Vanillaware returns with arguably its best game to date, a tribute to beat-em-ups with much deeper elements.
Dragon's Crown has been a long time coming. Initially intended as a release for the Dreamcast (no, we aren't kidding), the game has been deep in development over at Vanillaware for what seems like an eternity. However, by this coming Tuesday, it'll finally see the light as an exclusive title for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. Though there are certain things that players will take issue to, this is a game for the ages, a beat-em-up that evolves the genre to new heights.
In the game, you'll have six characters to choose from. The fighter is a good basic choice to start with, as he has an arsenal of moves that will do beat-em-up players good. From there, you can move on to one of the other five characters – the amazon, the dwarf, the sorceress, the wizard and the elf. Each one has different battle tactics, whether it's using brute force, a bow and arrow or devastating magic spells to put enemies in their place. You're going to need all the strength you can muster, because some of the bosses – which manage to fill the entire screen – will put up quite a fight.
Dragon's Crown shouldn't be confused with your "basic" brawler. It actually goes quite deep here, and you'll have to put some effort into it. The game starts out with a basic nine-level structure, but opens up new levels and the ability to play online with friends while you progress. It'll take some time – and certain skills have to be acquired before you manage to become a real powerhouse later on – but at least you'll have a good time doing it.