With the market bursting with titles, it can be difficult to find unique ones. Might we recommend to you a little game called Dragon Banner? If you have never heard of it, it’s a game that came out last year that’s part action, part builder, part RTS. It might wear a lot of hats, but that means it explores things that other games wouldn’t try. That might sound overwhelming, but don’t worry.
Dragon Banner won’t drop you into the deep end and will prepare you for its unique blend of strategy and action. If that satiates your curiosity, here are 5 reasons to check out Dragon Banner.
Old School Vibes
From the game’s low poly art style to the music, it’s clear that Dragon Banner loves classic gaming. Some people might find it obligatory, but it definitely fits here. The premise is also classic, with a hero able to speak to a Dragon spirit. However, dragons are considered evil creatures and he is driven out of town. But that won’t stop his heroic quest. His goal? To overthrow the Skull Army terrorizing the land. It’s a story you might’ve heard before, but it’s fun all the same.
RTS, Action, Building Fusion
While Third Person Action RTS’ exist (Sacrifice and Brutal Legend being noticeable examples), it’s still an untapped market that Dragon Banner jumps into with gusto. One half has you joining the fray to fight against the Skull Army whilst another part has you building up forts. It can feel a little odd at first, but it shows Dragon Banner’s identity. While you don’t command units in the vein of a true-blue RTS, resource management is a vital part of the game. The Skull Army can effortlessly get more soldiers, so you’ll need to be careful. Add that with some neat building mechanics, and you have a unique title that you wouldn’t expect from its low-poly stylings.
Mission Variety
There’s plenty of mission types in Dragon Banner. Sometimes it’s as straightforward as finding the end of a level. Other times you’ll be asked to build certain items. These might sound simple enough, but the Skull Army is tricky as hell to deal with if you’re not prepared. This means that each level mixes it up enough to be engaging.
Your Own Hub
Early in the game’s campaign, you start Bannertown as a base against the Skull Army. By completing quests, your town will grow with fellow rebels and new buildings to make. It’s not the most customizable base town out there, but it feels like your own town. It helps that going to bed is one of the few ways you can save in the game, so it’s fun to tidy up. A word to the wise, though: you can rotate buildings with the R button.
A bit of Self Awareness
While Dragon Banner isn’t a comedy game, it does give some fun nods to the inherent strangeness of video games. At one point, your Dragon guide scoffs during the tutorial. You ask “that’s it?” when you win and he says “What did you expect? Giant words floating down saying you win?” After that, a giant Victory text floats down showing you’ve won. It’s a game that knows how cheesy it can be, and isn’t afraid to revel in it once in a while.
Dragon Banner is currently available on Steam. Not only that, but it just released a free expansion pack called Black Powder that added new quests, equipment, characters, and a new unit called the Grenadier. If Dragon Banner sounds up your alley, now’s a good time to give it a shot.
The following article was a sponsored by Soulnata, the developer and publisher of Dragon Banner.</b>
