• Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Feb 23, 2009
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 35
  2. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. As a long-standing TDE-Fan I am literally overjoyed to delve once more into the fantastical world of Aventuria – and if it’s this well made, all the better! Though of course there’s the usual parade of odds and ends to criticize, like the missing character customization, but they’re all barely affecting the myriad ways to have fun with this title. To me, TDE:Drakensang is without a doubt the greatest RPG of German origin – Gothic 3, watch out! [Issue#15]
  2. 82
    Drakensang offers around 40-50 hours of gameplay depending on how many side quests you tackle, meaning there's plenty to be getting on with, and with a well written storyline and surprisingly good visuals, it really is a noteworthy all round package.
  3. The quests are interesting. [May 2009, p.97]
  4. But for my money, it's time well spent, as it succeeds more often than not in recapturing the spirit of some of the more highly regarded CRPG titles of the earlier part of the decade.
  5. Despite some flaws and a none to friendly learning curve, Drakensang: The Dark Eye is still an enjoyable RPG that's packed with plenty to do and a combat system that eventually grows into something special.
  6. You can compare playing Drakensang with reading of a good old classic book. Old-fashioned RPG acquired new graphics but its heart remains the same. Prepare to enter a lively and believable world filled with a plethora of quests and catching stories. [Mar 2009]
  7. The developers put a lot of effort in the classic fantasy world of Aventuria. It literally makes you wanna dive into it. Weak point: You have to play ten hours minimum to really understand what’s going on about your character and the story.
  8. A very solid role playing game, capable of even winning in some aspects to major videogames from this genre like The Witcher or Neverwinter Nights 2. The worst problem, though, it's a subpar storyline.
  9. The sum of its parts does not always equal the end score. This is a good, quality title that has few bugs, an engaging story and maybe more than a few cliches.
  10. A charmingly traditional and well-polished role-playing game that suffers of an uninspired script and a tactically shallow combat system. [Apr 2009]
  11. The epic world of The Dark Eye arrives ten years later to our PC. Based on a board RPG game, Drakensang features some interesting ideas that bring back to life some of the best moments of the classic. Featuring ideas from Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights franchise, the game packs a good set of rules with good-looking graphics and nice sound. At the end, it doesn't get to be a high budget production, but still gives the player great moments and great value that is worth the money.
  12. It doesn't have a surprising story nor innovates anything in gameplay, but the development team well done work achieves that more than 80 hours of a very satisfying experience.
  13. Drakensang is a good roleplaying game: classic style, deep and with a nice plot. It has several problems with the management of the party but it's a surprise for those searching for an interesting game with a low price.
  14. Drakensang is one of the best classic-rpg adventure released this year. Perfect for D&D lovers, even if a little bit too difficult for new gamers.
  15. In many ways Drakensang is a throwback, a swansong to the party-based RPGs of yesteryear, yet somehow it doesn’t feel dated.
  16. A solid role playing game with challenging combat and an entertaining fantasy tale.
  17. A huge role-playing game in its purest form, and you won't find any simplifications typical of today's games.
  18. 76
    The combat benefits from great visuals and animations but you lose some of the appeal there if you're constantly having to start and stop the action for tactical convenience.
  19. It's a solid localization effort, and there is deep character customization, challenging combat and an entertaining, if riskless, fantasy tale.
  20. Drakensang is interesting and can keep you glued to your seat, but its replay value isn’t quite as high as it could have been and the sometimes overzealous difficulty can be a turn-off for newcomers.
  21. While I won’t try and tell you this game serves as a replacement for Mass Effect or Fallout 3, it is pretty well done on the whole. I hope this means Radon Labs will be working on further RPGs, as Drakensang is a series with great potential.
  22. For the $29.99 price tag, The Dark Eye: Drakensang, offers you a full 40 hours of well-written story filled with missions and side quests to complete.
  23. Drakensang: The Dark Eye is a rare breed these days. It's not a hardcore RPG, but it still offers a lot of complexity. The beauty of the game is the way in which the developers tailored the gameplay to include newbies without dumbing-down the genre. Don't miss a chance to play a game marinated in the classic RPG tradition.
