Before jumping straight into the customary review, I want to share with you a little information regarding my experience with the game’s installation.  To begin, let me make note that for the sake of this review, the game was only tested on one system. That being said, unless your system is (in this circumstance) a little out of date, prepare to jump through a few hoops to get everything running. Begin by inserting the CD and selecting the standard “install” option.  After waiting approximately ten minutes (during which time the computer will likely act as if the program is frozen) the typical install screen will display asking where to install the program.  Once you have managed to install the program, you will be in for a nice surprise.  It turns out that Windows (possibly those versions which included service pack 1 and later) no longer supply the necessary video codecs to display the game’s opening movie. Unfortunately, the game will not open properly without this codec. At this point you have two available options. Your first option is to purchase the Indeo codec from its developer. Your second option (the one that I recommend) is to search the internet for a free codec package that might include the necessary codec.  ~You may find it beneficial to look into the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Now that you know how to get through the game’s installation, we’ll get down to the nit and grit of what makes and what breaks I of the Dragon.

Prepare to take to the skies as one of three magnificent dragons. Though you will have the opportunity to customize your dragon over the course of the adventure, each of the three dragons has their own attributes and innate abilities. For instance, the first of the three dragons will be much more prone toward fire breathing tactics. The second dragon will lean much more toward the traditional Mage. And the third will in effect work best as a sniper. Ultimately, it will be up to you as the player to choose which type of dragon you wish to raise, and which stats you put forth the most effort on the road to improvement.

There is something to be said for a game when you find yourself protecting people that don’t deserve your protecting. That’s right. Long ago, an evil force rose up and was only barely defeated once humans and dragons agreeably fought together. However, once the force that was said to be evil was defeated, the humans turned on the dragons, their one-time allies and did what they could to annihilate them. Over the course of time it was foretold that one day the evil that was thought to have been destroyed would return, and only with assistance would the humans be able to again defeat such a powerful force. That being said, you will take control of the newborn dragon, spared as an egg and depended upon by humans to vanquish this evil and be the hero to those who once turned on your race.

Now for short synopses regarding the game’s gameplay, known more simply as what makes and breaks a game.  In accordance to the traditional RPG, after defeating X amount of enemies you will be given character points which you can apply as deemed most worthy. These stats are fundamental as they are the key to your character’s (a.k.a. dragon’s) development. Through the spending of points, you will be able to beef up your dragon’s fire strength, lung capacity, magical charge time, and even purchase new and more powerful spells. But if that’s not enough for you, you are able to swoop down and catch your (slightly more diminutive) enemies by your talons and bring them back up to the heavens to feast upon and in such a way regain some strength.

As for the Dragon’s controls, two methods have been implemented. Unfortunately, both of the dragon’s control systems (mouse and keyboard) are more than slightly awkward. Clicking your destination within the 3D terrain will get you where you are trying to go, though you will have to hold the mouse button down (or keyboard equivalent) to change your dragon’s altitude. You can probably imagine how tricky it is to attack an enemy when simple navigation is already relatively painful. And if that weren’t enough, the game’s “tactical combat” is composed of circling your opponent from high above the air while tediously breathing fire and casting the occasional spell. But if you feel daring, you are able to swoop down and catch your (slightly more diminutive) enemies in your claws and bring them back up to the heavens to feast upon. At which point you will likely just gain back the life you lost while diving in.

As for the game’s look and sounds, I of the Dragon has little to offer.  Regrettably, its music selection is best described as scanty and rhythmic. Alas, even the game’s ambient noises feel repetitive and offer far-too-little to the game’s ‘desired’ mood. As for its graphics, I of the Dragon has its perks and disappointments. The game’s terrain looks fine and its dragon models are more than adequate. Unfortunately, if the player chooses to zoom the camera in too close to the models, their inefficiencies (e.g. edges and textures) become much more apparent.

In the end, I of the Dragon leaves much to be desired and is probably best described as an all-right game that will likely find it difficult to survive in a market recently populated with so many great games.  

Gameplay: 5.6

I of the Dragon may be fun for the first few hours, but repeatedly breathing fireballs from the heavens is entertaining for only so long.  Before exiting the game’s first area, the player has already experienced most of what the game has to offer. At which point, you will be spending the majority of the game running through the motions. Rinse and repeat…

Graphics: 6.0

A majority of the game’s graphics, including the scenery and models look decent when zoomed far out. Unfortunately, when the camera is zoomed in to the point of which the dragon can be adequately controlled, the character models and their polygonal structure become much more apparent.

Sound: 4.2

In general, music and sound effects are what are supposed to set the games mood.  Unfortunately, the game’s lack of appropriate music is its lowest point.

Difficulty: Medium

The game’s difficulty is best judged by how you decide to play. As long as you don’t go swooping in among hordes of monsters you should be fine. 

Concept: 6.0

Though the game lacks in the telling of its story, being able to play as a powerful dragon is definitely a plus.

Overall: 5.5

If you’re up for what it takes to install the game, then you have a lot more initiative than most people I know.  Even after managing to install the correct codecs, playing through an entire game of I of the Dragon takes a certain motivation and stick-to-itiveness that is hard to come by.