The Dark Eye: Drakensang
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The Dark Eye: Drakensang

Average Rating:
Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5Average rating of 4.0/5
List Price:
$9.99
Our Price:
$6.73
You Save:
$3.26 (33%)

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Product Info

  • Brand: ValuSoft
  • EAN: 0825247073200
  • Manufacturer: Valusoft

Features

  • More than 40 spells, with over 30 talents and almost 40 special abilities allow a large range of possibilities for character creation.
  • Rich story by the authors of the original The Dark Eye books and adventures and based in Germany`s #1 pen & paper RPG system The Dark Eye.
  • Huge, detailed medieval 3D world with authentic looks of historic European architecture.
  • Versatile, round-based combat system, a talent-based dialogue system and individual party skill development.
  • 2-4 multiplayer support.

Spotlight customer reviews:

  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5
  • Summary: The camera...
  • Comment: I see all these great reviews about this game, but very few people mention the #1, so-huge-I-can't-possibly-review-the-game-without-mentioning-it camera problem?

    This game is a whole lot of fun. The character development system is (at least for me) totally new, and it works to give you a more well-rounded character, allowing you to spend experience as soon as you get it if you need to. The story is pretty interesting, and the game is by no means easy. To me, this game is very similar to Neverwinter Nights, and if you liked that, you'll surely find Drakensang to be a good game for you.

    However, there are some quirks to the game system that tend to make this one of the most difficult to play games I've ever met. It's not that the game is really hard in that battles are difficult, or quests are too obscure, it's just feels like developers often went to great lengths to ensure that their game packed in lots of annoying quirks. Looting animals is a great example - you loot them the first time, then you get something, let's say a rat tail. Then if you have a character with sufficient skill, you will be able to search more, and you'll get leather strips or something. So in essence, you have to search every dead animal twice just to get all the stuff out of it. There are a few other things like this that are unnecessarily annoying, and they are frequent enough to be a bother.

    Another problem that I've noticed with this game is that it is incredibly linear. There is no problem with linear RPGs, but in at least half of the conversations in the game, you get only one dialog option, particularly in the beginning of the game. It would be nice to be able to voice something other than the get-through-the-game-as-a-polite-gentleman option. This is also a problem with character creation; granted, there are a good 15 or so classes to choose from, but all the characters of one type look exactly the same, so you can't do any customization. In addition, some of the characters simply will not get you through the harder difficulty levels of this game, the archer for instance. One would assume that Archery is a great skill to have if you're actually adventuring through this game, but in practice, you start every difficult battle about 5 paces from your enemy, and by the time you've strung your bow, the bad guys are already bashing your head in with a club. And it's not like it's just this way with a few fights, it's a constant problem that never seems to stop. In the end, you can build an archer character and beat the game, but your archer will start to act and feel much more like a warrior than a true archer.

    Then there is the #1 problem with the game - the camera. Because this is a game with an over-the-shoulder camera system, it automatically presents a big problem if one of your party members is fighting, and another is up a flight of stairs or around a corner. When this happens, you are only allowed to target on things you can see, or if you're lucky, that the camera can see around a bend. If you are on the bottom of a staircase and your party is fighting on the second floor, there is little way for your characters on the first floor to pilot themselves around the staircase and up to the fight without manually controlling them the whole way. And then what do you do with your spellcasters who need attention? Even in non-fighting situations, it can be a bother when you can't position the camera correctly while exploring the world map, and you end up looking down upon your main character, where you can see maybe twenty feet around them. Of course, you can spend time adjusting the camera, but after a while, it just takes a lot of time to fiddle with it, and sometimes, it just isn't worth it.

    Like I said, Drakensang is a mostly quality game, and hard-core RPG fans will love it, but it's major flaws are too much for it to overcome.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
  • Summary: great bargain
  • Comment: Drakensang is what I would call a "true" RPG. Most games described as RPG's are really a combination RPG/action as they require key skills for combat. Combat is still hectic though as you have 4 characters to control by designating special combat techniques, magic and potions. I think about 8 was the most enemies I had to confront at one time. If you think that is too easy try it without pausing.

    The graphics are beautiful (as are the female characters) and the game runs very smoothly.

    Quests are varied in content and length. One of the secondary quests was almost as long as the main quest. Some humor is mixed in.

    The game is not a "go anywhere, do anything" game but the areas to explore are large enough that it never has a linear feel to it.

    The system used for raising attributes and skill levels is very nicely done. I love that you can use experience points whenever you want. In other games you have to make a decision as soon as you gain a new level.

    I think I was most impressed by the economics. Most games are what in D&D used to be called "Monty Hauls". Treasure and equipment are so easy to obtain that they don't seem like much of an accomplishment when you get them. In Morrowind (which was still a great game) it seemed like every two-bit bandit had an enchanted weapon. In Drakensang you grab everything you find (like rusty nails and fluff) because money is so tight. The special weapons are one of a kind so you really appreciate them when you get one. I think I was about 3/4 through the game before the treasures got bigger.

    I think this is a great game. (and a great bargain at under $10) If you like RPG's give it a try. I wish the developers would use the same system and make more games. I'm still looking for a good RPG western.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5Average rating of 5/5
  • Summary: Great game that went under the rader
  • Comment: Drakensang is a game any role player will love. The graphics are good, and the story is interesting and keeps you playing. Interaction between your allies is a fun aspect, and I really found it enjoyable to change them out on almost every quest, just to keep things interesting. The skill system is nice, and there are a lot of abilities to choose from, giving you the option to have a unique char regardless of which base class you choose. Any fan of role playing games will love this one. I hope they make a second one to follow up on the rich histroy and background they created in this game.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5
  • Summary: Stuck
  • Comment: I can't get out of the first town. It keeps kicking me back. So I can't give an honest review. But what I have seen has been fun.
  • Customer Rating: Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5Average rating of 3/5
  • Summary: Good but not great!
  • Comment: This review is for the 3 or 4 people who have not purchased the game but are still considering it. Some free advice: 1) Download the demo and try that first. Also download the manual and the walkthrough. The first chapter of the game walkthrough is also the demo. 2) Wait until the price gets down to about $10 or $15 before buying.

    Disclosure: I've only played the demo, so my comments are limited to that experience only.

    I like this kind of game. The Dark Eye is fun to play and keeps your attention. The graphics are good but for me it's the game-play that matters, not the pictures or the voice acting, etc. Read the other reviews for what's good in this game; there's a lot to like.

    What I didn't like in the demo was beginning with little or no idea of what I was to do, how to do it, where to go, etc, etc. (That's why you should get the manual and the walkthrough.) More bad news: you can't create your own character. There are several pre-made models to choose from but, alas, you can do very little to tweak them. In-game, the tutorial pop-up's were somewhat helpful as were the info blurbs that appeared when you right-clicked some items.

    The controls are NOT intuitive. Well, not for me anyway. And as others have noted, camera control is not the best. I'd describe it as awkward and sometimes unresponsive. In tight quarters, e.g. next to a structure or in a cave, etc., it's downright frustrating.

    This is not a game with any strategy at all; it's entirely linear. There are (or can be) tactics in battles, but game play is strictly "follow the dotted line and connect the dots." Once you've finished an area, there's no going back. I guess that's OK, but don't leave anything behind! Replay value is going to be zero. If you do play again, all you can change is the main character.

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