Vampyr
03-03-2004, 05:43 PM
- Action Adventure Game Implements Role-Playing Features in a Gothic World
of Dragons and the Occult -
Los Angeles, Calif., (March 2, 2004) - Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. ("Square
Enix U.S.A."), the publisher of Square Enix(tm) interactive products in
North America, announced that Drakengard(tm) for the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system, ships to North American retailers today. Drakengard
weaves action-packed gameplay with complex character and weapon development
in the setting of a mysterious kingdom.
Drakengard tells a tale of love, sacrifice, obligation and bitter compromise
following the struggles of a Union soldier named Caim. He comes to find that
the Empire he once knew has raised an army with unexplainable great power
and has taken his sister prisoner. In the ultimate sacrifice, Caim joins
souls with the dragon he despises in order to save his sister. Together
they begin their quest to unravel the mystery behind the Empire's sudden
rise to power. They will soon discover a connection between the Empire,
Caim's sister, the mythical Seeds of Resurrection and the gods themselves.
Drakengard features three battlefields and multiple experience and growth
elements based on the player's decisions, which immerse the player in an
all-new gameplay experience combining fantasy, interactivity and a tragic
saga.
Gameplay Features
Diverse battlefields
· Aerial Combat: Players fly high above the landscape astride
a powerful dragon and dispatch airborne opponents with devastating fire and
thrilling special attacks.
· Strafe Attack: Players can annihilate entire groups of
soldiers with a blast of fire from the dragon. Strafe Attack also allows
players to seek out hidden locations and rare items.
· Melee Mode: Players can dismount the dragon and enter
the battleground on foot attacking a myriad of enemies face to face. In
addition, "melee mode" allows Caim to enter areas forbidden or inaccessible
to the pact-beast.
Multiple experiences
· Story: The story is conveyed through event sequences, over
an hour of CG movies and through gameplay action itself. Depending on how
the game is played, the player can experience different story elements and
one of a variety of endings that can be uncovered.
· Characters: In addition to Caim, players can "summon" other
characters to control, each of whom has his or her own abilities,
pact-beasts, weapons and troubled past.
· Areas: Players can return to previously cleared areas and
encounter new characters, changed environments and different enemies.
Growth element
· Dragon Growth: As the game progresses, the dragon and its
abilities will mature. Its physical appearance evolves into an imposing
presence and dragonfire attacks become more powerful.
· Character Growth: Caim's battle attributes also evolve
throughout the game. He is rewarded with improved combo attacks, more
powerful magic and enhanced strength as his weapon's levels increase.
· Weapon Growth: As the player's weapon levels up so will the
visual representation of the weapon. Players can choose from a selection of
over 60 weapons imbued with their own magic and history, revealing each of
the weapons' lethal past.
Marketing and Advertising Support
The launch of Drakengard is supported by television advertising campaigns
throughout March. The spots will run in various time slots on target
network, cable and syndicated programming such as Comedy Central, MTV, Spike
TV, WWE and Fuse. Promotions in conjunction with Drakengard include MTV's
"Fantasy Music Tycoon" and WWE's "Backlash" to be aired in April. The
combined print and online advertising campaigns in various gaming magazines
and sites will reach millions of gamers in March and April.
BradyGames' Drakengard Official Strategy Guide is the ultimate resource to
help players resolve the conflict between the Empire and the Union in this
epic adventure. The detailed mission strategies will help gamers stop all
foes dead in their tracks-whether it's an aerial or ground mission. The area
maps included in this section pinpoint the precise path through each area.
In addition, players will have the power to uncover all 65 weapons,
including the hidden ones, with the handy quick reference section. With all
game secrets, including how to access the ultimate flying machine revealed,
players will enjoy endless gameplay options and hours of replay value. The
strategy guide is available at electronics, book and software retailers for
$14.99 US/$21.99 CAN.
Drakengard is available at North American retailers for a suggested retail
price of $39.99 (USD). The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has
rated Drakengard "M" for Mature. Additional information on Drakengard can
be found at http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/drakengard. For more
information about the ESRB, visit http://www.esrb.org.
About Square Enix Co. Ltd. and Square Enix U.S.A., Inc.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops,
publishes and distributes entertainment contents including interactive
entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and
Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL
FANTASY®, which has sold over 49 million units worldwide and DRAGON QUEST
(DRAGON WARRIOR® in North America), which has sold over 31 million units
worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential
providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to
push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Square Enix U.S.A. Inc., located in Los Angeles, Calif., handles operations
in North America including localization, marketing and publishing of Square
Enix titles. More information on Square Enix U.S.A. can be found on the
Internet at http://www.square-enix-usa.com.
