Drakan: Order of the Flame
Encyclopedia
Drakan: Order of the Flame is an action-adventure
computer game developed by Surreal Software
and published by Psygnosis in 1999
. The game follows Rynn, a young woman with extraordinary martial skills, and an ancient dragon
Arokh on their quest
to free Rynn's younger brother from the evil sorcerer
Navaros. The gameplay alternates between dungeon exploration and monster fighting
when Rynn is alone and aerial dogfight
s when she mounts Arokh. A sequel, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
, was released in 2002.
of Drakan primarily consists of exploring vast locations and battling enemies. The player navigates Rynn from third-person perspective
using the keyboard and mouse
. On open-air locations, Arokh follows Rynn either by flying or by walking if he can land nearby. In the latter case, he also allows Rynn to mount him at any time whereupon the control switches to him. When navigating Arokh the player cannot use any of Rynn's items but has a variety of ranged weapons the dragon acquires throughout the game, starting with his innate fire breathing
. When in the air, Rynn and Arokh are superior to any non-aerial enemy but to defeat flying monsters, the player must maneuver and aim precisely. Dismounting is only possible when landed.
The large open-air locations contain entrances to smaller dungeons, which Arokh usually cannot enter because of his size, so Rynn has to explore them alone. When controlling Rynn, the player can equip her with sword
s, dagger
s, maces, battle axe
s, bows
, and armour
that she picks up throughout the game. The inventory is limited in size and most weapons wear down when used and cannot be repaired. In addition to normal weapons, there are magical ones as well as potion
s, bow arrow
s, and quest-related items. There are no shield
s or dual wielding in the game. No special in-game skills are required for Rynn to equip any weapon or armour she picks up and the player can use acrobatics to gain tactical advantage in combat. The game was rated "Mature" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board
for "animated violence, blood, and gore" because of its realistic depiction of dismemberment
, decapitation
, and gibbing
of the enemies.
When not in combat, the player has to solve puzzle
s to progress the story or complete side-quests to obtain special artifacts like unique armour and weapons.
-like creatures serving Navaros. Rynn is injured and left for dead and Delon is kidnapped. She survives, however, and returns to the village to find it burned down by Navaros' minions. A mortally wounded village elder instructs her to seek out the dragon Arokh and resurrect the legendary Order of the Flame, an ancient organization of dragon-riding knight
s who battled evil and disappeared after it has seemingly been defeated. Rynn finds Arokh in an ancient cave and uses the crystal of Arokh's former rider Heron to awaken him from his statue-like
sleep. Reluctantly, Arokh agrees to merge their existences into one through a magical ritual called the Bond. Gameplay-wise, the Bond allows Rynn to mount Arokh and makes them share their hit points so that when one of them is killed, the other dies, too.
Rynn and Arokh journey across the world of Drakan
, solving various challenges, and after countless battles, discover that the minions of Navaros plan to use Delon's body as a host for the evil sorcerer's resurrection
. Rynn has to fight the possessed Delon and wins but Navaros leaves his body and escapes. The final boss
of the game is Navaros' Four-headed dragon Kaeros whom Rynn and Arokh must fight together. The game ends with a cliffhanger
, showing Delon falling into the abyss and Rynn and Arokh following him.
Rynn and Arokh's consequent adventures are described in the sequel, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
, released in 2002 exclusively for PlayStation 2
.
gave Drakan: Order of the Flame an average score of 82%.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
computer game developed by Surreal Software
Surreal Software
Surreal Software is a video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington, USA, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Surreal Software, best known for The Suffering and Drakan series, employed over 130 designers, artists and programmers. Surreal was acquired by Warner Bros....
and published by Psygnosis in 1999
1999 in video gaming
-Events:*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards*March – Game Over republished as “Game Over: Press Start to Continue”...
. The game follows Rynn, a young woman with extraordinary martial skills, and an ancient dragon
Dragon
A 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...
Arokh on their 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...
to free Rynn's younger brother from the evil sorcerer
Wizard (character class)
The Wizard is a type of magical character class in certain role-playing games and computer role-playing games. Wizards are considered to be spellcasters who wield powerful spells, but are often physically weak as a trade-off. Wizards are commonly confused with similar offensive spellcasting...
Navaros. The gameplay alternates between dungeon exploration and monster fighting
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...
when Rynn is alone and aerial dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
s when she mounts Arokh. A sequel, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
Drakan: The Ancients' Gates is an action-adventure PlayStation 2 game with RPG elements by Surreal Software. It is the sequel to the 1999 PC game Drakan: Order of the Flame....
, was released in 2002.
Gameplay
The gameplayGameplay
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...
of Drakan primarily consists of exploring vast locations and battling enemies. The player navigates Rynn from third-person perspective
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
using the keyboard and mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
. On open-air locations, Arokh follows Rynn either by flying or by walking if he can land nearby. In the latter case, he also allows Rynn to mount him at any time whereupon the control switches to him. When navigating Arokh the player cannot use any of Rynn's items but has a variety of ranged weapons the dragon acquires throughout the game, starting with his innate fire breathing
Fire breathing
Fire breathing is the act of creating a fireball by breathing a fine mist of fuel over an open flame. Proper technique and the correct fuel create the illusion of danger to enhance the novelty of fire breathing, while reducing the risk to health and safety...
. When in the air, Rynn and Arokh are superior to any non-aerial enemy but to defeat flying monsters, the player must maneuver and aim precisely. Dismounting is only possible when landed.
