Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm

The Good
The game features some stunning visuals (easily matching PS2 and Gamecube - and it's on a Dreamcast!). The soundtrack is excellent, featuring some very atmospheric songs, and even voiceovers from not one but two Star Trek veterans - Dwight Schultz, who played the enigmatic Mr Barclay on the Next Generation and Voyager, and also George Takei who played the much-loved Sulu in the Trek films. The gameplay is great, featuring a fine balance between might and magic, in the form of weapons and spells. There are two characters, a female and male, who have their own strengths in fighting and spellcraft. There are no ridiculously-conceived plot-devices or puzzles, that are so rampant in many games of this genre. The simplicity of the game is what makes it so appealing. I have played it time and time again, and this is one of the very few games I don't tire from.

The Bad
There are a few minor niggles, like occasional slow-down when a lot of enemies come on screen, and a few small inconsistencies, but they really pale in significance to the enjoyment and fun you get out of smashing the medieval monsters to bits, and undertaking the etheric quests on each level. Once you have completed the game a few times, when you play it again, it is over oh-so-quickly - I only wish that a studio somewhere would expand on this type of game, or even create a sequel!

The Bottom Line
If Diablo and a true 3D perspective were put together, this is very likely what you would get. I love this game! Even though it has it's small faults, it's a superlatively atmospheric and graphically beautiful game. The developers were aiming for a (as said before) 3D-Diablo kind of game, and there was even going to be a multiplayer facility, thanks to the game being on Dreamcast. Unfortunately however, the release date of the Dreamcast was brought forward, and the dev team didn't have time to complete the multiplayer section. Still, the single player story is superb, and is a testament to the dedication of the dev team, who almost went bankrupt trying to get this game finished. If you like Diablo, Die by the Sword, Limb from Limb, Sword of the Berserker, Lost Kingdoms, or virtually any other medieval / fantasy fighting game, then you'll love this game! Myth, magic, atmosphere, realism are the keywords. If you have Dreamcast, or even if you don't - get this game, (and the Dreamcast if you have too) - I promise you, you won't be disappointed!