Drakengard officially joins Square Enix U.S.A.'s 2004 lineup

January 14, 2004

Square Enix U.S.A released word regarding its first release of 2004, Drakengard, which is sure to please both RPG fans and alternate history fans alike. Magical beasts and mysteries set against the backdrop of a magical kingdom will team along your PlayStation 2 once the title is shipped March 2, 2004.

"Drakengard is not your ordinary action game," said Jun Iwasaki, president and CEO, Square Enix U.S.A. "The unique blend of RPG-style character growth, action, and a solid story that binds it all together makes this title a perfect hybrid of genres. This style of gameplay found in Drakengard is very addicting and appeals to gamers looking for a deeper action game."

Following the trials and tribulation of a Union soldier named Caim, Drakengard chronicles the story of the soldier’s quest to recover his sister from the captive bonds of “the Empire,” an armed force with power of unspeakably epic proportions. Joining souls with a dragon, Caim unravels the mystery behind the Empire’s sudden rise to power as he battles his way towards saving his sister. Ties between Caim’s sister, the Empire, so-called Mythical Seeds of Resurrection, and even potent gods are screaming to be unraveled by gamers this spring.

Diverse battlefields and experience/growth elements that branch out depending on player’s decisions will combine with fantasy and tragic drama to immerse players in the gameplay experience. Caim will bear himself across his world on the back of a dragon—“Aerial Combat” will allow Caim to attack airborne enemies and “Strafe Attack,” described as a means to incinerate a large mass of baddies in one fell swoop. Weapon selection and character ability will evolve as one advances through the game; Caim’s tale rife with tragedy is also pushed forward to its finale with CG movies and scripted event sequences. Supposedly, decisions made in-game will effect story elements such as the ending and the environments throughout.

Playable demos of the adventure will be available at EB and GameStop retailers at the end of January. The ESRB has given Drakengard an "M" rating for Mature. Both screenshots and information are available at the official website.

-Ramón V.

Related Pages: Official Drakengard web site

Back to News Home Page