###
© 2004 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Drakengard is a
trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. SQUARE ENIX is a trademark of Square
Enix Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Developed by cavia Inc. "PlayStation"
and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
Woohoo anyone?
of Dragons and the Occult -
Los Angeles, Calif., (March 2, 2004) - Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. ("Square
Enix U.S.A."), the publisher of Square Enix(tm) interactive products in
North America, announced that Drakengard(tm) for the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system, ships to North American retailers today. Drakengard
weaves action-packed gameplay with complex character and weapon development
in the setting of a mysterious kingdom.
Drakengard tells a tale of love, sacrifice, obligation and bitter compromise
following the struggles of a Union soldier named Caim. He comes to find that
the Empire he once knew has raised an army with unexplainable great power
and has taken his sister prisoner. In the ultimate sacrifice, Caim joins
souls with the dragon he despises in order to save his sister. Together
they begin their quest to unravel the mystery behind the Empire's sudden
rise to power. They will soon discover a connection between the Empire,
Caim's sister, the mythical Seeds of Resurrection and the gods themselves.
Drakengard features three battlefields and multiple experience and growth
elements based on the player's decisions, which immerse the player in an
all-new gameplay experience combining fantasy, interactivity and a tragic
saga.
Gameplay Features
Diverse battlefields
· Aerial Combat: Players fly high above the landscape astride
a powerful dragon and dispatch airborne opponents with devastating fire and
thrilling special attacks.
· Strafe Attack: Players can annihilate entire groups of
soldiers with a blast of fire from the dragon. Strafe Attack also allows
players to seek out hidden locations and rare items.
· Melee Mode: Players can dismount the dragon and enter
the battleground on foot attacking a myriad of enemies face to face. In
addition, "melee mode" allows Caim to enter areas forbidden or inaccessible
to the pact-beast.
Multiple experiences
· Story: The story is conveyed through event sequences, over
an hour of CG movies and through gameplay action itself. Depending on how
the game is played, the player can experience different story elements and
one of a variety of endings that can be uncovered.
· Characters: In addition to Caim, players can "summon" other
characters to control, each of whom has his or her own abilities,
pact-beasts, weapons and troubled past.
· Areas: Players can return to previously cleared areas and
encounter new characters, changed environments and different enemies.
Growth element
· Dragon Growth: As the game progresses, the dragon and its
abilities will mature. Its physical appearance evolves into an imposing
presence and dragonfire attacks become more powerful.
· Character Growth: Caim's battle attributes also evolve
throughout the game. He is rewarded with improved combo attacks, more
powerful magic and enhanced strength as his weapon's levels increase.
· Weapon Growth: As the player's weapon levels up so will the
visual representation of the weapon. Players can choose from a selection of
over 60 weapons imbued with their own magic and history, revealing each of
the weapons' lethal past.
Marketing and Advertising Support
The launch of Drakengard is supported by television advertising campaigns
throughout March. The spots will run in various time slots on target
network, cable and syndicated programming such as Comedy Central, MTV, Spike
TV, WWE and Fuse. Promotions in conjunction with Drakengard include MTV's
"Fantasy Music Tycoon" and WWE's "Backlash" to be aired in April. The
combined print and online advertising campaigns in various gaming magazines
and sites will reach millions of gamers in March and April.
BradyGames' Drakengard Official Strategy Guide is the ultimate resource to
help players resolve the conflict between the Empire and the Union in this
epic adventure. The detailed mission strategies will help gamers stop all
foes dead in their tracks-whether it's an aerial or ground mission. The area
maps included in this section pinpoint the precise path through each area.
In addition, players will have the power to uncover all 65 weapons,
including the hidden ones, with the handy quick reference section. With all
game secrets, including how to access the ultimate flying machine revealed,
players will enjoy endless gameplay options and hours of replay value. The
strategy guide is available at electronics, book and software retailers for
$14.99 US/$21.99 CAN.
Drakengard is available at North American retailers for a suggested retail
price of $39.99 (USD). The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has
rated Drakengard "M" for Mature. Additional information on Drakengard can
be found at http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/drakengard. For more
information about the ESRB, visit http://www.esrb.org.
About Square Enix Co. Ltd. and Square Enix U.S.A., Inc.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops,
publishes and distributes entertainment contents including interactive
entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and
Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL
FANTASY®, which has sold over 49 million units worldwide and DRAGON QUEST
(DRAGON WARRIOR® in North America), which has sold over 31 million units
worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential
providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to
push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Square Enix U.S.A. Inc., located in Los Angeles, Calif., handles operations
in North America including localization, marketing and publishing of Square
Enix titles. More information on Square Enix U.S.A. can be found on the
Internet at http://www.square-enix-usa.com.
###
© 2004 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Drakengard is a
trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. SQUARE ENIX is a trademark of Square
Enix Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Developed by cavia Inc. "PlayStation"
and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
Woohoo anyone?