Dragon Force

Review by: Trevor Ryder

The latest translation from Working Designs for the Sega Saturn is simply FANTASTIC!

Dragon Force is not your typical RPG, and bares more resemblance to a fantasy Strategy game than your usual Final Fantasy style RPG, but don't let that turn you off.

DF combines some of the best elementals of FF style RPGs, and the excellent PC strategy game Warcraft. You command generals which gain in experience, learn new spells, and increase their hand to hand fighting skills, while at the same time controlling a small army, restricted by a number of different formations and battle strategies which you can alter during battle. This results in an excellent combination, much more interesting and involved than FF battles, and battles which last shorter than your average strategy game.

The anime style graphics are excellent, with tons of different generals and troops to look at. An interesting plot line exists with a number of different "frame by frame" movies to help keep the story moving along. The sound is good, what there is of it. I was hoping for a lot more voice's, instead you spend a lot of time reading text and not listening to it. A minor gripe, but it would have been nice.

The battles at times can grow tedious, but you will still find yourself coming back for more. The only minor problem I have with this is, if you are storming an enemy castle, you can take a defensive posture. This doesn't make much sense when you are attacking someone, but fortunately it doesn't detract from the gameplay too much.

Overall, the game is not difficult to play. The average gamer can get right into it without even cracking the manual, even though you probably should. The hardest part is remembering if you have enough generals at your "front-line" castles, and making sure they have a full compliment of troops.

The manual and box art is excellent. I haven't been WOW'd by a game's packaging since I bought the original Legend of Zelda many many years ago. The manual is all high-gloss paper and in color. Even the CD itself is covered with beautiful artwork. Definitely top-notch.

I can not even count the number of HOURS I have put into this game, and every time I stop, I have to force myself to put the controller down. If you like FF, or Warcraft, or any sort of RPG type game, get this! Working Designs has brought us a winner, and this is a title any Saturn owner should add to his collection.

Rating : ***** (5 star)