Drakensang: The Dark Eye PC

Drakensang: The Dark Eye for PC is an RPG based on the most popular table-top fantasy RPG system in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The developers intended to create a game similar to genre classics by putting strong emphasis on story, team work and on combat system that isn’t all about pressing random buttons as fast as possible. The developers call their work a “Baldur’s Gate in a 3D world”.

Plot

Drakensang: The Dark Eye for PC takes place on a continent called Aventuria that was based on the late medieval or early renaissance Europe. As in every quality RPG world, the area contains varied territories and countries, including cold North inhabited by game’s equivalent of Vikings; empire Kun Kau Peh that is similar to our Far East; Khom that is filled with deserts; and the mysterious, magical islands. During the adventure the player will not only thoroughly explore the center of the continent called Middenrealm, but he will visit more exotic areas as well. The story is very developed – it was created by six men who worked on it for six months. They created a plot that fills more than one thousand pages of the script.

During the journey the player will encounter various characters that are typical for fantasy genre: Elves that live in harmony with the nature and are magic users; impulsive, axe-equipped Dwarves; wild and brutal Orcs; dark sorcerers; honorable knights; strong warriors; clever rogues etc. The title offers some more exotic characters as well: female warriors who are followers of Rondra, God of War; Amazonians; Thorwalens, the hard people of the north who call god Swafnir in their time of need.

Mechanics

The player can use many of the above-mentioned races and classes when creating his character in Drakensang: The Dark Eye for PC. The character creation is almost exactly the same as in the paper version of the RPG. This means that the character has many traits and parameters that impact its interactions with the surrounding. To make things easier, the developers removed some details that the players would have to determine. During the adventure the player will encounter various characters that can join them. The protagonist can have up to three permanent companions. It is also possible to have temporary allies (for example for the duration of a specific quest). There can’t be more than two of them accompanying the player.

Aventuria is inhabited by a few dozen of types of hostile monsters. Because of that, combat is probably the most important aspect of the game. The developers intended to create a system in which traits, skills and weapons of the party are crucial for victory. The battles are played in real time, but it is possible to pause the game at any time and decide further steps. The system is very similar to the one used in Baldur’s Gate.

The second important aspect of the game is interactions and dialogues with the citizens of Aventuria. Drakensang: The Dark Eye for PC offers dynamical and quite developed dialogues. Success of conversation is strongly dependant on the race and skills of a character. For example, a noble Elf has greater chance to convince guards to open a gate than a surly Dwarf. However, when the player must convince a leader of bandits, then the Dwarf will be more effective.

Last updated on 28 November 2008