Dragonflight (video game)
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1987 |
| Founder | Udo Fischer, Erik Simon |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Dragonflight |
Dragonflight is a role-playing video game released in 1990 by Thalion Software, available on the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS platforms. The project was initiated in January 1987, led by German developers Udo Fischer and Erik Simon.
Plot
Accompanying the game was a 104-page novella that detailed its narrative background: with magic and dragons nearly extinct, the fate of the world rests on their revival to safeguard humans, dwarves, and elves from malevolent threats. Players manage a group of four characters—a human fighter, human wizard, dwarf warrior, and elf versatile fighter—tasked with locating dragons and mystical relics.
Gameplay
The game’s overworld is presented with an overhead view reminiscent of Ultima, while dungeons are explored through a first-person perspective. Combat operates on a turn-based system displayed from a side view over a grid map, supplemented by an overhead battlefield overview. All controls are executed via mouse input.
Reception
ST Format criticized the storyline as outdated and the manual as inadequate but commended the game's open-ended approach. Reviewers from Amiga Action described the gameplay as uninspired and combat mechanics as rigid, also pointing out that the challenge level was insufficient for experienced RPG players. The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review highlighted its technical execution and narrative complexity, drawing positive comparisons to Legend of Faerghail. Meanwhile, Aktueller Software Markt considered it a strong competitor to the Ultima titles. In contrast, Play Time noted poor performance in the DOS version, citing inferior graphics and audio problems.
By 1992, total sales of Dragonflight had reached 25,000 units across all systems, marking it as Thalion Software’s highest-selling game up to that point.
External links
- Dragonflight at Thalion Software Webshrine