Dragon Force
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| Dragon Force | |
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| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Working Designs |
| Platform(s) | Saturn, PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Real-time strategy, Real-time tactics |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Kids to Adults (K-A) |
Dragon Force is a real-time strategy and tactics video game from Sega created for the Sega Saturn. It was created in Japan and translated for U.S. release by Working Designs in 1996. A sequel, never translated, was released for the Saturn in Japan in 1998. The first title was re-released for the PlayStation 2 as part of the Sega Ages series.
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[edit] Gameplay
The player assumes the role of one of the eight continent's rulers and sets out to, depending on the ruler, unite the continent, bring peace to the land, and put a stop to the great evil that wants to destroy the land. Each of the eight rulers move along predetermined paths between towns and castles, with castles being the primary objective of the game. When two armies meet, or an army approaches an enemy castle, the focus then switches to that battle.
Gameplay is generally divided into two categories; the strategic "world map" view, and the tactics-oriented battle. On the world map, the player organizes and moves his forces in real time, although the game pauses when the player enters a menu. Armies may only move along predetermined paths between towns and castles, with castles being the primary objective of the game. When two armies meet, or an army approaches an enemy castle, the focus then switches to that battle.
At the outset of the battle, each side chooses a general and corresponding company of troops to command. The battle is then fought in real-time, again pausing the action when the player goes into a menu to select commands or use the generals' special attacks or spells. Battles end when one general runs out of hitpoints or retreats; if both generals' armies are depleted, both generals have the option of dueling or retreating. Generals who run out of hitpoints are, depending on the general, captured, injured, or (rarely) killed in action. If the player's ruler is defeated in this manner, the player loses the game and must restart from the last save. Once the battle is finished, the process repeats until one army's generals have all been defeated.
Every in-game "week" (a fixed amount of time on the world map), the player attends to administrative duties. During this time, players may give awards to generals (increasing the number of troops they can command or items that increase their capabilities), persuade captive enemy generals to join the player's army, search for items or recruit generals in the ruler's territory, fortify castles, and save the game. Plot-advancing cutscenes frequently take place at the end of the week.
Dragon Force is on many gamers' must-have list for the Sega Saturn. It was awarded '1996 game of the year' and the Gold Medal Editor's Choice award. The game was released with 4 different disc art variants to increase value among collectors.
[edit] Playable Kingdoms
Within the game eight different storylines exist, one for each Monarch. The campaigns for Goldark and Reinhart can only be accessed after the game has been completed as they contain spoilers from the outset. The table below shows the names of the eight Kingdoms and their Monarchs in addition to the troop types associated with them.
| Kingdom | Monarch | Predominant troop type |
|---|---|---|
| Highland | Wein | Soldier |
| Palemoon | Teiris | Archer |
| Tristan | Junon | Harpy |
| Topaz | Leon | Monk |
| Tradnor | Reinhart | Mage |
| Bozak | Gongos | Beastmen |
| Izumu | Mikhal | Samurai |
| Fandaria | Goldark | Cavalry |
In addition to these eight troop types there are also Zombies and Dragons which can be acquired using special items in the game.
[edit] Release
For a couple of years after the release of the game, it became extremely sought after due to a low production rate, and the very good reviews given by most critics. Ranking on the level of other Saturn RPGs, it is often considered one of the top reasons to own a Saturn, winning Electronic Gaming Monthly's Game of the Month award as well as their Saturn Game of the Year award for 1996. EGM later would rank the game as #111 on their The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time[1].
