Review GameBanshee reckon Drakensang is solid, but not great

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Drakensang

GameBanshee have a <a href="http://www.gamebanshee.com/reviews/software/drakensangthedarkeye1.php">rather comprehensive five pager up</a> about Drakensang:
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<blockquote>Drakensang is a third-person, bird's eye view RPG that utilizes real-time with pause combat. In these elements, it basically follows the rough design set down by BioWare's D&D titles, so if you've played those, Drakensang will feel at least somewhat familiar.
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Smaller European releases have a bad reputation when it comes to technical polish, but Drakensang is a pretty positive exception. It ran with refreshing stability on my rig, with only one consistent crash-causing bug I could find (it would crash whenever I tried to read the second page of a certain alchemic recipe). The only major annoyance I ran into was a quest-killing bug a ways into the game, which I could not recreate after reloading, leading me to believe it was a freak occurrence.
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The biggest issue in interface is the fact that the game asks you to do a lot of walking. Not a problem by itself, except that your characters walk really, really slowly...
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Solid world design helps keep your surroundings looking interesting. While Drakensang actually does appear to reuse art assets pretty extensively, it manages to keep this fact fairly well-hidden from casual inspection.</blockquote>
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Overall, they like. They've also set up <a href="http://www.gamebanshee.com/drakensangthedarkeye/">information databases about the game</a> with equipment and companion details among other things.

 

[MetalCraze]

Better surprise with a review that isn't "oh the game has this bad, that bad, everything else bad but overall it is good" nowadays.

 

[Worm King]

While I like Drakensang I can't see how anyone who ever roleplayed could have produced this game. For one the difficulty is non existent while you're constantly being bombarded by more and more points(with enemies staying the same as they were in the beginning of the game).

There's a load of social skills, that I always kept at max, and I've so far seen a massive of 2 skill checks for trivial side quests. I'm 100% sure that not selecting those checks wouldn't lead to even a slightly different outcome.

What the fuck is with those barrels? This is NWN 1 OC all over. I'd like to meet the person who thought that bashing barrels in every corner is fun.

And what the shit was that long labyrinth dungeon where you had to chase those bandits? It had only a few enemies, ridiculously long tunnels and barrels galore. Then I got my own massive house and, after exploring it, I found it completely empty of anything.

If you thought that the NWN 2 OC was railroaded then good Jesus will you be in a surprise. I don't think I've seen any choices, real or fake, yet.

 

[ricolikesrice]

at one point in the game you can chose whether to ally with some witches or the inquisition, each leading to different questchains for this act of the game - pretty similar to how you can chose between thieves/guards in the NWN2 OC.

at another point in the city you can chose between 2 rivaling merchant guilds again leading to different questchains.

there s some other minor instances where you can side with one of 2 factions and get sligthly different quests.

in short: pretty much the same shit as in bioware/obsidian games (minus MOTB).
since there s however a lot less "fake" choices (i.e. dialogue often given you only 1 line rather than the bio/OE typical "1. i ll do it cause i m nice 2. i ll do it if you give me more money 3. i m really evil and you suck but i ll do it anyhow" drakensang certainly feels even more limited although imho it isnt. (but i personally prefer fake choices over no choice at all, although of course its real choice -------------------> fake choice --> no choice.)

what i dont get about this review is the combat complaints. while not perfect, i found the combat alot more enjoyable than in NWN1/2, KOTOR & co. (mainly cause of the nice ruleset).

 

[Pseudofool]

I'm in the Marshland section and am questioning whether I want to finish. Should I keep at it?

 

[Claw]

Hmm, this review gives me a strange Gothic vibe, in that I have trouble reconciling the description of the movement and camera controls with my experience.

It sounds a bit like he chose the wrong movement style and then complained about it not working well. I only use WASD in a few cramped situations, otherwise I just click somewhere ahead of my party.. you know, like in Fallout or Baldur's Gate? The only problem is that you can't just scroll the screen to your destination and click right there, but I rarely use that option in games that have it either, since then I'd have to wait even longer while my party gets there.

PS:
I don't have any issue with the movement speed myself, but then I may be using that fix he mentions. Does anyone know what the default values are? I've got a runspeed of 3.4, apparently.

Also, I'm not sure I understand this correctly:

On top of that, conspicuousness in their absence are a “toggle walk on/off” button and a “click on the map to walk there” feature.

