Drakensang: The Dark Eye

I am what you would call a casual MMOer, if that was actually a word. I recently took a break from my seemingly never ending trudge through the World of Warcraft to try another game, one that shares quite a few similarities with Warcraft but is also very different. The difference being the MMO part, Drakensang is a single player game but any fan of Guild Wars or Warcraft will find themselves at home with the user interface and quest based gameplay.

Drakensang is being developed in Germany by Radon Labs with The Dark Eye being the first in the Drakensang series, to be followed next year by The River of Time. The game is based on the popular European pen and paper roleplaying game The Dark Eye and has been developed alongside the original authors. The original pen and paper RPG, that has been around since 1984 and is currently in it’s 4th edition, hosts an extensive game world and a complex rule set. Both of these are evident in this title, although to get the most out of the deep game system you will have to put in the hours.

You will spend your time picking up and following quests that will usually lead you into combat with some form of enemy. Combat is essentially turn based but flows in real time with each party member and enemy taking their turn then waiting until ready to make their next move. At any time the action can be paused allowing you to cycle through your party and setup their actions for the battle. During combat you can take direct control of any party member or leave them to their own devices.

The World of Adventuria

The game’s complex underlying ruleset allows you the freedom to take on your quests from any angle you see fit. For example, objectives that appear to be suited to a brute force attack can, with a little thought, be completed with a more stealthy approach. This freedom can lead to some interesting tactical situations and ultimately a great sense of achievement when a plan comes together.

Although the bulk of your party will be made up of recruited adventurers you do play the game from the point of view of your own created character. The game uses a robust character creation system again based on the sources core rules. It offers a range of classes and races from old favourites like the Elven Ranger to the more unique choice of Amazonian Warrior. Beyond what you start with additional skill and abilities can be learnt from career counselors found in towns and out in the wild, they will teach you in exchange for the skill points that you earn on your adventure.

The world of Aventuria is recreated beautifully in-game, offering some stunning environments for you to explore. When compared to the visuals offered in modern MMOs Drakensang really shines, offering the detail and atmosphere that is sadly not possible in a multiplayer world. This combination of an expansive and populated world underpinned by the graphical qualities of a single player game is where Drakensang’s strength lies.

Drakensang: The Dark Eye is a stong start to this new series and will reward players that put in the time required to make the most of it’s complex rules. If you are the kind of person that likes to play MMOs but often plays them alone this could be the game you have been waiting for.

No subs, no lag, no waiting for your guild mates to finish their dinner, no maverick team members to charge recklessly into battle. Sound like the perfect MMO, doesn’t it?


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One response to “Drakensang: The Dark Eye”

  1. Mark avatar
    Mark

    Those pics sure look nice…

    Great write up, Dan

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