
I had to diligently explore and open treasure chests during adventures to guarantee that I was well stocked with a steady supply of stuff, and I enjoyed outfitting my Amazon with the best gear for my kamikaze playstyle. As an Amazon, I was always selecting magical and ranged companions, sometimes adding one more heavy melee character to round out my damage-dealing capabilities. The resurrection mechanic is a godsend for players going it alone, and the game makes it easy to select characters that complement the skills of your own chosen fighter. In between battles, you can choose to continue on to the next stage, or hang out in town, where you can buy and sell new gear, "resurrect" bones of the dead that you collect in combat - and subsequently select them as your AI buddies - and learn rune magic. These fights were routinely my favorite part of the game, adding welcome challenge and more variety to the mix. Facing off against the Minotaur, for instance, requires perfect timing around his charge attack, while the epic battle with the red dragon is part platforming challenge, part beatdown. These are the most strategic and interesting parts of the game. The monster diversity helped to counteract the combat's mechanical simplicity, which is especially well realized in Dragon's Crown's boss fights.īoss fights were routinely my favorite part of the gameĮach stage has a resident big bad, eventually offering two to choose from. Flying demons call for well-timed jump attacks, for example, while lumbering undead need to be beaten into a pulp at close range then avoided as they explode into green goo. It's not just a game of numbers either every enemy type requires a unique approach. Some levels have you facing off against hordes of undead, while others feature demons, orcs or, you know, possessed tiger-dog … things. There are dozens of different beasts, mythological creatures and medieval jerks to beat up, all in their own themed stages. While you can block and parry, it's more effective to mash the attack button and dodge only as needed.ĭragon's Crown's combat system is bolstered by its enemy variety. Dragon's Crown rewards bombastic moves and has little patience for subtlety. I sometimes lost track of my own character amid the chaos, but this isn't really a problem. Levels are set on a 2D plane, often filled with enough enemies to completely cover the screen. Dragon's Crown is at its best when running with a party of different classes that can support each other via drop-in co-op, though you have the option to go solo or with AI partners as well. The selection is well balanced for a variety of playstyles, with a nice mix of slower, heavier melee fighters, ranged attackers and magic specialists. At the adventure's outset, you pick from six available characters: the Amazon, Fighter, Sorceress, Elf, Dwarf or Wizard.
