Drakkhen was a computer game developed by Draconian (Data East) for the PC (notably, for the Amiga). Created by French developers, it was released in the United States by MicroProse in 1990, and it also saw a port for the Super NES, by Kemco-Seika. Drakkhen was notable for being among the first computer role-playing games to feature a three-dimensional playing field, (though it did not utilize a "real" 3D game engine, it simulated one using character-scaling algorithms), including an animated day-night cycle and the ability to wander freely about the game world. A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Data East (データイースト dēta īsuto) was a Japanese video game company, also known as DECO (Data East Corporation, データイースト株式会社 dēta īsuto kabushikigaisha). ... Personal computer and peripherals. ... The original Amiga (1985) The Amiga is a family of home/personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation as an advanced game console. ... MicroProse Software, Inc. ... This article is about the year. ... The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply role-playing games (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that traditionally uses gameplay elements found in paper-and-pencil role-playing games. ... A game engine is the core software component of a video game. ... Flowcharts are often used to represent algorithms. ...

As for the game world of Drakkhen, it was large and curiously desolate. A large rectangular continent was divided into four regions, each ruled by two monarchs, and much of the game was spent travelling between the castles of these on various political missions. The storyline lacked the complexity and pre-scripted dialogue commonly found in role-playing games of the time, and the plot was fairly obscure, a fact best explained by spotty translation. Drakkhen also featured an engaging music soundtrack and a very strange palette of character noises, many of which sounded more like belching, chittering or inarticulate rumbling than actual speech.

Its limitations notwithstanding, Drakkhen attracted a small cult following thanks to its innovative approach and eerie vibe.

The small proportion of the gaming population who have played and enjoyed Drakkhen generally consider it a classic of the RPG genre, alongside the likes of Betrayal at Krondor, Ultima Underworld, Final Fantasy IV, and Baldur's Gate -- although its replay value is somewhat lower than these due to its comparative lack of depth, detail, and storytelling. Betrayal at Krondor is a DOS computer role-playing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1993. ... Ultima Underworld is a series of two computer role playing games published by Origin Systems in the early 1990s. ... Final Fantasy IV (ファイナルファンタジーIV in Japanese, or Fainaru Fantajī IV using romanization), often abbreviated to FF4, is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square Co. ... Baldurs Gate is a location in the fictional Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons and Dragons. ...

External links

• http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=340
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