village. It isn’t long before Nowe defects from the Knights and goes on a journey to destroy the seals. He is joined by Legna, a dragon that raised him when he lived in the wilderness as a child; Manah, a young woman with a troubled past and important ties to the first game; and Urick, a cheerful rogue warrior with secrets. “Drakengard 2” is widely regarded to be the weakest in the series, and for good reason. Part of what made
It Could Be Worse By Joelle Goosen
the original game so memorable was its relentlessly dark and disturbing themes, and while “2” has a strong soundtrack and makes slight improvements to the gameplay, very little separates it from other games in the genre. Aside from a few appearances by Caim and his dragon pact partner, there aren’t many reasons to seek it out. NIER (2010) PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Set more than a millenium after the events of the original game’s “Ending E” destroyed our world, “NIER” follows a middle-aged widower (officially named Nier, but the player is free to name him whatever they choose) as he struggles to find a cure for his young daughter’s fatal illness in a post-apocalyptic Earth. Despite receiving average reviews from critics, it is considered to be the best entry in the series by the majority of fans, and is quickly becoming a classic in the gaming community. With its tenuous connections to the original “Drakengard,” “NIER” is a game that can be enjoyed without any knowledge of the rest of the series. “NIER” is mainly an action adventure that plays not unlike later entries in the “Legend of Zelda” series. It frequently switches between genres, such as platformers and bullet hells. There’s even a dungeon that plays out like a text adventure game. Gameplay can feel schizophrenic as
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a result, but, unlike “Drakengard,” it mixes things up often enough to stay interesting. Players also have magical spells at their disposal for when things get too hectic, as well as invincible allies. These include Grimoire Weiss, a sarcastic and arrogant living book that also acts as the source of your magic; Kainé, a foul-mouthed, scantily clad young swordswoman; and Emil, a kind, reclusive young boy cursed with ability to turn people to stone upon sight. Every character is likeable and well developed, and their interactions are some of the best parts of the game. The world of “NIER” has grown bleak since society was destroyed so many years ago, and what little is left of humanity is barely surviving in tiny pockets of civilization scattered across the land. The soundtrack was so well received that it led to a number of remix albums being released in Japan, as well as a live concert devoted entirely to music from the game. Even those who panned the game consider the soundtrack to be one of the best ever made. Many gamers will overlook “NIER” because of its lackluster graphics and unpolished gameplay, but it is definitely worth a look if you enjoy games with a strong story and likeable characters. I consider it one of the greatest games to be released in the past decade. Answers 1. Lifeguard 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 3. Jackie Robinson 4. One 5. Drake 6. Jamie 7. Blue Ivy Carter 8. Phillip Phillips 9. Chrysler
worse for the heroes. Despite its weak, repetitive gameplay, it has its fans. There are few games like it today.
By Caitlin Piper etc4640@dcccd.edu