The large open-air locations contain entrances to smaller dungeons, which Arokh usually cannot enter because of his size, so Rynn has to explore them alone. When controlling Rynn, the player can equip her with sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
s, dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
s, maces, battle axe
Battle axe
A battle axe is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes...
s, bows
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
, and armour
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
that she picks up throughout the game. The inventory is limited in size and most weapons wear down when used and cannot be repaired. In addition to normal weapons, there are magical ones as well as potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
s, bow arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
s, and quest-related items. There are no shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
s or dual wielding in the game. No special in-game skills are required for Rynn to equip any weapon or armour she picks up and the player can use acrobatics to gain tactical advantage in combat. The game was rated "Mature" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board
Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...
for "animated violence, blood, and gore" because of its realistic depiction of dismemberment
Dismemberment
Dismemberment is the act of cutting, tearing, pulling, wrenching or otherwise removing, the limbs of a living thing. It may be practiced upon human beings as a form of capital punishment, as a result of a traumatic accident, or in connection with murder, suicide, or cannibalism...
, decapitation
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
, and gibbing
Gibs
Gibs, short for giblets, is a humorous term referring to the variably-sized body parts , fragments, and offal produced when non-player characters or game players are damaged or killed in computer games. Adrian Carmack has been credited for coining the term "gibs"...
of the enemies.
When not in combat, the player has to solve puzzle
Puzzle
A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution...
s to progress the story or complete side-quests to obtain special artifacts like unique armour and weapons.
Plot
The story begins with Rynn and her brother Delon caught in a surprise attack by a pack of wartoks, OrcOrc
An orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien....
-like creatures serving Navaros. Rynn is injured and left for dead and Delon is kidnapped. She survives, however, and returns to the village to find it burned down by Navaros' minions. A mortally wounded village elder instructs her to seek out the dragon Arokh and resurrect the legendary Order of the Flame, an ancient organization of dragon-riding knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s who battled evil and disappeared after it has seemingly been defeated. Rynn finds Arokh in an ancient cave and uses the crystal of Arokh's former rider Heron to awaken him from his statue-like
Petrifaction
In geology, petrifaction, petrification or silicification is the process by which organic material is converted into stone by impregnation with silica. It is a rare form of fossilization...
sleep. Reluctantly, Arokh agrees to merge their existences into one through a magical ritual called the Bond. Gameplay-wise, the Bond allows Rynn to mount Arokh and makes them share their hit points so that when one of them is killed, the other dies, too.
Rynn and Arokh journey across the world of Drakan
Drakan
Drakan is an action-adventure video game series developed by Surreal Software and set in a high fantasy world simply referred as Drakan by gamers...
, solving various challenges, and after countless battles, discover that the minions of Navaros plan to use Delon's body as a host for the evil sorcerer's resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
. Rynn has to fight the possessed Delon and wins but Navaros leaves his body and escapes. The final 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...
of the game is Navaros' Four-headed dragon Kaeros whom Rynn and Arokh must fight together. The game ends with a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
, showing Delon falling into the abyss and Rynn and Arokh following him.
Rynn and Arokh's consequent adventures are described in the sequel, Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
Drakan: The Ancients' Gates
Drakan: The Ancients' Gates is an action-adventure PlayStation 2 game with RPG elements by Surreal Software. It is the sequel to the 1999 PC game Drakan: Order of the Flame....
, released in 2002 exclusively for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
Characters
- Rynn is an attractive young woman capable of wielding all kinds of mêléeMêlée weaponA melee weapon is any weapon that does not involve a projectile — that is, both the user and target of the weapon are in contact with it simultaneously in normal use...
and ranged weaponRanged weaponA ranged weapon is any weapon that can harm targets at distances greater than hand-to-hand distance. In contrast, a weapon intended to be used in man-to-man combat is called a melee weapon....
ry. She is athletic, obstinate and impetuous. At the beginning of the game, Rynn lives with her younger brother Delon in a small village near Arokh's resting place. Tracking her brother's kidnappers, Rynn finds Arokh and performs the Bond ritual with him. Rynn's appearance is based on a real model from San Francisco whose name has never been officially disclosed. However, at least one source claims that it was Myrna Blankenstein, who also appeared on promotional posters of Drakan. Rynn is voiced by Lani MinellaLani MinellaLani Minella is a voice actress who has voiced in over 500 computer and video games as well as several TV and anime series. She is best known for voicing Nancy Drew, Millie Strathorn, Loulou the Parrot and Freddie in the Nancy Drew computer games, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur video game...
. - Arokh is a living legend, a dragon who defeated Navaros centuries ago and retired to eternal sleep after his human companion, Heron, died. When Rynn first meets him, he is impressed by her courage and agrees to help her on her journey. Throughout the game, he becomes Rynn's most powerful weapon and a true friend. He may appear intimidating and cynical at first but is noble and good-hearted inside. Arokh is voiced by Jeff McNeal.
Reception
Based on 30 reviews, Game RankingsGame Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
gave Drakan: Order of the Flame an average score of 82%.
External links
- Official website (Surreal SoftwareSurreal SoftwareSurreal Software is a video game developer based in Kirkland, Washington, USA, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Surreal Software, best known for The Suffering and Drakan series, employed over 130 designers, artists and programmers. Surreal was acquired by Warner Bros....
) - Planet Drakan
- Arokh's Lair