series known drag japan series action role playing video games eponymous game series released playstation followed sequel prequel spin conceived gameplay hybrid dynasty warriors story created influenced european folklore popular anime series movies day involvement entry series debut setting main series northern european style dark fantasy world humans creatures myth legends live spin game set alternate reality leading game possible endings stories generally focus fortunes personalities small group protagonists directly indirectly connected affected events story dark mature plot character themes multiple endings staple series popularity japan resulted multiple additional media form manga series considered highly popular japan having sold gained cult following appears niche series main games noted dark storylines mixture ground based aerial combat stood mixture gameplay styles series received mixed positive reception japan west majority praise given story characters gameplay come criticisms repetitive poorly designed common elements setting games place dark fantasy version called humans appear predominant species races dragons shown exist setting landscape borrow extensively lore world overseen group unnamed gods personal appearance gods served beings known entities created destroy humanity considered failure kept entering world seals act world balance seals destroyed enter world destroy humanity core seals goddess seal mortal virgin female chosen branded final seal seals destroyed stands world death goddess core element universe ability humans form pact magical bond links souls grants human partner great power cost physical ability personal trait voice singing abilities etc normally entered feed negative emotions enter pact reasons recurring element series representation magic common letter arrangement representing human gene universe series split multiple events separate overlap core timeline formed sequel acts game prequel events place separate leading different outcomes flower uses servants called women gifted power use magic song instruments humanity destruction succeeds fifth version events detailed novel use group known spark religious war destroy seals continue use head cult destroy new seals dragons prepare gods rule world set alternate reality created events stemming fifth ending reality world plague created magical beings came portal bringing humanity brink extinction takes place fourth ending featuring appearances mentions characters games gameplay games feature mix action based hack slash combat ground based battles aerial combat mixed rpg mechanics original player guides characters ground based battles combat small groups enemy units aerial combat player takes control protagonist dragon partner situations dragon lock target barrage small player manually aim fire large bursts flame damage home target basic gameplay changed little differences additions weapon types tied character associated changing character dragon gameplay remained virtually unchanged apart ability air ground missions dragon group enemies special attack depicted short player controls main protagonist characters acting controlled supports designed faster experience previous games protagonist given special hyper mode ability freely switch weapons action aerial gameplay changed dragon capable ground combat featuring similar hack slash combat includes gameplay types view puzzle areas style areas buildings similar structures quests added involved quests fishing farming themes influences running narrative themes main series key character theme expressed personalities actions second game focused themes war death theme world described composer sense contrast multiple anime series influenced series characters years including neon genesis sister princess series writer drew inspiration writing manga original game world designed celtic norse myths japanese style team original game influenced asian epic movies western action adventure films remake developing team drew inspiration god war series narrative structure inspired september attacks war terror central theme struggling bad situation defined game staff japanese word games related media games received multiple adaptations additional story content form manga material game received drag story november drag magnitude negative january book written writing second novelization written released september wrote character stories manga leading game release manga drag prequel following game main antagonists drag acts sequel branch branch lead alternative book detailing narrative connection titled drag story serves fifth branch similar events narrated brother released august drag complete guide setting complete guide game extra features explaining game chronology set events published expanded release drama told events immediately events fifth ending book titled containing extra stories concept art alongside fifth ending game square enix paired create digital comic detailed game characters world development history idea originated gameplay conceived blend elements dynasty warriors team developing game went moniker project team joined director main drive game dark atmosphere project producer told sequel multiple endings created localized released west references things sexual censored addition title changed drag considered wrong western audience considered success sequel commissioned multiple staff members returned creation second game tied projects replaced director role development creative clashes development ended making thematic opposite previous game employing lighter tone broader color originated teamed create game project continued detached main continuity eventually developed spin despite stated considers true release closed absorbed left company pursue wider range projects stalled attempt begin production games series blamed prevalent trend time light weight games general gaming community later came create proper second sequel intention creating hard core rpg fanbase unlike previous games series developed developer noted games included brought team members creating action games run release expressed willingness continue series playstation latest game success speaking game release stated series hold lack funds new game revealed development square enix writing character design stories original game characters written main game script written write main scenarios future games designed darker elements contrast actively compete likes final_fantasy conceived insane characters premise people killed hundreds people pursuit goals took satisfaction naturally insane production focus changed writing story believed right actions series attempting answer question people driven kill dark narrative themes kept narrative elements mainstream intended return dark aesthetic include moments humor tie character designer nearly entries series initially minor staff member team impressed skill amateur artist recommended post character designer game designs characters world influenced armor clothing returned capacity later initial designs took opportunity liking arcade game lord international release protagonist redesigned teenager adult character publishers felt older character appeal western players designed protagonist zero dark themes game unusual elements nearly cut female characters inspired male characters considered low priority designed male approved quickly designs handled artist noted work final_fantasy series initially expected refuse agreed staff company fans designs requested focus smooth outlines black coloring music game soundtrack created created score samples known classical composers second game soundtrack composed involved video game soundtracks game japanese theme song sung music composed composed soundtrack different main series directly reflect tone game setting story wrote sung vocal tracks performed tracks different languages including invented tracks returned compose soundtrack interview stated composing music tried emulate work earlier composer imitating commented result unlike traditional square enix game game features theme songs black song performed silence game theme song proper written sung providing music singer returning reception series received mixed positive reviews years far original received positive response highest aggregate score overall far version game slightly lower scores xbox version received lower scores title series received favorable review scores japanese gaming magazine famitsu common point praise series life story individual aspects come criticism dark unconventional characters general scenarios cited game strengths despite mixed feelings reviewers story certain aspects characters plot praised major exception story lighter tone traditional narrative noted criticized overly simplistic similar games genre characters remained popular japan holding popularity contest characters celebrate series tenth anniversary announcement popular characters game main protagonists having earned nickname prince fans characters proved highly popular gameplay far come major criticism original title aerial ground based gameplay seen repetitive dull reviewers found entertaining came criticism minor improvements cited contrast gameplay generally praised seen improvement previous entries dragon riding segments came criticisms difficult controls opinions divided unconventional mix gameplay styles multiple game genres praising variety seeing poorly executed series gained cult following japan game sold relatively home market original game commercial success selling units week release eventually selling copies japan week sales similarly impressive selling units sold copies end sold units week units versions sold roughly copies week respectively eventually sold japan end series sold units japan sales figures western regions unavailable games main series included square_enix ultimate hits series releases popular titles developed published
Drakengard (series)