Drakensang: The Dark Eye - Not As Great As It Could Be

Rating the gameplay elements of Drakensang is completely subjective. There are some good aspects, and then there are some things that could have been done better. For starters, the gameplay consists of quests, much like any other fantasy RPG. It's not new, and neither is its implementation. The table-top version (from which this game draws its origins) is actually a bit more complex than say, Dungeons and Dragons. Unfortunately, there are a lot of hidden elements that make customizing your skillset difficult. It's not always obvious what you should do when leveling up so it is hard to focusing a character on a clear upgrade path. There are multitudes of races and professions, which is one of the compelling features. Creating your character initially will take a while due to the game's complexity. It's kind of a double-edged sword, and Drakensang struggles with this idea throughout its entire implementation. Some people will like the level of complexity and work it as best they can. Those who prefer more simplicity may find it frustrating and difficult to trudge through.

One of the highlights of this game are its visuals. When you head into a cave, it feels like a cave. The details are there to see in all

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The sounds in this game are what you'd expect. There's the crash of metal on metal during combat, the usual voice acting from NPCs, and mysterious magical explosions. Considering it's translated from German, they really didn't do too bad a job. Having said that, there's not a lot here to shout about. It's not terrible, but it's not exceptional either. Much like the storyline, this is a classic fantasy RPG that holds its own in the sound department. If you like whats been put out in this genre before, you'll find this just as appealing. If you're looking for something new however, you probably want to avoid this game.

This game will require a decent system if you want to really enjoy it. Here are the basics though:

• 2.4 Ghz CPU
• 1 Gig RAM
• 256MB Video Card
• Directx 9.0c Sound Card
• 6GB Hard Drive Space
• DVD drive - yep, no CD's here.
• Windows XP/Vista

Like any game, the more you have, the more enjoyable the experience will be. With Drakensang: The Dark Eye however, this is even more true. The time spent can be really pleasant, but you need decent resources to truly experience the game the way it was meant to be played.

Overall, this is a decent fantasy RPG. It doesn't bring very much new to the table, but it doesn't really do anything poorly either. The game mechanics are a bit complex, and some of the character templates are restrictive. But if you enjoy the classic fantasy RPG, you'll probably find this one to be to your liking as well. Just don't expect to be blown away with innovation. It's a solid game with a few quirks, but if you like detailed character management in your RPGs, you'll probably have an enjoyable time.