What? Aren't there sneak/walk/run buttons in the lower right corner? Is he staring at the minimap while running around?

 

[Luzur]

I'm in the Marshland section and am questioning whether I want to finish. Should I keep at it?

go on, the swamps held some interesting sub quests, atleast for me.

 

[Brother None]

It sounds a bit like he chose the wrong movement style and then complained about it not working well. I only use WASD in a few cramped situations, otherwise I just click somewhere ahead of my party.. you know, like in Fallout or Baldur's Gate? The only problem is that you can't just scroll the screen to your destination and click right there, but I rarely use that option in games that have it either, since then I'd have to wait even longer while my party gets there.

I used both, but with the camera being what it is (the lack of scroll you mention), it forbids my personal favourite option, just clicking somewhere and then sitting back for a minute. I don't see the added fun in having to hold the W instead (or clicking and re-clicking, just as boring)

Besides, too much walking, too slow. The mechanics aren't completely broken, but just as with combat, the amount of it surely is.

On top of that, conspicuousness in their absence are a “toggle walk on/off” button and a “click on the map to walk there” feature.

What? Aren't there sneak/walk/run buttons in the lower right corner? Is he staring at the minimap while running around?

Toggle on/off is like the Q button in Oblivion. Just press it and your char auto-walks. Preferable to having hold w down in these kind of games.

 

[Claw]

I don't see the added fun in having to hold the W instead (or clicking and re-clicking, just as boring)

I don't see the added fun in sitting back and watching my party move. At least having to navigate my party keeps be occupied. I find holding down W far more annnoying, and as a Gothic fan I believe I have the necessary "expertise" to judge.
The real issue for me is that I find your description misleading. If I didn't know Drakensang, I feel I might get the wrong impression.

Besides, too much walking, too slow. The mechanics aren't completely broken, but just as with combat, the amount of it surely is.

You overstate the issue imo. Now Morrowind, that had an ungodly amount of walking, and I mean just the parts you can't skip by fast travelling. Gothic's worse than Drakensang as well, imo.

Toggle on/off is like the Q button in Oblivion. Just press it and your char auto-walks. Preferable to having hold w down in these kind of games.

Oh, you mean that sorry excuse for their crappy world design.
The only autowalk feature I'd find acceptable - maybe even interesting - is Gothic's navigation system for NPCs. If it had been available for players (you can use a cheat, but it can scew up the game), it'd have been interesting. Only because I like Gothic 2's gameworld so much, mind.

 

[Brother None]

I don't see the added fun in sitting back and watching my party move.

It adds fun by taking away a chore. Even if you don't like it, there's no real reason for it not to be an option. I always used auto-move functions when avaialble.

The real issue for me is that I find your description misleading. If I didn't know Drakensang, I feel I might get the wrong impression.

What's so confusing about "combination of both WASD and left-mouse button clicking for movement"?

You overstate the issue imo. Now Morrowind, that had an ungodly amount of walking, and I mean just the parts you can't skip by fast travelling. Gothic's worse than Drakensang as well, imo.

And there you reach the crux. Gothic had running potions. Morrowind had fast travel. Why doesn't Drakensang have anything other than slow running?

Drakensang has half-assed combat mechanics and slow, single-option running. How much that bothers you is not something I can tell you, as I explicitly say in the review, I'm just saying it's there. You can't wish it away just because you like the game, and certainly not because "others were worse".

 

[Thrasher]

Nice review, BN!

Solid but bland is what I hear.

 

[Claw]

What's so confusing about "combination of both WASD and left-mouse button clicking for movement"?

It's not really a combination; you clearly chose to use WASD, but your wording suggests otherwise. To put it simply, you aren't forced "to sit there and hold the W button" at all.

Morrowind had fast travel.

To mines and Dwemer ruins? Or inside towns? Vivec actually had the latter, but it was still a terrible place to move around in, and the Cantons that were furthest away from each other weren't directly connected, because traveling around wouldn't have been annoying enough otherwise.

How much that bothers you is not something I can tell you, as I explicitly say in the review, I'm just saying it's there.

No, you lamented the lack of a feature that wouldn't really haved changed it. The party would move around just as slowly.

 

[Brother None]

It's not really a combination; you clearly chose to use WASD, but your wording suggests otherwise. To put it simply, you aren't forced "to sit there and hold the W button" at all.

