Blue Dragon is an epic Role-Playing Game (RPG) released in 2006, centered on five youngsters who command powerful shadow creatures mirroring their actions in turn-based combat. The core loop involves exploring towns for supplies and navigating dungeons to confront the tyrannical ruler of the Grand Kingdom. Its unique appeal stems from the collaboration of renowned creators, featuring character designs by the artist behind Dragon Ball Z and music by the composer for Final Fantasy, offering a traditional JRPG experience.
The gameplay adheres closely to the structure of classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). The experience is built around exploration of diverse environments and engaging in strategic, turn-based combat encounters. The world is segmented into distinct areas, primarily featuring towns where players can rest, manage inventory, and acquire necessary supplies, contrasted with dungeon-like locations teeming with various foes to overcome.
The defining feature of the combat system is the utilization of the protagonists' shadow creatures. These summoned entities fight alongside their masters, executing actions based on the commands given, adding a layer of strategic depth to the traditional turn-based framework.
The game presents a rich fantasy setting that inspired subsequent anime and manga adaptations. While the core story follows the five main friends—Shu, Jiro, Kluke, Zola, and Marumaro—as they challenge the established order, the world itself is a significant component of the adventure, encouraging thorough exploration between major plot points.
For players interested in extending their experience, the game features one piece of downloadable content (DLC) available for purchase. There are no expansions or remakes currently associated with this main title.
The game stands out due to the collaborative effort behind its creation, bringing together renowned talent from the JRPG sphere. The combination of established creative visionaries in character design and musical composition provides a distinct aesthetic and auditory experience within the role-playing genre.
The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 12 years and over only. It contains: Realistic looking violence towards non human looking characters - Mild bad language.