Dragonkin: The Banished 🐉 - The ARPG That Could Change EVERYTHING 🎮✨
0Dragonkin: The Banished is a promising action RPG that has already made a strong impression in its Early Access state. Priced affordably, it offers a surprisingly polished experience for fans of the genre, with a solid foundation that hints at even greater potential as development progresses. While it’s not without its flaws—expected for an EA title—the game delivers a compelling mix of engaging combat, deep customization, and a unique world that sets it apart from other ARPGs.
What Makes Dragonkin Stand Out?
1. A Fair Price for a Promising Experience!
At its current price point, Dragonkin: The Banished offers excellent value. The game avoids the pitfalls of modern live-service models, with no microtransactions (MTX) or fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) mechanics. Instead, it focuses on delivering a traditional aRPG experience, which is a breath of fresh air for fans tired of monetization-heavy games.
2. Strong Presentation and Performance!
Visually, the game is a treat. The art style, UI design, and music come together to create an immersive atmosphere. Performance is also commendable, with the game running smoothly on mid-to-high-end systems. While there are occasional frame drops in specific areas, the overall performance is impressive for an EA title.
3. Engaging Combat and Skill System!
Combat starts off simple but quickly becomes more dynamic as you unlock skills and slot them into the game’s unique Ancestral Grid. This system allows for deep customization, with skills like Ice Breath, Ice Throw, and Ice Leap feeling impactful and satisfying to use. The potential for diverse builds is immense, thanks to the layered mechanics that let players tailor their playstyle.
4. Endgame Content and Replayability!
Even in its EA state, Dragonkin offers a decent amount of content. The first act of the campaign takes around 6-8 hours to complete, with additional endgame hunts providing another 15-20 hours of gameplay. These hunts are mid-sized quest chains that reward players with loot and permanent buffs. With a max character level of 50, there’s plenty of grinding for those who enjoy optimizing their builds.
5. Handcrafted Maps and Enemy Variety!
The game’s maps are expansive and handcrafted, offering a sense of exploration without being open-world. Enemy variety is another highlight, with visually distinct foes featuring unique attack patterns, from AOE spells to summoning abilities. Elite enemies with special modifiers keep encounters fresh, and mini-bosses add an extra layer of challenge.
While Dragonkin: The Banished has many strengths, there are areas where it falls short, as expected for an EA title.
1. Lack of Sound Effects!
One of the most noticeable omissions is the absence of sound effects for key actions, such as picking up gold, collecting crafting materials, or interacting with objects. These missing audio cues detract from the immersion and are a common complaint among players.
2. Enemy Hit Feedback and Clarity!
Combat, while generally satisfying, suffers from unclear enemy attack telegraphs and hit feedback. Some AOE attacks are nearly impossible to dodge, leading to frustrating one-shot deaths. Improved visual and audio cues would go a long way in making encounters feel fairer and more engaging.
3. Town Progression System!
The town-building mechanic is a unique addition, but it lacks clear explanations. Players are left guessing how to upgrade the town or what resources are needed, which can be confusing. Better tutorials or tooltips would help players understand this important aspect of progression.
4. Weapon and Class Restrictions!
Currently, weapon types are tied to specific classes, limiting build diversity. Allowing classes to use multiple weapon types—or even share weapons between classes—would add more flexibility and replayability.
5. Early Access Rough Edges!
As an EA title, Dragonkin has its share of unfinished elements. Some NPCs feel lifeless, with no lore or flavor dialogue, and certain crafting systems are marked as “coming soon.” While these issues are expected in EA, they highlight the need for further development to fully realize the game’s potential.
The Verdict!
Dragonkin: The Banished is a promising ARPG that stands out for its fair pricing, engaging combat, and deep customization options. While it’s still rough around the edges, the core experience is solid, and the developers’ commitment to avoiding MTX and live-service elements is commendable.
For ARPG fans looking for something fresh and affordable, Dragonkin is worth checking out. It’s not without its flaws, but the foundation is strong, and the potential for growth is evident. If the developers continue to refine and expand the game, Dragonkin: The Banished could become a standout title in the genre.
Dragonkin: The Banished - Early Access Launched on January 21, 2024!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $24.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1863430/Dragonkin_The_Banished/