Drag-On Dragoon (or Drakengard in the United States) is a Sony PlayStation 2 real-time strategy game published in Japan by Square Enix on September 11, 2003 and in North America on March 5, 2004. It was published in Europe by Take Two Interactive. The U.S. name is sometimes spelled "Drakenguard." It was originally developed in the Enix name. Unlike most other RTS games, the fighting takes place both on the ground and in the air. A sequel is in work.

The game's protagonists are Caim and his best friend Inuart, and their companions. The plot revolves around a war between The Union and The Empire. Every playable character makes a pact with a powerful beast, and pays a price for joining the pact. The parents of Caim and his sister Furiae were killed by a black dragon sent by the Empire. Caim did not only lose his Kingdom to The Empire, but, in order to join the pact with a red dragon(Angelus), he also gave up his voice. He now has a pact emblem located on his tongue. Inuart's price of joining the pact, with a black dragon, was the loss of his ability to sing, and an emblem appeared on his neck. Leonard's pact price, with a faerie, was that he became blind, with an emblem on his eyes. The price for Arioch's pact with Undine and Salamander was that she suffered pact sterilization, losing her ability to bear children in order to join the pact. Her pact emblem was located on her abdomen. Seere, a young boy, exchanged his ability to grow older for a golem's strength. His emblem covers his body. Verdelet, an old man, exchanged his ability to grow a head of hair for the pact with the Petrified Dragon. His pact emblem is located atop his skull.

The Empire is led by Seere's twin sister Mannah, who is possesed by a mysterious enity.

Drakengard was scored by Nobuyoshi Sano .

Drakengard 2 has been announced to be released in 2005. It will take place 18 years after the events of the original Drakengard. Caim will not be the protagonist in that game.

External Links

• GameTab reviews