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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: RPG Developer: Mistwalker Publisher: Microsoft |
Hironobu Sakaguchi is known for his work on “Final Fantasy,” but he is also known for bringing a new game to American gamers, only
this time it is coming for a Microsoft based console exclusively. Sakaguchi, along with a laundry list of other well known designers, have
worked to create a game that challenges “Final Fantasy,” but it looks like the wait will continue.
Though “Blue Dragon” isn’t a bad game, it doesn’t quite reach the expectations that were placed on it. The pacing and story line don’t
seem to work well with American players as many other RPG games have. The turn based combat system is interesting, but it isn’t
seem to work well with American players as many other RPG games have. The turn based combat system is interesting, but it isn’t
Players may recognize the character design from many of the other games that Toriyama has done and the turn based combat is the
same style of action players have seen for years. There is very little in the game that players will find to be new to the genre. The game
starts with Shu, Jiro and Kluke as children who quickly become gifted with a magical power. Along the way they are joined by a cat-like
creature and a rouge to do battle against a great evil, nothing new.
When players begin combat, their team lines up against a party of enemies and each side takes turns attacking with the help of magical
shadows. For those players who are fans of the RPG genre, “Blue Dragon” is a linear design and turn based combat system that will
often times feel repetitive and limited. Others may enjoy the laid back nature of the game, but in the end, the combat is exactly what is to
be expected in a game like this. It is what happens outside of the battle mode that makes this game interesting.
Players will notice that there is a skill system involved in the game. Each shadow can be assigned to one of nine different classes that
range from the traditional black and white magic to monk or fighter, each of which can be leveled up individually. As players progress
through the game, the number of classes expands, along with the skills that can be used. When players have enough skills unlocked,
players can mix and match the best parts of each class to boost the shadow’s effectiveness in battle.
Players will not encounter much that they haven’t seen before, but the class and skill system is fun and is a nice touch that will keep
players hooked to improving their characters. There are a couple of drawbacks of course. First, players can become much stronger
than their enemies that they will face throughout the game in on standard difficulty, with the exception of the end of the game. The other
is that it removes individuality between the members of the party. Though they all begin with different classes, it doesn’t take long
before players can make every character exactly the same. Even with these limitations, the skill system of the game is still strong
enough to keep the improvement of party members engaging and fun.
The amount of time that players invest in “Blue Dragon” before an actual payout can be seen is quite excessive. The presentation of
character development, skill acquisition and side quests that can be quite interesting is all found more towards the last third of the
game. For roughly the first ten to fifteen hours of “Blue Dragon” players will follow a linear story line with characters that players will
learn very little about and there will be very little for interesting actions and battles. Most gamers won’t make it past the first couple of
hours of the game. The pacing isn’t one that is likely to catch the casual gamer early on in the game and won’t resonate with most of
the American audience. For those that are five to ten hours into the game and are confused, it is to be expected.
The three discs may seem a bit excessive, but the discs are packed with more to do than has ever before been seen in a game like
this. In this open world RPG, players will have a lot more area to explore and items to discover. The multiple discs are necessary
because of the large amount of FMV sequences in the game. Players can expect to switch discs roughly every ten hours, which doesn’t
make it a nuisance, and the cut scenes are of such high quality, that many will see that switching discs is worthwhile. Even if the story
that goes along with the visual cut scenes isn’t very engaging, players will find themselves watching the vivid imagery very closely.
“Blue Dragon” isn’t the most original RPG game when it comes to design, but it is one of the most fun to look at. Many players will also
say that it isn’t a must have game for the Microsoft console. The pacing for the first half of the game is very slow, and only die hard RPG
gamers will be able to stick with the game, especially since the three discs imply a lot of fun, it only offers 50+ hours of often confusing
story. “Blue Dragon” will be a good RPG for someone desperate for an RPG, but it is by no means that best on the market.
this time it is coming for a Microsoft based console exclusively. Sakaguchi, along with a laundry list of other well known designers, have
worked to create a game that challenges “Final Fantasy,” but it looks like the wait will continue.
Though “Blue Dragon” isn’t a bad game, it doesn’t quite reach the expectations that were placed on it. The pacing and story line don’t
seem to work well with American players as many other RPG games have. The turn based combat system is interesting, but it isn’t
seem to work well with American players as many other RPG games have. The turn based combat system is interesting, but it isn’t
Players may recognize the character design from many of the other games that Toriyama has done and the turn based combat is the
same style of action players have seen for years. There is very little in the game that players will find to be new to the genre. The game
starts with Shu, Jiro and Kluke as children who quickly become gifted with a magical power. Along the way they are joined by a cat-like
creature and a rouge to do battle against a great evil, nothing new.
When players begin combat, their team lines up against a party of enemies and each side takes turns attacking with the help of magical
shadows. For those players who are fans of the RPG genre, “Blue Dragon” is a linear design and turn based combat system that will
often times feel repetitive and limited. Others may enjoy the laid back nature of the game, but in the end, the combat is exactly what is to
be expected in a game like this. It is what happens outside of the battle mode that makes this game interesting.
Players will notice that there is a skill system involved in the game. Each shadow can be assigned to one of nine different classes that
range from the traditional black and white magic to monk or fighter, each of which can be leveled up individually. As players progress
through the game, the number of classes expands, along with the skills that can be used. When players have enough skills unlocked,
players can mix and match the best parts of each class to boost the shadow’s effectiveness in battle.
Players will not encounter much that they haven’t seen before, but the class and skill system is fun and is a nice touch that will keep
players hooked to improving their characters. There are a couple of drawbacks of course. First, players can become much stronger
than their enemies that they will face throughout the game in on standard difficulty, with the exception of the end of the game. The other
is that it removes individuality between the members of the party. Though they all begin with different classes, it doesn’t take long
before players can make every character exactly the same. Even with these limitations, the skill system of the game is still strong
enough to keep the improvement of party members engaging and fun.
The amount of time that players invest in “Blue Dragon” before an actual payout can be seen is quite excessive. The presentation of
character development, skill acquisition and side quests that can be quite interesting is all found more towards the last third of the
game. For roughly the first ten to fifteen hours of “Blue Dragon” players will follow a linear story line with characters that players will
learn very little about and there will be very little for interesting actions and battles. Most gamers won’t make it past the first couple of
hours of the game. The pacing isn’t one that is likely to catch the casual gamer early on in the game and won’t resonate with most of
the American audience. For those that are five to ten hours into the game and are confused, it is to be expected.
The three discs may seem a bit excessive, but the discs are packed with more to do than has ever before been seen in a game like
this. In this open world RPG, players will have a lot more area to explore and items to discover. The multiple discs are necessary
because of the large amount of FMV sequences in the game. Players can expect to switch discs roughly every ten hours, which doesn’t
make it a nuisance, and the cut scenes are of such high quality, that many will see that switching discs is worthwhile. Even if the story
that goes along with the visual cut scenes isn’t very engaging, players will find themselves watching the vivid imagery very closely.
“Blue Dragon” isn’t the most original RPG game when it comes to design, but it is one of the most fun to look at. Many players will also
say that it isn’t a must have game for the Microsoft console. The pacing for the first half of the game is very slow, and only die hard RPG
gamers will be able to stick with the game, especially since the three discs imply a lot of fun, it only offers 50+ hours of often confusing
story. “Blue Dragon” will be a good RPG for someone desperate for an RPG, but it is by no means that best on the market.
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