[Drakengard Series Discussion] Death from above, insanity from below.

cj iwakura

Drakengard. Or, rather, DRAKENGARD!



A trilogy of tales about a hero(or heroine) and his/her loving(often murderous) dragon.

What's so "What the Fuck" worthy about this game?

Take your pick: Exploding fairies, a stage devoted to killing children, giant magic eggs, a fifty story tall little girl, nukes, apocalypse by evil clones,
a variety of the less pleasant "-philia" types, Notspain. All are just the tip of the iceberg.

Drakengard was the brainchild of Yoko Taro, the insane lunatic who would one day be responsible for Nier.



He wasn't involved in 2. But it has its moments.



He was, however, involved in...



Or, rather...



Creative Director: Yoko Taro
Character Design: Kimihiko Fujisaki
Music Director: Keiichi Okabe

Story




Characters






Gameplay








http://youtube.com/watch?v=UrKwc8y59Qc
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q5jgYvLQzaI



http://youtube.com/watch?v=RaJjLYpkoSI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DMMTAD7P0HI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=d06Zme2t82Y
http://youtube.com/watch?v=algjU-w7Z-o

Screens












(In before Gilder suffering.)

Xenogears of Bore

Considering Nier was just Drakengard 2b anyways...

Played worse too.

cj iwakura

Well, Nier was fun to play, that was a good start.

Xenogears of Bore

None of them are exactly fun to play. I'd say that D2 was the most fun* to actually play.


*Least mindless and boring in this case.

cj iwakura

Basil

Peace and love and camel riding lawyers!

This is excellent news.

Professor Snugglesworth

I never in a million years would have expected Square to return to this series. Even Nier 2 seemed more likely (as unlikely as that seemed too).

I really hope the music is closer to Drakengard I than II. This is still one of my favorite tracks ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXu_S7-SOYU&hd=1

Just listen to that madness. That is totally the soundtrack to Caim's mind as he gleefully murders thousands of soldiers.

And unlike Kratos, the game never justifies his murderous rampage. Even the dragon tells him to chill the fuck out at one point.

Wonder if the manga is any good.

Xenogears of Bore

It's kill or be killed in Drakengard 1 for the most part. Not Kaim's fault that he's just better at killing.

Darth_Mogs

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

And unlike Kratos, the game never justifies his murderous rampage. Even the dragon tells him to chill the fuck out at one point.

Uhh, well..

He is kind of murdering a group that is actively trying to undo the world who end up succeeding.

Maybe he doesn't have to enjoy it which he clearly does, but it's not like he's tearing up a retirement community.

Xenogears of Bore

this is totally the excuse I need tomorrow to not work and read the excellent LP of this game by the way. While I like D1 the most I really don't think I want to play it again. I find 2 more fun to play but the story in that is really awful. I guess I could finally get around to completing Nier but I think my save got deleted with my gamertag when I switched consoles and forgot the password.

Professor Snugglesworth

That's true, but you also don't get any speeches about how Kaim is the big heroic savior or that he has been chosen to save the world.

Everyone is just watching him from a safe distance and silently hoping he'll focus his murderous rage solely on the enemy.

This also works brilliantly in Drakengard II. If nothing else, they did a great job with Kaim's progression between both games.

Darth_Mogs

I can definitely agree with that, at least. Caim is the only good part about Drakengard 2.

The FMV that introduces him into the game still gives me chills.

Dragkonias

So is this only for PS3 or only confirmed for PS3?

Because I know Japan does that PS3 in Japan, PS3/360 everywhere else thing a lot.

Professor Snugglesworth

Darth_Mogs wrote: »

I can definitely agree with that, at least. Caim is the only good part about Drakengard 2.

The FMV that introduces him into the game still gives me chills.

That, and the tearful showdown that plays this as a boss theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCN3J3EnzVM&hd=1

The human/dragon relationships have been the best part about both games. I hope D3 continues the tradition.

