I don’t like RTS games or most strategy games in general except maybe Risk. I tried to get into the Total War series and I just hate all strategy games, period. So, for me to get impressed by a strategy game, it takes a whole lot.
The only reason I decided to give Dragon Commander a look was I saw a trailer for it online and I thought “3rd person dragon battles in a top down RTS game?” Interesting. Well, I was right. It is a total blast!
Another aspect that caught my attention was there is a dialogue and story aspect to this game like no other I have seen! Strategy games are not known for adventure or role playing or story, but this game manages blend a bit of those elements into it, that I found to be such fun! Thank’s to this motley crew of advisors you meet.
This bunch are quite useful and absolutely hilarious! Get ready to solve some political dilemas and arguments between them too. Sometimes some very senseless and stupid, but funny ones too. Each has their own unique personalities and quirks and they clash, often.
After every successful or unsuccessful battle, it is a good idea to talk to them. If not for advice and strategy or quests, then just to ask their opinions of their collegues. You won’t be sorry! They are totally ruthless in their opinions of one another, but there is also great respect for each other’s talents.
As for actual gameplay, it plays like most other strategy games. Build fortifications, forces and weapons and attack enemy bases. The difference here is dragon assistance! When things get hot for your soldiers, you can intervene with your jet pack strapped dragon. That’s right, I said jet pack! Did I mention this game is unique?
That is the main reason this game caught my interest. There is nothing quite like speeding across the map to your army’s aid on a jet pack powered dragon and raining down fireballs onto the enemy. It’s crazy and fun.
This is one of the game’s greatest strengths (the jet pack dragon) but also happens to be, perhaps its greatest weakness too. Let me explain, because that sounds so contradicting. Some people might think that having the power to have a Dragon intervene in battle to assist troops as a cop out. It would make the game too easy.
While this is quite true. That it does skew the battlefield heavily in your favor and might make the game too easy and get boring after a while, there is a balance to this system which I will now explain. Your enemies have things to combat flying menaces like you. Surface to air defenses that can make your little “I’ll swoop in and show them” endeavour, a really short and unsuccessful one.
Once your dragon is out of health, he disappears and you are forced into a timed cool down period. So it’s back to relying on your strategy skills and troops. Add to that, the fact that your are not the only one able to call a dragon to your aid. The enemy can too.
Granted, it is quite easy in the beginning to just call your dragon to win a battle and just lay waste to their base too. This is not the case further into the game. As you progress you will find it is just as challenging as any other RTS game out there. Mainly because strategy exists not only on the ground, but on the battle map as well. Kind of like Risk.
This pic of the map is actually not the best representation of the map later in the game, but this is how you start. During the campaign it becomes not just red and blue (you), but yellow and green as well. Enemies soon surround you and you have battles going on on all fronts and will have to use strategy just to stay alive. Smart movements on this map can make or break you!
Upgrades, research and advice from your advisors will help. Use everything you have at your disposal because after the first few sweep easy wins, the game amps up the battle and you will need to use your wits. Having a powerful Dragon at you beck and call is not convenient as it sounds, but it sure makes this the most fun I have ever had playing a strategy game. You can even get married!
If you want true originality in an RTS game. This is it! They broke all the rules and created something really special in this genre. A genre that certainly needs new life breathed into it, as it is a largely ignored genre for innovation. Same old, same old and that is why I hate strategy games for the most part. This is certainly the most entertaining one I have ever played. Bar none!
Published: Jan 28, 2015 12:48 pm