Drakengard 2 [PS2]

Taking its cues from third-person action series Dynasty Warriors, Drakengard 2's blend of hack-and-slash combat and aerial dragon-borne dogfights isn't the game it could have been. Still, the game's unique fantasy setting enhances its passable fights, and although the dragon scenes are a bit of a let-down, Drakengard 2 is a game that's hard to dismiss altogether.

Set in a fantasy world where a proud order of knights maintain peace by selflessly protecting Seals that hold back the destruction of the world, Drakengard stars a young boy, Nowe, raised by a dragon and rising through the ranks of these knights. He discovers that their noble goal isn't quite what it seems to be, and is plunged into the usual ethical struggle against a backdrop of a world in peril and miscellaneous love interest(s).

Typically for Square-Enix games, Drakengard 2 features characters and storylines that are better thought out than many western offerings. It's more a matter of trying to predict when the twists are going to happen than being surprised by them. Nonetheless, the setting and plot manage to be among Drakengard 2's strongest aspects. Plus it shows a refreshing willingness to kill off major characters to keep the story moving -- in a world where too many video games have their eyes on their own sequels, this is a welcome state of affairs.

Again in classic Square-Enix style, the quality of the cutscenes outweighs the in-game visuals by quite some margin. They're CG, but look like they could be straight from ill-fated Square movie epic, The Spirits Within. Occasional they might be, but next to the rather static in-engine plot interludes, they look great. Meanwhile, the voice acting occasionally lacks energy, but on the whole is reasonably good -- the measured tones of most characters suit the game's formal setting.

On foot, Drakengard certainly requires less thought than games like Dynasty Warriors. Hell, it probably requires less thought than Bejeweled. No particular tactics, strategy, or even skill is really needed to cope with the game's battles. Mashing the square button and occasionally jumping will be enough to see you through most fights. While Drakengard's other characters do carry different weapons and have different strengths, that'll sound familiar to any habitual Japanese RPG player. Nowe remains the most powerful choice for most encounters, and you don't need to change your fighting style too much to cope with the others.