Dragon Rage was first conceived as a game under the banner of the popular series Might and Magic. While it's no longer associated with this popular and expansive fantasy game series, the new name is perhaps truer to the game's concept. All the power and fury of a true dragon will be at your disposal, and revenge will soon be yours--along with the satisfaction of razing the landscape and annihilating your foes.

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The world in which the game takes place is one of standard fantasy, but with a few unique elements. The warlike orcs have become the most advanced and technologically capable civilization. They have found a method to extract zeenium, the substance that grants dragons their supernatural power, from the eggs of unborn dragons. Besides yielding a potent power source that the orcs can harness, the process also serves to rob dragons of their potential, allowing orcs to easily control and enslave the great winged creatures and use them as beasts of burden. One dragon, known as Cael, is injected with zeenium in a twist of fate and finds himself with the power to exact vengeance on his oppressors and unloose the shackles that bind his race. This is where you come in. Taking control of this mythical beast, you'll have access to a wide variety of aerial maneuvers and attacks. There is a high degree of aerial freedom, and flight techniques--such as loops and barrel rolls--will help maneuver you into attack position. The attacks themselves are divided into two categories: dragon attacks and rage attacks.

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The dragon attack category encompasses a wide variety of physical techniques. Ramming and tail-whipping techniques are direct and rely on your great strength to cause damage to structures and enemy units. More brutal means of combat include the ability to seize an enemy in your claws and send them falling to their death or satiating your appetite by devouring a hapless orc whole. Rage attacks are imbued with magical properties and will vary depending on what type of elemental gem you use. The standard four elements are all present (earth, wind, water, and fire), and each will grant a different breath weapon and arsenal of magic attacks. The fire gem, for example, lets you spew forth fireballs to ignite the landscape and unleash a spell that totally blankets your immediate surroundings in flame. Additionally, there are "dragon powers" that can be toggled on and off, like an increase in speed to aid your evasive techniques or toughened skin for a defensive boost. Each is accompanied by an appropriate graphical flourish. To add a dash of RPG-style character advancement, your dragon will acquire permanent boosts to its elemental powers by finding and liberating sprites that have been imprisoned by the orcs throughout the course of the game.

The game spans 16 missions, and the story will unfold through cinematic scenes interspersed between stages. Each mission has multiple objectives, like destroying zeenium processing plants, recovering eggs that have not yet been drained of their power, or dueling in midair with a great orc leader. A great variety of enemies, including dragon skin zeppelins, standard foot soldiers, and orcish naval units, will all do their best to keep you from completing your mission. The development team is implementing what they call a "fight or flight" AI system, in which groups of enemies will respond to your presence depending on the situation. For instance, a patrolling group of 10 may see the dragon's shadow looming overhead and decide to take a stand. As they start to take casualties, they may panic and begin to flee, making them easy pickings for your claws and jaws. The promised variety in enemy units and their behavior will hopefully keep combat interesting and dynamic.