"Force you to sit there and hold the W button or alternatively click a location slightly in front of you time and again" just doesn't roll as well.

And again, I did not use WASD alone. Of the two options, after extensive use, I found it the more comfortable one. That's not saying much.

To mines and Dwemer ruins? Or inside towns? Vivec actually had the latter, but it was still a terrible place to move around in, and the Cantons that were furthest away from each other weren't directly connected, because traveling around wouldn't have been annoying enough otherwise.

Look, what exactly are you trying to say? If I had reviewed Morrowind or Gothic on GameBanshee, I can guarantee I would've talked of the needless walking, because I don't like it in any cRPG, it's lazy filler. "They're doing it too!" is the worst argument possible for a reviewer not to mention something.

No, you lamented the lack of a feature that wouldn't really haved changed it. The party would move around just as slowly.

But it would have bothered me less. A walking speed slider would also have been nice, but I'm personally more comfortable with clicking a location on a map and waiting. It's how I got through much of Fallout 1/2, and Baldur's Gate. The fact that you don't like it doesn't mean it's not an option that adds to the game.

 

[elander_]

If the game as interesting quests or otherwise gameplay you can tolerate having to walk around all the time (Arcanum and its huge single map cities like Tarant).

Gothic is another one of these games, nut there's usually so much stuff to explore in the wilderness guarded by high level monsters that it makes sense to come back again later. Then Gothic had chapters that would refresh the wilderness.

Perhaps the issue is not so much the lack of fast travel fut the lack of other things to make you forget this. Many games the Codex loves are very flawed in one aspect or another and still people love them.

 

[Suchy]

Finally I've played the game for a while. It's painfully medicore - on NWN2 level, with weak dialogues, bad writing (translation issues?), too much combat and annoying camera, but for some reason I like it more than NWN2 (actually I don't like NWN2 at all). I can't really tell why, it just somehow managed to appeal to me. Maybe it's the general atmosphere, the oldschool looking menus, or the quest design that's somewhat better than 'kill everything in InsertName dungeon' from NWN2. Or maybe I'm just too tired of DnD system.

 

[Wyrmlord]

Finally I've played the game for a while. It's painfully medicore - on NWN2 level, with weak dialogues, bad writing (translation issues?), too much combat and annoying camera, but for some reason I like it more than NWN2 (actually I don't like NWN2 at all). I can't really tell why, it just somehow managed to appeal to me. Maybe it's the general atmosphere, the oldschool looking menus, or the quest design that's somewhat better than 'kill everything in InsertName dungeon' from NWN2. Or maybe I'm just too tired of DnD system.

Or maybe you are just tired of games in general...

 

[Turok]

Finally I've played the game for a while. It's painfully medicore - on NWN2 level, with weak dialogues, bad writing (translation issues?), too much combat and annoying camera, but for some reason I like it more than NWN2 (actually I don't like NWN2 at all). I can't really tell why, it just somehow managed to appeal to me. Maybe it's the general atmosphere, the oldschool looking menus, or the quest design that's somewhat better than 'kill everything in InsertName dungeon' from NWN2. Or maybe I'm just too tired of DnD system.

Or maybe you are just tired of games in general...

I agree. posible you dont enjoy anymore some video games, i am old player of games and i really enjoy drakensang so far.

 

[RK47]

I think the old school atmosphere and somewhat 'fresh' class system attracted me somewhat. Magic is good yes, but not overwhelmingly powerful like most games with RTwP combat.

Crafting & Resource gathering needs to be less tedious but overall it was solid first effort RPG.

 

[Suchy]

Finally I've played the game for a while. It's painfully medicore - on NWN2 level, with weak dialogues, bad writing (translation issues?), too much combat and annoying camera, but for some reason I like it more than NWN2 (actually I don't like NWN2 at all). I can't really tell why, it just somehow managed to appeal to me. Maybe it's the general atmosphere, the oldschool looking menus, or the quest design that's somewhat better than 'kill everything in InsertName dungeon' from NWN2. Or maybe I'm just too tired of DnD system.

Or maybe you are just tired of games in general...

I agree. posible you dont enjoy anymore some video games, i am old player of games and i really enjoy drakensang so far.

