By:
Surreal Software

Talk about a sparse genre. Started by Strategic Simulations' Dragonstrike in 1990, the "dragon simulator" genre will receive its sophomore entry early in 1999 with the release of Psygnosis' Drakan: Order of the Flame. Don't bother comparing the two though; Developed by Surreal Software, Drakan is a graphical tour-de-force of expansive outdoor environments and intricate indoor levels that makes a mockery of current 3D shooters.

Drakan is played in the 3rd person perspective on 2 different modes. Players take on the role of Rynn, a fighter set on exacting a little revenge on her brother's kidnappers. Rynn can wield a variety of different weapons, including swords, daggers, clubs and a smart mouth. If they're crafty enough, players might also be able to coax Rynn into casting a magic spell or two. Indoor level design and play control rival those of Tomb Raider III and Heretic II. Rynn has a complete range of movement and a number of different acrobatic tricks up her sleeveless (and skimpy) shirt. She'll need them to do battle against a host of enemies inside beautifully modeled castle walls, caves and dungeons.

Going outside won't spare anyone from Rynn's wrath though. At her disposal is a giant red dragon known only as Arokh. Strapped to this veritable medieval F-14, players will be able to chase enemies through the sky, over dales, in between canyons and underneath bridges. But Arokh isn't just a lean, mean flying machine. His breath is a deadly shower of fire that'll scorch anything it touches: houses, rocks, trees… and especially people. The flight model and physics employed by Drakan rival those of the big league flight sims, yet Surreal managed to keep the control simple enough to be enjoyable be everyone.

What about those graphics we initially brought up? The screenshots on the next page do all the talking necessary. Drakan's ease of control, breath taking visuals and seamless indoor/outdoor transitions have placed it on our lookout list for 1999. Look for it on store shelves this Spring. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated with additional coverage of this smash hit in the making.