The Wolfman

Is Drakengard a legitimate thing? The impression I've always got from the series is that the plot is a very unique brand of "What the shit" that's worth experiencing. But the actual gameplay is warmed over shit.

mxmarks

The way Ive been introduced to the series.

Drakengard - READ THE SOMETHING AWFUL LP. It is NOT worth playing, it is absolutely worth experiencing via someone else and you lose nothing in the process.

Drakengard 2 - Who cares. Better "game", I suppose.

Nier - the actual, canonical, alternate timeline-esque sequel to like, ending E or F of Drakengard. An ending in Drakengard you should go into the LP totally blind on, that makes so little sense that you'd think there's no way anyone ever was taking it seriously, and it had to be the joke ending. Not an ending you could craft an entire sequel out of, that is a whole world, that is amazing. The gameplay is not the best, but I can't recommend giving it a shot enough.

NAND NOR

The Wolfman wrote: »

Is Drakengard a legitimate thing? The impression I've always got from the series is that the plot is a very unique brand of "What the shit" that's worth experiencing. But the actual gameplay is warmed over shit.

Drakengard is basically a take on Dynasty Warriors "Musou" formula of gameplay (one versus hundreds on an open field map) with the added ability to ride around on a dragon. The controls aren't terrible but they aren't the smoothest either. Your mileage may vary.

mxmarks

Also the music just punches you in the brain repeatedly.

Ive heard it is either "remixed and rearranged classical music pieces that represent taking something familiar and beautiful and twisting into an unrecognizable discord of anguish" or "a toddler banging on pots on a loop forever".

Professor Snugglesworth

The Wolfman wrote: »

Is Drakengard a legitimate thing? The impression I've always got from the series is that the plot is a very unique brand of "What the shit" that's worth experiencing. But the actual gameplay is warmed over shit.

Anything that invokes a "what the shit" reaction is always legitimate.

Helloween

Main chick looks like kaine somewhat...

Xenogears of Bore

I think its all the blood and the dragon behind her...

Helloween

I was going with the flower, hair and the look of a sweary lady, but still :P

Absalon

Not to be glib or anything, but could they possibly squeeze anymore misery out of that fictional universe?

And yes, I am aware that the second installment may have not ended so horribly. Maybe.

Helloween

I always assumed that:

Someone at Cavia is very unhappy and wishes to inflict as much dmg on a universe as they can

Also, quoting Duckroll from GAF here:

The game sure sounds like a hard M-rated game. Blood apparently remains on character clothing and skin (ties in with gameplay too I guess), Zero is a liberal minded woman who is open to sexual relations with multiple partners, the visual themes in the game appear to be "erotic" and "bloodstained", etc.

Can't wait to see some scans. :P

Absalon

Helloween wrote: »

I always assumed that:

Someone at Cavia is very unhappy and wishes to inflict as much dmg on a universe as they can

I guess it depends on what ending from the second game they choose to build on for 3.

If I understand the whole dark mess, NieR follows from the last, most-difficult-to-achieve and most depressing ending of Drakengard, while Drakengard 2 builds on the first, least horrible but bittersweet ending of Drakengard. I dunno what endings Drakengard 2 has to offer, but I assume the most "hidden" and most demanding ending hate-shits on everything even resembling happiness and cheer.

Helloween

Absalon wrote: »

Helloween wrote: »

I always assumed that:

Someone at Cavia is very unhappy and wishes to inflict as much dmg on a universe as they can

I guess it depends on what ending from the second game they choose to build on for 3.

If I understand the whole dark mess, NieR follows from the last, most-difficult-to-achieve and most depressing ending of Drakengard, while Drakengard 2 builds on the first, least horrible but bittersweet ending of Drakengard. I dunno what endings Drakengard 2 has to offer, but I assume the most "hidden" and most demanding ending hate-shits on everything even resembling happiness and cheer.

