Dragon Kingdom – conquer the quest in this Fantasy Tycoon Strategy game
by Paul Wilks
Aug 31, 2012 7:54 AM –
Install
Dragon Kingdom is a fantasy tycoon strategy game with some RPG elements thrown in for good measure. You take on the management of the Dragon Kingdom in this immersive, complex and innovative game. While tycoon-style games are practically as common as those Japanese wallpaper apps in the Google Play Store, few have the depth and detail as the likes of Dragon Kingdom. If any of this is caused you to start polishing your replica axe and drinking ‘mead’ from a ‘flagon’, read on for more info.
Price: Free, plus In-app purchases
Tested on: HTC One X, HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Rich and complex game involving strategy, RPG and tycoon elements!
- Create an army and send them on missions!
- Upgrade your buildings!
- Lengthy tutorial and missions to get you familiar with the game.
Cons
- The music is atrocious. (However, you can turn it off by using the very tiny and well-hidden icon in the bottom right of the screen).
- Perhaps too much structure for some gamers.
- It’s a massive, multi-player online game, and for some inexplicable reason the achievements of other players frequently pop up and block your view.
- Only available on certain devices.
Features:
Dragon Kingdom is a lustrous tycoon game with a variety of elements. There are RPG elements- you can meet and interact with foes, monitor how your people are feeling via comments and even send an army on quests and watch their progress. There are distinct tycoon elements too- you have to construct buildings, plant and tend crops and collect money from each at certain times. It’s also a strategy game- how you build your army and populate it, complete missions, develop your armies skills and use bonus items to good effect. While I don’t think the game masters any of these elements, there is enough diversity to make it interesting.
The game, as mentioned before, is quite complex and all the facets of gameplay are introduced in the tutorial. This does seem to go on for some time (certainly the longest tutorial I’ve ever played) but it is essential to understanding of what is going on. Then there are Quests- lots and lots of them- and they further educate you on other parts of the game. It is typically things like upgrading buildings, using other gamers, sending armies on missions, healing soldiers, using special items and so forth.
There is, especially to begin with, a great deal of structure which might put tycoon purists off. The game tells you exactly what to do next, and then what to do after that. It’s very prescriptive. I don’t think this is a bad thing if you like to be consumed by a game and not think too much, but if you prefer more individuality this might put you off a little.
Dragon Kingdom is a huge online multi-player game and other gamers are playing it all the time. For some missions you actually need them, but your awareness of other players comes in the form of dialogue boxes that pop up right in the middle of your screen. 
There’s no way I’ve found to turn it off and it’s hugely distracting and gets right in the way of gameplay. One thing I did manage to turn off was the music. In the bottom right hand side of the screen there is a tiny sound toggle and I strongly suggest you tap it right away. Dragon Kingdom has, quite possibly, the worst game music I’ve ever encountered and I’m 99% certain you’ll want to shut it off as soon as possible.
If you can see around these problems, Dragon Kingdom can be a fun, engaging and exciting pursuit. Although I feel I’ve only been able to cover the tip of the iceberg here, there’s an unfolding story of some kind in the game and lots of interesting missions. Ultimately too it’s a freemium game so there are opportunities to buy in-game credits and boost things. However, even without this the game is massively playable and purchases aren’t essential, unlike in other titles.
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Dragon Kingdom – Citizens often utter little tips here and there
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Dragon Kingdom – Wider view
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Dragon Kingdom – Dialogues and interaction
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Dragon Kingdom – Intimidating dragons
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Dragon Kingdom – Relic is the hub of your operations
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Dragon Kingdom – Mini quizzes, which support your game-knowledge can help you win stuff
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Dragon Kingdom – Level up
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Dragon Kingdom – Watch battle sequences
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Dragon Kingdom – Tutorial dragon
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Dragon Kingdom – Quest screen
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Dragon Kingdom – Island king
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Dragon Kingdom – Recruit from the tavern
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Dragon Kingdom – Select server and login
Fun Factor:
If you enjoy any of the game genres mentioned above (strategy, RPG, tycoon) I’m sure you’ll find Dragon Kingdom an enjoyably immersive experience. There certainly could be improvements- more settings to control the perpetual notifications in the middle of the screen and the sound.
Addictive:
This kind of game is casual and one you dip back in to on frequent intervals. It’s not for everyone, but there’s lots of diversity and you never really know what you’re going to get next. If you like tycoon style games, you’ll most likely find Dragon Kingdom extremely addictive.
Graphics:
The graphics are detailed, but then every so slightly retro at the same time. Very reminiscent of old-school RPGs.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The sound is terrible! Aside from the annoying notifications, it’s the only thing that really lets the game down. You can turn the music off but if left on it’s the equivalent of nails scraping down a chalkboard. The kind of sound, if you were exposed to it long enough, could probably turn your brain into cheese. Switch it off!