It's a shame how unnoticed such a great game went and it's even more surprising that it's from the popular Square Enix.
Graphics- 9/10
For it being an "older" PS2 game, I thought the graphics were pretty good. Some people say the graphics aren't all that great but I thought that the CG scenes were beautiful. Realistic movement and all. The in-game areas are rather bland and flat, but I would think most people can overlook that.
Characters- 10/10
A game that certainly makes you care about the characters. From the beginning to the end, you follow their story and see their personal growth and you can't help but feel their emotions too. They're all interesting and diverse and they all have an important role. No doubt, you'll come to appreciate them all for one reason or another.
Plot- 9/10
The balance of the world is held by four Seals, which basically keep chaos under control. You play as main character Caim, whose sister (Furiae) is the Goddess of the Seal, which is the final Seal. Both are from the Union, which is in a war against the Empire. Caim battles in this fight. On the verge of death, Caim meets a dragon. Putting his hatred aside and his will to survive first, he makes a pact with her and the journey to protect the Seals begins.
Obviously, there is much more to it but this is basically what the opening mission will tell you to get you start. It's certainly a story that will tug at your heart strings and in one way or another, it will make you feel emotion. It's a story to keep you hooked and wondering what will happen next, and luckily, remains well paced.
Gameplay- 8/10
At its core, it's a hack and slash game. But that doesn't mean it's easy either. It certainly has its share of challenges and tests of patience. On the up side, there are no bosses that feel like a "wall." Each one is possible to beat, once you take the right approach and time things correctly.
There are both ground and aerial missions. On the ground, you control Caim and can hack and slash your way through using a variety of weapons, each with a different magic attack. In aerial missions, you control the dragon, and fight your way through the skies using fire and your own dragon-flying speed.
While you may think that the hack and slash gameplay may become stale, it never really does. It's always fun to play through.
Voice Acting- 9.8/10
Most of the voice acting is excellent. There are just a few characters (minor roles, luckily) that aren't quite as convincing but as for the main cast, they all do a terrific job. All of them are believable with great emotion and realistic infliction.
Music- 8/10
A few tracks certainly stand out but overall, the music is nice on the ears and is fitting for the area or event ahead.
Replay Value- 10/10
Once you finish the main game, bonus chapters and missions are unlocked for you to play through. These events tweak some of the events in the main game, making different (and interesting) scenarios. There are also multiple endings to obtain. However, the only way to do this is to play through these bonus chapters and to collect all of the many weapons. Needless to say, there's still plenty to do once you beat the game and it's all enjoyable. None of it feels like it's dragged out nonsense. You also have the ability to play "free expeditions" through past areas to gain experience points and you may also play through completed chapters again.
Overall? A great game that deserves much more than what it gets. If you're a fan of RPGs, like good stories, like dragons, like Square Enix, or are just looking for a good game to play, definitely try out Drakengard. There's nothing regretful about playing it and you're sure to find something about it that you like.