Dragon's Crown - Flexible Quest System

Instead of clearing stages, think of Dragon’s Crown as a game that’s broken into quests producer Kashow Oda explained to Dengeki PlayStation. Dungeons in Vanillaware’s beat ‘em up have multiple routes and you’ll have to follow specific paths to obtain items. The next time you visit the same area you may do different actions, which changes how the area feels.

Oda gave a specific example, at one point in the game you can steal an item from a boss monster. Steal the treasure and you’ll tick off the boss who will retaliate by chasing you through the stage – even into different dungeons. Oda says players have choices in the game like deciding to fight, run away, or to search for secrets within a stage. Altogether, Oda says the game has between 40-50 hours of play time.

You don’t have to complete quests alone, Dragon’s Crown has a multiplayer mode. Yes, it’s possible for everyone to be the sorceress. The game will display a players name and a color variation (red, green or pink were listed as examples) so you can differentiate who is who. Having an entire group of sorceresses turning enemies into frogs may not be the best strategy. To remedy this, Dragon’s Crown has items, equipment, and magic, which can compliment players. Oda hopes teams will discuss which party to use before tackling a quest. Fighters, for example, have high defense and can act as tanks by protecting the entire party. Dragon’s Crown has an in-game communication system too. Oda says, you can respond with "thank you", shown as a pop-up image in the game, after a fighter covers you from an attack. A single player game ends when you run out of lives.

Dragon’s Crown - New Interview

Dengeki PlayStation recently sat down with Ignition Entertainment’s Kashow Oda to talk VanillaWare’s upcoming Dragon’s Crown for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The interview dives deep into the upcoming role-playing game, announced last month at E3.


Oda was surprised at the positive reaction the game received in Japan. The positive overseas reaction was apparently expected because, according to Oda, VanillaWare is very popular in the west.


The game is being made to allow both low-level and high-level players to play together. Rather than leveling through a numbered system, players will instead use items to become stronger. When in multiplayer, low-level players matched with high-level players will have the opportunity to gain more powerful items, if taking on a difficult dungeon.


Your party can consist of any combination of characters. Everyone can be elves, or everyone can be sorcerers. Some dungeons may be more difficult with certain party formations.


At the current point in production, there are already a large number of quests you can take from the guild. Some of the dungeons are so big that you won’t be able to explore them fully during a single quest.


Your actions may affect the game world. A certain boss enemy, for example, may chase you throughout the stage if you make him mad, and may continue follow you through other dungeons, as well.


Two classes, the fairy and thief, are solely support characters. They will accompany you as NPCs throughout a dungeon. The thief, for example, will steal a new weapon for you if yours is lost in battle.


A “Bone Collection System” allows you further interaction with off-system players. Throughout dungeons, you’ll find bones. The remains of other players, you can take the bones you find to the shrine in your town and revive the dead players into NPCs.


All that said, Dragon’s Crown is a 40 to 50 hour game.

Dragon's Crown - New Gameplay Info

- when the player finds weapons they can be leveled up.

- game has been planned for 13 years

- development team wants to add in puzzle elements similar to tower of druaga.

- the puzzle elements are still being disscussed between vanillaware and ignition.

- ad hoc multiplayer

- players can pick up the bones of another player and can pay a fee to revive them in their game.

- although not confirmed their is potential team attacks like the wizard & the fighter.

- if you die alot you gain fame.