Imagine a child's dream of dragons and fantasy, of heroes and danger: that is the world of Dragonica Online. A free to play fantasy MMORPG by THQ*Ice, Dragonica Online features 3D side-scrolling action in a bright, whimisical world. Featuring four basic classes (warrior, magician, archer, and thief) which further specialize into advanced classes, Dragonica offers the draw of an action game in a fun fantasy setting.
Controls and Interface
Dragonica Online's default controls primarily use the keyboard. The controls (which use arrow keys for movement and the left hand typing keys for action) can be difficult to get used to at first. Thankfully, you can change the key mapping options if you've no desire to adapt to the defaults.
Outside of adapting to keyboard play, the controls are fairly simple, and the game teaches you basic movement, fighting, and interface use. The interface is very straightforward, and by the time you leave the first area, you'll be confident in controlling your character.
Combat
Since gameplay is keyboard-centric, you'll find both of your hands on the keyboard at all times during combat. Combat is a combination of creative moment and use of skills that attack using ground and air moves to create devastating combinations. Combo attacks are essential, and skills build on each other naturally. For example, the Archer class may use Rising Arrow to knock enemies into the air, and then unleash a massive Antiair Shot to kill enemies while they're caught mid-air.
Although the environment is a 3D Scroller, combat remains limited to attacking left or right; even though you can move diagonally, you can't attack that way. This presents a significant problem, especially in mission boss fights.
Questing
Wherever you progress, you'll find quests to help your progress throughout the levels of the game. However, as you go further in the game, you'll find you're restricted to seven quests at a time - which can be limiting, especially if you hold onto some for group play.
Quests also are often confusing as to where or how to complete them, even if a specific objective is stated. This is likely due to a weak translation.
Soloing and Group Play
Many of Dragonica Online's quests, at least at early levels, can be completed solo. However, you may find yourself forced to group earlier than expected - the difficulty of completing special instanced missions ramps up greatly around level 10. Although it is still possible to complete these missions solo, it may require a great deal of potions and creative combat methods, as many of the bosses are immune to knock-down or knock-up, which many class skills are based on.
Grouping in Dragonica Online offers only the benefit of another extra body to do damage to the boss. There are no multi-class combos, and no tanks or healers, so grouping just adds more people to the DPS race.
Pets, Recipes, and Special Systems
At this date, the pet system is not currently implemented in any version of Dragonica Online except the Chinese version. Recipes are present in the game, however, and allow you to take loot collected from enemies to craft edible consumables which provide short buffs. You can also upgrade your equipment with special dust, or unlock equipment with soul force, obtained from broken down equipment.