I love Rogue-likes that try something different or explore a different vibe. So, when I saw the Steam Page for Dragon is Dead, I was intrigued. A Rogue-like evoking Diablo II’s loot system with an art style similar to Blasphemous? It had my attention.

In Dragon is Dead, you play the Successor, one of three playable characters who must take on the corruption left behind by the dragon Guernian, who once took down the gods. You must travel through various biomes, solving quests and killing bosses. If you die, you return to town to upgrade your equipment and then proceed onward.

In a way, Dragon is Dead is like a side-scrolling version of Diablo. You run through each area, open chests, change your equipment, and at the end of the zone, you fight a boss. As you defeat enemies, you level up and get skill points, which you then use to set up your build. Of course, your build is largely dependent on the buffs from your gear and your artifacts, which you collect between each zone.

The problem with Dragon is Dead is that the draw for the game (the story and gameplay) just isn’t all that interesting. The Diablo mechanics are implemented well, and each class is distinctive and well thought out, but the storyline did not capture me. With so many great Rogue-likes out there, if you want to stand out, then you have to either have a really great narrative or unique gameplay.

So, with gameplay that builds from a framework that has already been explored and iterated on for a while, and a story that isn’t really engaging enough to pull in players, what is left? It also doesn’t help that the levels aren’t very deep or randomized. The main things that Dragon is Dead has going for it are its visual design and music.

The artwork and boss design feel like they are in a similar style to Blasphemous’ artwork, minus the religious overtones. It is gorgeous, and for a while, I found myself really excited to experience new biomes and figure out what infernal horror I’d face next. The music also matches the art style, with the overall atmosphere taking on a beautifully haunting vibe.

I wish that Dragon is Dead was more enjoyable for me. I really wanted to love it, and as I played the first few hours, I thought, “This could get better and be fantastic.” However, I can’t say that the story drew me in enough to make the copy-pasted Diablo mechanics worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy those mechanics, but I’ve seen other games pull off the “Narrative-focused Action Rogue-like” idea a lot better.

It could be that Dragon is Dead just isn’t for me. There isn’t anything overall offensive about it, so if you like Action Rogue-likes with a loot system and a gorgeously haunting atmosphere, have at it. It plays beautifully on PC and is a decent experience, but Team Suneat needed something to truly make it incredible.

A PC review copy of Dragon is Dead was provided by PM Studio for the purposes of this review.

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Dragon is Dead

$17.99

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Smooth Controls
• Gorgeous Art Style
• Beautiful Music

Cons

• Bland experience
• Story isn't engaging
• Levels aren't really randomized
• Lack of Unique mechanics