GENRE
	RTS / RPG
	DEVELOPER
	Mistwalker / Brownie Brown / Feelplus
	PUBLISHER
	Ignition Entertainment
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	No
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

The Blue Dragon franchise is the brainchild of Mistwalker Studios, an outfit comprised largely of Square-Enix (and, by extension, Final Fantasy) expatriates. The first Blue Dragon was an Xbox 360 exclusive, designed primarily to boost the console’s fortunes in the hostile consumer landscape of Japan. Despite receiving only middling reviews, Blue Dragon got a follow-up on DS in the form of Blue Dragon Plus. Although a different game in terms of gameplay from its console ancestor, Blue Dragon Plus proves to be an equally pedestrian game.

visuals

Production values are not a negative in this game, and the visuals are good evidence of that. The game looks very good, with excellent CG framing the major parts of the game and solid sprite work dominating the main game. Characters look good and move smoothly, and special effects are vigorous and satisfying. The art design is above par, carrying on the tradition of the Xbox 360 game, and the backgrounds, while a bit on the sterile side, achieve the technological feel that the plot sets out to cultivate.

audio

Audio is also pretty good, although not quite at the level of the visuals. The music is MIDI and vacillates between ethereal ambient tunes and tense, pop-driven anthems. None of it is particularly special, nor is any of it grating. There is, unfortunately, no voice work.

gameplay

In contrast to its turn-based RPG predecessor, Blue Dragon Plus is a real-time RTS with embedded RPG conventions. As in an RTS, combat takes place in real-time, with the only pauses happening during cutscenes and to confirm special attacks. As in an RPG, characters can earn experience (applied after the completion of combat), level up, acquire equipment, add job classes, and learn new techniques. It’s an interesting combination that will appeal to fans of mashups, but it may also prove a disappointment to hardcore fans of each genre. RPGers, for example, may lament the fact that the game cannot be paused and take stock of the situation, a frustration when trying to manage large parties. RTS fans may dislike the fact that there is no resource gathering and may find the equipment management of such a large cast of characters to be a chore.

The box advertises about 30 hours of gameplay, but actual time spent on the game is liable to be more like 15-20 hours for most gamers, including completion of many of the side quests. The plotline takes place after the events of Blue Dragon and introduces many of the allies and enemies of the 360 game. While playing the first game is not required to play this one, the plot is bound to have more punch for veterans of Blue Dragon than newcomers to the franchise.

The game has its virtues. The combat is frenetic and can be exciting, especially when executing spells in the heat of combat. There is a lot of depth to the game as well: varied equipment and supplemental job classes among the game’s many characters allow for a lot of mixing and matching. Adding to the character ranks is a plant which allows players to construct robots from a list of defeated foes, and the plant allows player to add custom circuits and equipment as well.

The gameplay also has its share of disappointments. The game often requires splitting up characters into multiple teams, but this is a chore and proves annoying in practice. The plot shows promise but doesn’t go very far, and as a result this game feels more like a side story than a full-fledged adventure. The difficulty level fluctuates wildly: some levels are laughingly easy, while others (such as the end boss) are absurdly difficult. The AI is okay but some of the ally pathing is frustrating, and it is not uncommon for characters to take the longest route possible to reaching a rally point.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Much like its 360 predecessor, Blue Dragon Plus is an average game that will tempt gamers with its pedigree but also show a failure to live up to its potential. To be sure, the game is quite polished, with good graphics (including very nice FMV), nice art design, good music, and some interesting gameplay and plot elements. At the same time, the game never really comes together in a compelling way; the plot shows promise but is too thin to rise above pedestrian, while Brownie Brown’s RTS/RPG formula is interesting in theory but annoying in practice. In the end, this is a game that may appeal to fans of the Xbox 360 game, but for most people it will probably end up forgotten in the face of superior DS fare.

7.0/10