After playing the Dinosaur game made by the same people, I wasn't expecting this game to be this good!
I played the Dinosaur game first, since it was made by the same people and was a very short game. I was disappointed in the Dino game as it lacked and real combat during the combat play... And in a game made for combat between dinosaurs, it was boring after the first couple levels.
Controlling the Dragon is a cinch, as you ONLY use the Stylus during all game play. No A B X Y or + are used during any part of the game.
The Dragon game surprised me in how different the battle system is compared to the primitive Dino game. In Dragons, you walk or fly your dragon that you customize around small levels at a time, battling "EVIL" dragons when they pop up. Unlike the Dino game, you actually control the battling during the fights. No more turn based crud.
During battles, your and your single opponent face off, and you use the stylus to move your dragon around your own circle with 6 different sections. Each section represent a part of you dragon you attack your opponent with. Depending on the attack power your have for that body part, it affects you total attack strength. Why you move around positioning yourself, your opponent is also moving and getting ready to attack in real time.
During combat you can also block with your wings, or slide from side to side when you are attacked. But if you don't time it right, you get hit.
The combat is pretty lame at first, super easy for the fist few levels, but after a couple hours, your opponents actually get smart, and start dodging and attacking with progressively better moves.
The levels are small, and the way you scurry around to unlock things is pretty lame. But the combat system is addictive and the customization of your dragon is impressive for a hand held.
Your dragon is one of 4 Element Types
Ice - Has Healing Abilities During Combat.
Fire - Powerful Attacks Boosted During Combat.
Earth - Poisons Opponents During Combat.
Wind - Regenerative Abilities During Combat.
I think Nick's Avatar Cartoon may have been a inspiration, what you think?
Anyways, each elemental dragon has different shaped body parts and different color's you choose for them. The more you play you unlock alternative body parts. Their are also different Stripe patters for you dragons back and wings you unlock the more you play.
Head, Wings, Tail, all 4 different elemental dragons have at least 3 different shapes/styles per dragon of these parts. They your have your body's core (Arms, Legs, Chest, Neck) that are standard. But besides changing the style after unlocking each body part alternative, each one you can choose the size. How buff are you arms and chest going to be, how thick your tail, and how large your wings are compared to you body. All this makes customizing you dragon pretty cool and addictive in it's own.
My only gripe with the customization is their is not a lot of different colors per species, but the colors choices do work well for setting tones and stripes to make it look pretty cool. Al;so, when flying around your dragon is awesome, the way it fly's and hovers is very realistic if you can call a mythological creature realistic. But during battles, whey you get a up close view of your dragon, it's a bit crude in angels. But I guess they had to do something to allow so much customization.
As you play more, your dragons get more spikes on their head, wings, and tails that are used in combat. It looks pretty cool on the Ice Dragons, but don't work so well on the Fire Dragons as they are all a deep red color, and choosing a different color red for the wings or lower body clash with the other colors. The Earth and Wind Dragons are alright with their spikes and coloring.
I was surprise however, after beating all 12 levels per elemental dragon, you choose a new element, and start the saga over again... But what I wasn't expecting was the fact the game is still progressing and the levels are larger with harder combat. I figured that each elemental dragon would do the same levels over again like the Dino Game did after you beat it with one type of dragon. So that was a nice touch that makes the game more playable after a few hours.
I would recommend this game if you like dragons *DUH* - If you like being able to customize you character - And if you like a bit of strategy in what is basically a one on one limited 3D fighting game.
I would not recommend this game if you like Asian Dragons *Sorry, no whiskered and wingless dragons here* - If you like complicated levels as these levels are very Step by Step complete with instructions - And if you like more intense hard core fighting, as the fighting in this game is slow paced and more line up strategy then button mashing and dodging.
Peace my Fellow Dragon Fans!