Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates delivers a seamless blend of high-octane action and RPG progression, letting players alternate between the fierce agility of Rynn and the majestic flight of her dragon companion, Arokh. Combat on foot is visceral and responsive, with Rynn’s fast-paced swordplay complemented by precise archery and devastating magical abilities. As you progress, unlocking skill trees and acquiring new gear enhances every swing, shot, and spell, rewarding both strategic planning and reflexive play.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Arokh’s sequences open up the skies in a way few action games dare to attempt. Dogfighting against enemy wyverns, diving through rocky gorges, and unleashing fiery breath on desert hordes feels thrillingly dynamic. The controls balance realism and accessibility: you’ll need to manage altitude and momentum, but not at the expense of fun. Boss encounters in the air ramp up tension, forcing you to use hit-and-run tactics and environmental cover to bring down larger foes.

One standout feature is the game’s approach to difficulty and exploration. While main story missions guide you towards Surdana and the sealed dragon gate, optional side dungeons hide powerful relics and rare materials. These optional objectives scale with your character level, ensuring that even a detour remains engaging rather than frustrating. Combat pacing naturally shifts from open-ended dungeon crawls to focused aerial duels, providing a well-rounded experience that keeps players invested in both terrestrial and aerial gameplay.

Graphics

The visual presentation in Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates captures the stark beauty of its desert setting and the hidden wonders of the dragon realm. Textures on sandstone temples, wind-scoured cliffs, and shimmering oases are impressively detailed, creating a world that feels lived-in. Lighting effects—sunsets casting long shadows or dragon fire illuminating cavern walls—lend cinematic flair to key moments and elevate the overall atmosphere.

Arokh stands out as a graphical centerpiece. His scaled hide catches light realistically, and each flap of his massive wings sends up clouds of dust or snow, depending on the environment. During cutscenes, close-ups reveal subtle animations in his eyes and nostrils, lending emotional weight to the dragon-human bond. Rynn’s character model also benefits from high-resolution armor and flowing garments that ripple in the wind, further enhancing immersion.

Performance is generally solid on modern hardware, with stable frame rates even during intense aerial battles. Occasional pop-in of distant terrain can occur in sprawling desert vistas, but it never disrupts the core experience. The game also offers a variety of camera angles—manual chase cam during flight, over-the-shoulder targeting on foot—allowing players to tailor their visual perspective to match their combat style or exploration needs.

Story

The narrative thrust begins with a harrowing return: Rynn comes home to find her village razed and her people slaughtered. Driven by loss and vengeance, she teams up with Arokh upon hearing a mysterious call to Surdana, the last bastion of human resistance. This inciting incident immediately raises the stakes, hooking players with a clear emotional motive for the journey ahead.

In Surdana, rumors of the Desert Lords—a nightmarish race of three-faced monstrosities—underscore the game’s darker themes. These creatures are more than palette-swapped demons; each variety boasts distinct attack patterns and weaknesses that tie directly into Rynn’s evolving combat repertoire. As the quest unfolds, the story threads humanity’s need for dragon allies into ancient lore, slowly peeling back layers of Drakan’s mythos.

Upon discovering the gateway to the dragon world has been sealed, the plot shifts gears toward restoration and redemption. Rynn and Arokh traverse lush floating islands, crystal caverns, and skyborne fortresses, meeting enigmatic Elder Dragons who test their resolve. These narrative beats strike a good balance between exposition and action, ensuring that every major boss fight or betrayal twist feels earned within the larger tapestry of the game’s mythic struggle.

Overall Experience

Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates stands out as a memorable action-RPG hybrid, thanks largely to its dual‐character gameplay and evocative world design. Players who crave the thrill of dragon flight alongside grounded melee combat will find it hard to put down. The pacing keeps a healthy balance between story-driven missions and open-ended exploration, ensuring that neither aspect overstays its welcome.

While some elements—such as minor environmental pop-in and occasional fetch quests—can feel dated, they never mar the core experience. The game’s strengths in combat variety, narrative ambition, and graphical presentation far outweigh these minor quibbles. Enthusiasts of fantasy epics and aerial dogfights alike will appreciate the title’s willingness to push the boundaries of both genres.

In sum, Drakan: The Ancients’ Gates offers a captivating journey through sun-baked deserts and sky-high fortresses, anchored by a compelling heroine and her loyal dragon. Whether you’re forging new dragon-human alliances or toppling the Desert Lords, this adventure delivers enough depth and spectacle to satisfy a wide range of players seeking a heroic quest with wings.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10