Well Drakengard 2

Wasnt anywhere near as depressing either way. Depends where this comes in the time line i suppose

Not sure if new news but, confirmed that its the Drakengard 1 team/Nier team doing this game

Vincent Grayson

Here's hoping this time there's a more reasonable number of weapons.

mxmarks

The only info that matters about this release really is that the NieR team is still actively working together and Square/Enix is apparently open to weird franchises.

NieR 2's hope stays alive.

tastydonuts

Really makes me sad that this won't be on the xbox360.

I loved this series.

They would have made so much money off me too, what with the possibility of selling scads of weapons. Ah well.

Magic Pink

Yay yay yay. Faulty as it is, I loves me some Drakenguard.

Absalon

Helloween wrote: »

Absalon wrote: »

Helloween wrote: »

I always assumed that:

Someone at Cavia is very unhappy and wishes to inflict as much dmg on a universe as they can

I guess it depends on what ending from the second game they choose to build on for 3.

If I understand the whole dark mess, NieR follows from the last, most-difficult-to-achieve and most depressing ending of Drakengard, while Drakengard 2 builds on the first, least horrible but bittersweet ending of Drakengard. I dunno what endings Drakengard 2 has to offer, but I assume the most "hidden" and most demanding ending hate-shits on everything even resembling happiness and cheer.

Well Drakengard 2

Wasnt anywhere near as depressing either way. Depends where this comes in the time line i suppose

Not sure if new news but, confirmed that its the Drakengard 1 team/Nier team doing this game

Hoh shit!

Dragkonias

Shit between this and Xillia I might end up buying a PS3 if I can find one cheap enough.

tastydonuts

Dragkonias wrote: »

Shit between this and Xillia I might end up buying a PS3 if I can find one cheap enough.

you're not alone!

Mega blockbuster AAA exclusive titles that define a console? Meh! I can miss out on that.

But Niche hack-n-slash game with bizzaro plotlines? Maaaaybe I should buy this console~ :P

Grimthwacker

mxmarks wrote: »

The way Ive been introduced to the series.

Drakengard - READ THE SOMETHING AWFUL LP. It is NOT worth playing, it is absolutely worth experiencing via someone else and you lose nothing in the process.
Drakengard 2 - Who cares. Better "game", I suppose.

Nier - the actual, canonical, alternate timeline-esque sequel to like, ending E or F of Drakengard. An ending in Drakengard you should go into the LP totally blind on, that makes so little sense that you'd think there's no way anyone ever was taking it seriously, and it had to be the joke ending. Not an ending you could craft an entire sequel out of, that is a whole world, that is amazing. The gameplay is not the best, but I can't recommend giving it a shot enough.

DRAKENGARD! THREE!

Seriously, I have yet to see anything so colossally, unashamedly screwed up as that game. Every time it looked like they pushed the envelope, they just kept getting darker, and darker, and darker. And the development work for this new one is being done by the Deadly Premonition guys, so I'm sure it'll be a mindscrew-and-a-half.

Professor Snugglesworth

I really hope the girl's eye flower speaks to her. Preferably with a British accent.

Just go all the way. All. The. Way.

Renzo

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

I really hope the girl's eye flower speaks to her. Preferably with a British accent.

Just go all the way. All. The. Way.

Given who's developing it, maybe she talks to the flower?

"I saw it, Daisy. F, K, in the blood!"

Transporter

Oh lord, this girl is going to be horribly fucked up, and not in the "omg tsuna kawaii waifuu!!" kind of way, but in the "I am completly insane, as in the cut your balls off kind of insane" way.

I hope they go full bore, because she's super anime in those screenshots and I can already hear the weirdo's buying like, 9 fullsized posters.

mxmarks

They have literally combined two of my favorite games of all time teams here.

This is specifically for me. This game is made with me in mind.

Helloween

I feel this picture will help the thread

cj iwakura

It's Happening!

http://www.jp.square-enix.com/dod3/

Professor Snugglesworth

Growing Wings!

And man those floor textures are ugly.