The thing is I DO enjoy Drakensang, even though it's extremely medicore game - something I couldn't stand with NWN2.

 

[xuerebx]

I'd like to try it out, but the combat doesn't look interesting. I prefer TB or RT, but not RTwP. Maybe someday when I'm really bored I'll try it out.

 

[analt]

GameBanshee have a <a href="http://www.gamebanshee.com/reviews/software/drakensangthedarkeye1.php">rather comprehensive five pager up</a> about Drakensang:
<blockquote>Drakensang is a third-person, bird's eye view RPG

I wish. I found it unplayable as anything but over-the-shoulder WASD. Is consolitis really so intent on killing off click-move?

 

[Black]

And how's the immersion?

 

[Turjan]

Finally I've played the game for a while. It's painfully medicore - on NWN2 level, with weak dialogues, bad writing (translation issues?), too much combat and annoying camera, but for some reason I like it more than NWN2 (actually I don't like NWN2 at all). I can't really tell why, it just somehow managed to appeal to me. Maybe it's the general atmosphere, the oldschool looking menus, or the quest design that's somewhat better than 'kill everything in InsertName dungeon' from NWN2. Or maybe I'm just too tired of DnD system.

I had the same experience. It's weird. The game components look obviously mediocre, but I kept playing, nevertheless. Always when I got to the point where it became absolutely boring, there was some twist, a nice change of location, some puzzle, an interesting quest, and I went on.

I made walking faster, though, and I got rid of the plant and animal part harevesting animations, which made these parts of the game much more bearable.

Oh, the end sequence sucks. But that's the case for many games. I still haven't finished NWN2, although I want to play MotB one day.

 

[Claw]

"Force you to sit there and hold the W button or alternatively click a location slightly in front of you time and again" just doesn't roll as well.

They should have sent a poet. Or rather it shouldn't have been a concern.

And again, I did not use WASD alone. Of the two options, after extensive use, I found it the more comfortable one. That's not saying much.

Telling me does not matter. I didn't get the impression you made it very clear in the review, though.

Look, what exactly are you trying to say? If I had reviewed Morrowind or Gothic on GameBanshee, I can guarantee I would've talked of the needless walking, because I don't like it in any cRPG, it's lazy filler. "They're doing it too!" is the worst argument possible for a reviewer not to mention something.

You're right, I should've just swallowed it. I do find it very galling to - repeatedly - see games I like taking flak for flaws that I feel are so common they practically have to be considered a staple of the genre, especially when other games aren't taken to task for the same flaws.
Not your fault of course, but the bile is rising again. It tastes bitter.

But it would have bothered me less. (...) I'm personally more comfortable with clicking a location on a map and waiting.

If you say so. Whenever I read this paragraph in your review I can't help getting the impression that you'd find watching "your characters slowly crawl across the map" insufferable. Maybe I just got the wrong impression. Maybe you give the wrong impression. Hence my feeling that you're overstating the issue. The point seems to be much more how awfully, awfully slow the party moves and less that Drakensang is lacking a more "comfortable" option.

 

[Brother None]

They should have sent a poet. Or rather it shouldn't have been a concern.

Writing readably is a major concern, like it or not.

Telling me does not matter. I didn't get the impression you made it very clear in the review, though.

Fair enough.

I do find it very galling to - repeatedly - see games I like taking flak for flaws that I feel are so common they practically have to be considered a staple of the genre, especially when other games aren't taken to task for the same flaws.
Not your fault of course, but the bile is rising again. It tastes bitter.

Yes. I get that. In fact, I think it's easier for many reviewers to point at the shitty combat or limited narrative of Drakensang while ignoring such issues in BioWare games. To me, it is reminiscent of BioWare games, and that is both a criticism on Drakensang as on BioWare games.

Unequal treatment exists, tho', and it's annoying as heck.

Whenever I read this paragraph in your review I can't help getting the impression that you'd find watching "your characters slowly crawl across the map" insufferable. Maybe I just got the wrong impression. Maybe you give the wrong impression. Hence my feeling that you're overstating the issue. The point seems to be much more how awfully, awfully slow the party moves and less that Drakensang is lacking a more "comfortable" option.

The slow movement speed is a flaw. The lack of a perfectly natural movement option for 3rd person gameplay is also a flaw. One (slow movement) is worse than the other (lack of a pretty logical interface option), but they're both there.