Dragon Force

Sega exclusive

Dragon Force is a real-time strategy RPG where players choose one of eight rulers to unite the continent of Legendra against a revived evil god. The game features large-scale battles with up to 100 soldiers per side, alongside army management and character development. It’s known for its fast-paced gameplay, multiple storylines, and high replay value.

Released: 29 March 1996
Platforms: Sega Saturn
Genres: Ninja Real-time strategy Real-time tactics Role-playing Strategy Tactical
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Series: Dragon Force
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric Side view
Themes: Fantasy Warfare
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E
Entry: #1 in Dragon Force
Composers: Tatsuyuki Maeda

About

Dragon Force is a real-time strategy and role-playing video game developed by J-Force and Sega and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It was translated for North American release by Working Designs in 1996, a translation that was also used by Sega in Europe under license from Working Designs. The game's main selling point was that battles involve up to 200 soldiers fighting on screen in real time, causing them to be often likened to the battle scenes in the then-recent film Braveheart.

Upon its release, critics resoundingly praised Dragon Force for its melding of the war simulation and story-driven RPG genres, and it remains one of the Saturn's most highly regarded games. A sequel, later translated by fans, was released for the Saturn in Japan in 1998. The first game was enhanced and released for the PlayStation 2 as part of the Sega Ages series. This version was re-released for the PlayStation 3 as a PS2 Classic in July 2012 in Japan.

Keywords

management
multiple storylines

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of one of eight rulers vying for control of Legendra. Each ruler has a set of generals under their command, and each general commands an army of up to 100 soldiers. Armies travel between towns and castles via fixed routes on an overhead scrolling map, much like the earlier Saturn game Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire. When armies of different nations meet, they engage in battle.

Although both the world map and battles unfold in real time, the game pauses when the player opens a menu.

Story

Dragon Force is set in the world Legendra, which lived in an era of prosperity under the watch of the benevolent goddess Astea, until it came under siege by the evil god Madruk and his armies. The Star dragon Harsgalt and his chosen warriors, the Dragon Force, come to stop him. Personal disputes among the Dragon Force led to their downfall and left Harsgalt to face Madruk in a fight to death. Harsgalt, unable to kill Madruk, sealed him away until eight new chosen warriors could rise to permanently defeat him.

300 years later, the seal imprisoning Madruk has weakened and two of his Dark Apostles, Scythe and Gaul, have begun working towards his release. To ensure none will stop their master, the two of them manipulate the eight nations of Legendra into warring among themselves. Eventually, one of the monarchs successfully ends the war, though the events of how it occurs vary depending on the monarch. Regardless, the monarchs discover that they are the eight members of the Dragon Force, and that the only way they can kill Madruk is by obtaining the Dragon Power left by Harsgalt.

Reception

Dragon Force received critical acclaim, with reviews lauding the game's balance of war simulation with RPG elements and the visual spectacle of the battle sequences. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it their "Game of the Month" award, commenting particularly on the game's addictive quality. Crispin Boyer opined: "DF is about as good as a strategy game can get. It has a sprawling world, epic story line, a cast of thousands and the most awe-inspiring battles ever seen in a video game."

Scary Larry of GamePro criticized the graphics, but found their shortcomings hardly noticeable against the humor of the English localization and the intense strategy of the battles. Reiner of Game Informer commented that the unpredictability of the competing nations demands quicker thinking and reflexes than is required in most strategy games.