  24. A solid, squishy eyeful of Germanic RPG charm. [Apr 2009, p.81]
  25. As far as reasonable-budget party-based RPGs go, it's detailed enough to fill the months until we see whether Dragon Age is going to live up to BioWare's legacy.
  26. Drakensang's best not when it's being played, but when it's being tinkered with. It's an old-fashioned, sometimes archaic, other times deeply engrossing game that rewards and satisfies according to how much effort you're willing to put in.
  27. Drakensang is a must buy for every fantasy and RPG fanatic. Don't except a revolution or a GOTY, but except a game that has charisma and can be picked up very easily. There are some tiny flaws, but the moment that you venture into Avonturia, your troubles will be over.
  28. This epic role-playing game has great depth, but is hampered by a number of significant design flaws.
  29. 70
    Drakensang is ultimately a rich and polished experience, and fans of the old party-based PC RPG design will find the same virtues and flaws that come with this type of game.
  30. Colorful vistas and ear-pleasing music are the few things that bring Drakensang closer to its eminent North American brethren. Alas, it is not enough for a good game, especially the one that wants to become the RPG of the year and gain a cult following. One would need talented writers and interesting game design for that.
  31. While Drakensang easily exceeds any expectations regarding presentation and scope, the finer points of RPG design - notably combat and player-driven interactions with the game world - are lost on the game. [Mar 2009, p.92]
  32. Die-hard RPG fans will appreciate the backstory, but no-one else will pay attention.
  33. A solid game, but one that suffers somewhat from stilted gameplay and a cliched plot. [May 2009, p.74]
  34. I will say that I have spent enough time on this game to encompass my two playthroughs of Mass Effect, or both of the Knights of the Old Republic titles. And I can honestly say that, in comparison, I didn’t enjoy one minute of it. Good-day.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 94 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. One of the crowning achievements of RPG games. The production value was tagged around two million euros. The developers over at Radon labs hit their stride and kept on going. They nailed the details, and the essence of tactical rpg games. The game is based off the Dark eye p&p game, very well titles have been released over the years, off such a well polished system. The combat rolls system rolls can take a while to grasp, for those unfamiliar with this niche of rpg's. The mathematics for the combat system are not on any physics level so, don't sweat it. The game resolves around the old pause, setup party and engage. The fights are quite challenging, the mobs will fight as if they are another player. The AI was well done in combat situations. The scripts are well written, the dialogues have options. The game lacks full range voice acting, this was obviously due to their budget. The character customization is lacking, especially on looks and cosmetics. The atmosphere and immersion is first class. I've nothing really negative to say about this game, pick it up if you're into tactical RPG's. There is possibly over 80 hours of gameplay, maybe more. Look forwards to Drakensang: River of time to be released in the 'near' future. Thanks for reading. Full Review »
  2. SampaG
    9
    Could become a classic since true oldschool-RPG fans had to wait for quite a long time to get something similar to Icewind Dale, without watering the gameplay down for the masses. The game has no real flaws, a nice and very fantasy-like presentation, a well-done (but not perfect) interface, a large variety of well written quests and a beautiful level design. I missed some more NPC interaction within the party, but the quests and levels easily compensate that. I would give it 8.5 out of 10, since it still could use some more refinement, but the game runs smooth and stable. Furthermore I like the more strategic and tactical, party-based gameplay and the classic fantasy setting. So if you're a fan of oldschool party RPGs (BG, Torment, IWD) it's surely worth a look. Full Review »
  3. A good, solid game spoiled by an endless stream of combat. Play Drakensang: River of Time first as it's both the prequel and a more polished game. If you like spending 40 minutes fighting mobs for 2/3 EXP each while you get from the bridge into town, a run that takes you two minutes after the mobs are cleared, then this game is for you. If you like filling your bags with an endless stream of daggers because all the same type of mobs drop the exact same type of loot, this game is for you. On the other hand, while the voice acting is uneven there are times where it hits the right notes, with even some humor thrown in. The story is acceptable: dwarfs, human, elves with 'Amazons' thrown in for spice. Honestly, this isn't a bad game but River of Time shows an attention to creating a quality experience that this game lacks . If you like River of Time and want more of what Drakensang has to offer, then buy this game. Full Review »