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How Metascores Are Calculated
75
Age of Booty
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker and developer Artoon present Blue Dragon. Featuring the character design of Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball Z and music by Nobuo Uematsu of Final Fantasy, Blue Dragon is an epic role-playing game that centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends. These unlikely heroes possess the power to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters, giving Shu and his comrades miraculous strength and magical powers. The warriors can create and develop their combat styles by utilizing different types of Shadow Change, including Sword, Assassin, and Power Magic. Shu and his friends must use the shadows as weapons and wield their skills to save their world from impending doom. Encountering various people on a planet where numerous ancient ruins remain, the characters and their shadows travel through a world full of mysteries and illusions, where the slightest touch can cause reactions of unparalleled magnitude. Innovative RPG gameplay features: As their quest progresses, warriors can create original attack methods by utilizing several types of Shadow Change, including Sword, Assassin, and Power Magic. You can choose to focus the hero on certain areas of expertise. Shadows level up and gain new abilities associated with the job they are currently doing. Once gained, abilities are not lost and remain available to use when needed. Massive scope and engrossing environments: Shu and his companions battle their way through an immense world filled with vividly illustrated remnants of ancient civilizations long forgotten. [Microsoft]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 95
93
Digital Entertainment News
While Blue Dragon is clearly old school in its cartoonish art and turn-based gameplay mechanics, very distinctly different from a completely next-gen RPG-style title like Mass Effect, Blue Dragon definitely delivers something to the 360 that the original Xbox system never had enough of: an RPG so original, exciting and appealing, it will make PlayStation fans feel like they’re missing out on something important in the RPG landscape.
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90
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90
Computer and Video Games
90
360 Gamer Magazine UK
Where so many RPGs deliver dry experiences that adhere too closely to traditional type, Mistwalker delivers an RPG that pushes the genre in all the right directions. With supreme technical qualities and gameplay to match, it’s little wonder that Blue Dragon has revived the 360 in Japan. [JPN Import]
90
Play Magazine
If the market allows giant-budget RPGs in the "Final Fantasy VII" mold to continue to be made(and there is some doubt as to that), they're going to look and feel a lot like this game...and for that reason alone, Blue Dragon is an absolute must-play. [JPN Import; Feb 2007, p.74]
90
games(TM)
It does as much as "Final Fantasy XII" to inspire hope that RPG developers are now beginning to look forward. In this instance, looking ahead results in a slightly more linear experience than some hardened role-playing game fans may appreciate. [Feb 2007, p.116]
90
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Enormous, intelligent, wily - a true dragon. [Sept 2007, p.98]
90
90
90
88
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87
Jolt Online Gaming UK
86
Games Master UK
A mostly old-school adventuring format, swanked up in a manner worthy of Xbox 360. [Sept 2007, p.74]
85
85
85
83
Pelit (Finland)
Blue Dragon is done by the book, even too much so. The game faithfully reproduces all the love-and-hate clichés of Japanese RPG's. It is like a Hollywood remake of a classic Japanese movie. In short, it lacks character. [Sept 2007]
82
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AceGamez
While it's undoubtedly one of the best looking and most consistently polished and flawlessly constructed games I've ever come across, with masses to discover and a very nifty class and skills system, its many neat touches and features can't hide the fact that it's a very straightforward old-school RPG, whose repetitive action can get tiresome and whose cutesy graphics will fail to inspire, or even impress, some people.
80
80
80
Gamers Europe
80
GameSpy
Without question, it's one of the longest games available on the 360, clocking in at roughly 60 hours depending on how quickly you blaze through it. For huge anime/JRPG geeks like us, Blue Dragon is a fantastic game as long as you can make it through the first few plodding hours and don't mind the hyper-cute character design.
80
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75
Hardcore Gamer Magazine
In an era where games are getting even-shorter, Blue Dragon is a staggeringly 16-bit, grind-happy title. [Oct 2007, p.53]
75
75
75
Official Xbox Magazine
A very lengthy, beautifully wrought, and next-gen 1998, but 1998 nonetheless. [Oct 2007, p.82]
75
74
70
70
X360 Magazine UK
Beautiful to look at, enjoyable to play, but marred by disappointing aspects that do some harm. Nontheless, Sakaguchi has laid the foundations for an immense RPG franchise. [Issue 23, p.76]
70
70
69
68
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The game sabotages things right from the start by sticking you with four of the most vapid, unlikable protagonists I've seen in my 20 years as an RPG fan. [Sept 2007, p.94]
67
65
64
60
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60
Edge Magazine
Without characters to care for or a story compelling enough, only the most dedicated genre faithful will make it through Blue Dragon’s three discs. [Sept 2007, p.88]
59
Talk Xbox
All in all, Blue Dragon is the type of game that would have made much more of an impression about a decade ago. Unfortunately, a forgettable story, cast, score, and battle system make for something that feels more akin to the eager ambitions of novices as opposed to the calculated work of seasoned veterans.
Richard E. gave it a0: Jan gave it a3: Robert D. gave it a10: Rich H. gave it an8: Gamer G. gave it a10: Tony G. gave it a10: MLG DFER gave it a10: |
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