Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm
Encyclopedia
Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm is a hack and slash
game developed by Treyarch
and published by Crave Entertainment
for Dreamcast game console. Draconus, or Dragon Blood as it was named in Europe, is considered as a spiritual sequel to Treyarch's swordfighting PC game Die by the Sword
.
.
Cynric and female sorceress
Aeowin.
Cynric is proficient with wide range of melee weapons and has tough defense, but lacks in magic
. On the other side, Aeowin is skilled magic user, but uses sword and shield only as a last resort.
Although each class
provides unique gameplay, character choice doesn't affect the storyline.
with a few innovations. Since the defense is more important part of the gameplay
than the attack, developers changed usual behavior of constant blocking, and changed that block is neutralized after successful enemy hit. This way player has to pay more attention to their character and their blocking, and overall, makes fights more interesting.
Both characters can use magic, though the sorceress possesses a natural advantage in this area. Like in many RPG
games, warrior
is easier to play early on, while the sorceress proves its usefulness in later stages
of the game. The warrior, also, lacks healing spells
, which makes the ending of the game quite difficult.
After every stage the player is taken to the character upgrade
screen, where earned points can be spent on new abilities. Character is awarded fix number of points regardless of enemies killed and side quest
s solved, but additional points can be obtained by finding hidden blessings.
world. World is divided into fifteen separate stages
, and each level takes around one hour
to complete. Accession through the stages is linear, although player is presented with a choice
, in certain moments, which of two next levels will he complete first. This choice doesn't affect the storyline in any way, but can be refreshing in next playthrough
s.
Some of the stages are protected by the boss
.
awarded it 82%, while it scored only 67% on IGN
. Its average score on GameRankings is 74%.
Hack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
game developed by Treyarch
Treyarch
Treyarch is an American video game developer company, founded in 1996 by Peter Akemann and Doğan Köslü , and acquired by Activision in 2001...
and published by Crave Entertainment
Crave Entertainment
Crave Entertainment is an American video game company. It was founded in 1997 by Nima Taghavi. Its headquarters is in Newport Beach, California...
for Dreamcast game console. Draconus, or Dragon Blood as it was named in Europe, is considered as a spiritual sequel to Treyarch's swordfighting PC game Die by the Sword
Die by the Sword
Die by the Sword is a computer swordfighting game developed by Treyarch, and published by Tantrum Entertainment on February 28, 1998...
.
Story
A catastrophic event called the Backlash threw the world into chaos many years ago. Vile creatures roam throughout the lands, summoned by the evil shaman Rakka who is in pursuit of powerful ancient artifacts. Amidst this backdrop a new mystery reveals itself in the form of a new race, the Draconus. The player is presented with the task of uniting all races and defeating the forces of evilEvil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
.
Characters
Player can choose between two playable characters, male warriorWarrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
Cynric and female sorceress
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
Aeowin.
Cynric is proficient with wide range of melee weapons and has tough defense, but lacks in magic
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
. On the other side, Aeowin is skilled magic user, but uses sword and shield only as a last resort.
Although each class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
provides unique gameplay, character choice doesn't affect the storyline.
Gameplay
Draconus is a classic third person hack and slashHack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
with a few innovations. Since the defense is more important part of the gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
than the attack, developers changed usual behavior of constant blocking, and changed that block is neutralized after successful enemy hit. This way player has to pay more attention to their character and their blocking, and overall, makes fights more interesting.
Both characters can use magic, though the sorceress possesses a natural advantage in this area. Like in many RPG
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
games, warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
is easier to play early on, while the sorceress proves its usefulness in later stages
Level (computer and video games)
A level, map, area, or world in a video game is the total space available to the player during the course of completing a discrete objective...
of the game. The warrior, also, lacks healing spells
Healer (gaming)
A healer is a type of character class in video gaming. When a game includes a health game mechanic and multiple classes, often one of the classes will be designed around the restoration of allies' health, known as healing, in order to delay or prevent their defeat. Such a class can be referred to...
, which makes the ending of the game quite difficult.
After every stage the player is taken to the character upgrade
Upgrade
The term upgrade refers to the replacement of a product with a newer version of the same product. It is most often used in computing and consumer electronics, generally meaning a replacement of hardware, software or firmware with a newer or better version, in order to bring the system up to date...
screen, where earned points can be spent on new abilities. Character is awarded fix number of points regardless of enemies killed and side quest
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
s solved, but additional points can be obtained by finding hidden blessings.
World, stages and enemies
Draconus is set in a medieval fantasyMedieval fantasy
Medieval fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that encompasses medieval era high fantasy and sometimes simply represents fictitious versions of historic events. This subgenre is common among role-playing games, text-based roleplaying, and high-fantasy literature....
world. World is divided into fifteen separate stages
Level (computer and video games)
A level, map, area, or world in a video game is the total space available to the player during the course of completing a discrete objective...
, and each level takes around one hour
Hour
The hour is a unit of measurement of time. In modern usage, an hour comprises 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds...
to complete. Accession through the stages is linear, although player is presented with a choice
Choice
Choice consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them. While a choice can be made between imagined options , often a choice is made between real options, and followed by the corresponding action...
, in certain moments, which of two next levels will he complete first. This choice doesn't affect the storyline in any way, but can be refreshing in next playthrough
Playthrough
A Playthrough is when a person tries to complete an entire game while recording. It is related to a walkthrough....
s.
Some of the stages are protected by the boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
.
Stages
List of stages and bosses:- Stage 1 : Celenarin
- Stage 2 : The Lake
- Boss to fight: Alana
- Stage 3 : Castle of Lomyn
- Boss to fight: Superior MinotaurMinotaurIn Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
- Boss to fight: Superior Minotaur
- Stage 4 : Asengath
- Stage 5 : Zephyron
- Boss to fight: Rakka
- Stage 6 : Ryves' Abbaye
- Stage 7 : The Graveyard
- Stage 8 : Magu's tower
- Boss to fight: Gavrik
- Stage 9 : Falfar city
- Boss to fight: Mr. Big
- Stage 10 : Queen's nest
- Boss to fight: Insect queenInsect QueenInsect Queen refers to comic book characters from two different publishers* Insect Queen , refers to primary versions of this character...
- Boss to fight: Insect queen
- Stage 11 : Fort Herfet's mine
- Boss to fight: The Champion and efreets
- Stage 12 : The Cannon of Fort Herfet
- Boss to fight: Strong Pic Chief and dwarf
- Stage 13 : Zeson Observatory
- Stage 14 : Castle Draco
- Stage 15 : X'Calith's sanctuary
- Boss to fight: X'Calith
Enemies
World of Draconus is populated with various kinds of creatures, most of them are hostile towards the hero.- Elves: Allies in the battle against the evil.
- Krujens: HogDomestic pigThe domestic pig is a domesticated animal that traces its ancestry to the wild boar, and is considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species in its own right. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin...
-like bipodBipodA bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...
s. - Goblins: Skilled fighters, but with lack of HP.
- Minotaurs: Very tough Warriors.
- Skeletons: Hostile creatures and very hard to kill.
- Trolls: Powerful, but very stupid.
- Ogres: More powerful than Trolls, but slower.
- Spiders, Hybrids, Scorpions and Giant Lizards: Creatures that populate the swamp.
- Draconus: Mysterious race of dragonDragonA dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
men. - Hell hounds: Fiery, demonic dogs.
Reception
The game's critical response was mixed. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
awarded it 82%, while it scored only 67% on IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
. Its average score on GameRankings is 74%.
External links
- Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm on Gamerankings