Dragon Fantasy

PLOT: You as the hero are born bearing a birthmark that could mean that you are destined to become the saviour of the world, and hero of the crystals of light. However before such a destiny can be confirmed you must make your way through the maze that is the crystal cave, and prove that you are brave enough to take up your birth-right. What follows is a series of classic rpg conventions that many will recognise, but as the game progresses new and interesting plot twists begin the emerge that will keep you coming back for just that little extra play time. Fans of heavy-characterisation won't find much to get excited about here, but then that is not what this title is about.

GRAPHICS: Graphically 'Dragon Fantasy' is exactly what it sets out to be, recalling the very best and worst of the retro era. For some gamers this will be a fond walk down memory lane, whilst for others a torrid visual nightmare. Use of chipsets and dungeon designs is of a high quality indeed however, and for those who see past the simple trappings what awaits is a tightly crafted piece that uses every trick in the book to keep the visuals both interesting and retro at the same time.

SOUND: Be warned, this is not a game to play with others in the same room. Not unless you want a lengthy period of friends and family yelling at you to turn it off. Whilst the music is largely good quality old-school tunes that fit the mood perfectly, it is also repetative and fairly annoying for those who have to sit by and hear it from outside the experience.

OVERALL: This game appeals deeply to the retro player in all of us. It's witty, well crafted and a perfect example of how to use the RPG Maker 2000 engine to create an instant classic. It will hook you in and keep you coming back for more, but be warned that those with colourblindness or epilepsy may struggle at some points. Don't expect lightening fast gameplay or top of the range graphics/sound, but do expect a wealth of things to be doing and a challange for the casual gamer to overcome.

TOTAL: 4.5 Stars.