Drakensang: The River of Time
Encyclopedia
Drakensang: The River of Time is a computer role-playing game developed by Radon Labs. Drakensang TROT is the second personal computer game in The Dark Eye
-universe since Attic's
Northlands Trilogy from the 1990s (Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
, Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
and Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva
).
, in-story it serves as a prequel. The game takes place around the city of Nadoret. Nadoret lies south of the city of Ferdok, the main hub of the first installment. From Nadoret the player travels the Great River to reveal a series of pirate attacks. Over the course of the game he teams up with Ardo of Boarstock, the dwarf Forgrimm and the thief Cuano, who also appeared in Drakensang: The Dark Eye.
or Neverwinter Nights
. Using a largely faithful version of the pen and paper rules, statistics, skills and talents are leveled up through universal experience points which can be applied to anything from skills which increase the amount of information found on the minimap to skills useful for combat or negotiation. The River of Time also addressed minor criticisms of the first game, such as the player's inability to return to most areas once completed.
It was released in Germany in February 2010, followed by an expansion pack called Phileasson's Secret in August 2010. It was released in English in January 2011, Phileasson's Secret in May 2011.
However, this second game of the franchise did not fair well financially, and subsequently Radon Labs were declared bankrupt and acquired by Bigpoint Games
. The Drakensang brand was then turned into a online browser game franchise, that no longer connects to The Dark Eye franchise.
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye , is a German role-playing game created by Ulrich Kiesow and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye"...
-universe since Attic's
Attic Entertainment Software
The Attic Entertainment Software GmbH was a German computer game developer and publisher that was founded September 1990 by Hans-Jürgen Brändle, Jochen Hamma and Guido Henkel in Albstadt, Baden-Württemberg...
Northlands Trilogy from the 1990s (Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a computer role-playing game developed by Attic Entertainment Software. It was the first game based on the German pen & paper RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Fantasy Productions. The original German version of the game was released in 1992...
, Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail is a computer role playing game by Attic Entertainment Software based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge. The original German version of the game was released in 1994...
and Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva
Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva
Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva is a computer role playing game based on the German RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Attic Entertainment Software. The original German version of the game was released in 1996...
).
Story
Though released after Drakensang: The Dark EyeDrakensang: The Dark Eye
Drakensang: The Dark Eye is a computer role-playing game developed by Radon Labs. The game was announced on April 21, 2006 by publisher dtp...
, in-story it serves as a prequel. The game takes place around the city of Nadoret. Nadoret lies south of the city of Ferdok, the main hub of the first installment. From Nadoret the player travels the Great River to reveal a series of pirate attacks. Over the course of the game he teams up with Ardo of Boarstock, the dwarf Forgrimm and the thief Cuano, who also appeared in Drakensang: The Dark Eye.
Gameplay
Just like the original Drakensang, it has a traditional RPG party-based style, with a 'real-time with pause' round-based playmode as seen in games like Baldur's GateBaldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using modified Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules...
or Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
. Using a largely faithful version of the pen and paper rules, statistics, skills and talents are leveled up through universal experience points which can be applied to anything from skills which increase the amount of information found on the minimap to skills useful for combat or negotiation. The River of Time also addressed minor criticisms of the first game, such as the player's inability to return to most areas once completed.
It was released in Germany in February 2010, followed by an expansion pack called Phileasson's Secret in August 2010. It was released in English in January 2011, Phileasson's Secret in May 2011.
Reception
Drakensang: The River of Time was received positive in the german press and generally praised as an improvement over the first title. It won the "Best RPG 2010" at the German Developer Awards in Essen, Germany.However, this second game of the franchise did not fair well financially, and subsequently Radon Labs were declared bankrupt and acquired by Bigpoint Games
Bigpoint Games
Bigpoint GmbH is a German video game developer that has specializes in browser-based games. Bigpoint runs a gaming portal website with a number of browser-based massively multiplayer online role playing games it has produced and has over 200 million registered users...
. The Drakensang brand was then turned into a online browser game franchise, that no longer connects to The Dark Eye franchise.