Dragon & Dracula – check out this cute & challenging platformer game
by Paul Wilks
Jun 6, 2012 11:50 AM –
Install
Dragon & Dracula is an enjoyable and well-developed platform game. You start as a baby dragon and your role is to grow, develop new skills and explore the world around you. Your world, however, is under threat from an evil vampire, and you must ultimately defeat him! The game includes 25 levels and simple gameplay- definitely one to check out if you’re a platforming fan.
Price: Free, $0.99 plus In-app purchases
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Cute and well-designed graphics!
- 25 levels!
- 3 different forms of dragon!
- Customisations and mini-games!
Cons
- Higher quality graphics are glitchy, even on a top-end device.
- The paid-for version still features additional in-app purchases. Paid-for game, freemium model.
Features:
Dragon & Dracula is a slice of pure platforming fun, as your little dragon explores the world around him, collecting gems and coins. He will face all kinds of enemies- from rats and bats to the dark Lord Dracula himself. In between these foes Dragon has to grow. He starts as a baby dragon and develops into a flying fire-breathing hero!
On top of the typical platform game fare; jumping (if you land on a baddie it kills them- Mario-style), collecting, exploring, etc. you also grow. You start as a little dragon and gradually develop wings, size and so on until you eventually mature- just in time to fight Dracula. A great feature of the game is the way you can customise the look of your dragon, making it a more personal adventure.
The game features a pleasing 25 levels of action, each more challenging that the one before. There are also various mini-games to unlock too, letting you break from the platforming style now and again. The game offers a great deal but I did notice a couple of things that put me off a little. There is an option to use higher-quality graphics, but I found these a little slow and glitchy- even on a Tegra 3 powered device.
Furthermore, the game features the opportunity to make in-game purchases of credits. This wouldn’t be a problem if the game was free, but this occurs even in the paid-for version. While this is optional, you still feel like you’re missing out- and the experience is certainly diminished as a result- by not having more credits. I’m a strong believer that you shouldn’t have to pay for a game over and over, and the way it adopts a freemium model while charging for the game anyway- is a little unsavoury.
Watch on Mobile
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Dragon & Dracula – Pan the thumbstick down to view below you
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Dragon & Dracula – Bats swoop down and attack you
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Dragon & Dracula – Jump on baddies to kill them
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Dragon & Dracula – Dragon death
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Dragon & Dracula – Jump through the trees and find all the gems
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Dragon & Dracula – Run, jump, collect gems and coins
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Dragon & Dracula – Save your progress with dragon lockets
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Dragon & Dracula – Attempts exhausted, you have to start the level again… unless you pay
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Dragon & Dracula – 3 attempts, but you can pay for more!
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Dragon & Dracula – The option of in-game purchases make the game feel more like a freemium game than one you’ve already paid for
Fun Factor:
The game is lots of fun and, despite its cute looks, it is quite challenging. I liked the ability to customise your dragon and the way the dragon gradually grows and develops more abilities.
Addictive:
The game is quite addictive, but not really in the same league as the likes of Angry Birds or New Star Soccer.
Graphics:
The graphics are cute and well-designed, a little retro but still look great. You have the option to have high quality graphics, although I wouldn’t recommend this. Despite playing the game on a HTC One X device, the HQ graphics were slow and glitchy.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The sound is great- superb and rich music plus great sound effects throughout. You can choose to mute the sound if you wish, but it feels a little weird without it.