Draglade review

Simply describing the set-up is enough to bring a smile to one's face. In the near future, science has given the world the sport of Grapping, where Grappers battle each other using weapons called Glades fused out of the air from Matter via their G-Cons. Armed with their Dragon Sequencers, they Grap the living daylights out of each other in a bid to become Major Grappers, make the big bucks, and perhaps save the world, as is customary. It's refreshingly unpretentious and fun, and benefits from being taken in the small, snack-sized doses that the game provides.It's all structurally basic- the world map screen is only a hint towards open-endedness, rarely allowing more than one location to visit after leaving each town, funnelling players unfussily towards the next side-scrolling mini-grind and their destination. Each stop allows a chance to spend traditional RPG currency on traditional RPG bonuses and fight in basic tournaments- so far, so formulaic. The combat system is more of a departure, a basic but enjoyable 2D fighting game where predictable strong/ weak attack patterns and combos are augmented by "Bullets", simple instrument-themed magical attacks, and Beat Combos, rhythm-matching musical sequences. It's hardly Parappa The Rapper, and despite the reams of NPC dialogue that reinforces the idea of Grappers as pop star-warriors there's little entertainment in the short ditties on offer.Such sacrifices are necessary in the name of accessibility, though in keeping the combos short and simple and the opponents weak Dimps has perhaps failed to do the music-battle concept justice. Choosing the six Bullets to carry into each fight is a fun diversion - and with dozens to collect, completists should have a field day - but even the most basic tactics can carry novices to the end of each of the four main characters' story modes. The Beat Combos, which should have a central place in the combat system, are a thoroughly optional and often inefficient way of dealing with enemies, and don't provide as bombastic a method of taking down foes as they could.There's a lack of scope to Draglade that makes repeated play-throughs an easy and unrewarding chore, something that a sequel should aim to address in the future. For all those criticisms, the basic mechanics are sound, and undemanding youngsters should take to it, even without a five-hundred-episode cartoon to back it up, with older players hopefully finding a few minutes per day to add some Grapping to their gaming diet. Undemanding as it is, any game that lets you hammer the tar out of a mutant bear with a jaunty ditty and several blasts of magic flowers deserves at least a little attention.