Years Of The Dragon
Jan. 2, 2016Years Of The Dragon
Speaking in windy whispers, theAncient DragoninDark Souls 2featured prominently in the game’s story and took the opportunity to indict mankind for their sins of want, all while being connected to Aldia. Chilling and regal it challenged the players to look within and understand the desires that motivate us. Instigating violence with it, showed us all that it’s physical prowess far exceeded its expansive wisdom and made for one of the toughest bosses to defeat in the game.
In a land where dragons speak the finest King’s English, Alduin is the classiest of all. Feared by all in theElder Scrolls’Tamriel and known as the World Eater, Alduin feels it is his birthright to conquer the world and subdue it under the rule of all dragons with himself as the divine ruler. Defeated once and sent forward in time, only the Dragonborn can fusrodah him into submission, before he brings about the destruction of everything.
Part dragon, part demon, all thump. While his boss fight was more of a puzzle than a fight, the Dragon God’s imprint on the game was undeniable, featuring heavily in the intro trailer and game’s artwork. Dragon God’s design was also a unique take on the subject with its shark-like rows of teeth and very humanoid posture during the boss fight. Not the truest dragon in the traditional sense, it still occupied a very impressive and powerful role in the game’s atmosphere.
When the gods of a land take pains to not provoke you, you know you’re a bad mama jamma. Only brought down by the brilliant arrow shooting ofGough, a woundedKalameetwas still a lesson in perseverance. InDark Souls’Artorias of the Abyssexpansion full of challenging fights, Kalameet was easily the toughest, wiping 3 person parties with ease. While not terribly useful on their own, claiming theCalamity RingandObsidian Greatswordare still badges of honor in a game that repeatedly demoralized you.
He may be the greatest, if not for being eclipsed by his badder undead self, the Ur-Dragon. InDragon’s Dogma, Grigori’s purpose in the cycle of Arisen is undeniable and he is the impetus that spurs the players on from the moment he cuts your heart out in the game’s opening scenes. He is looms large both physically and spiritually and completing your task as the chosen Arisen is no easy quest. Should you meet again in theEverfall, the Ur-Dragon’s entry into the arena is awe inspiring each time and when he asks, “You would rise against me once more?” you get the sense that you and him are the 2 halves of the whole. Do you have goosebumps yet?
Dragons may seem trite these days but what fantasy RPG would be complete without them? There is both a literal and symbolic majesty to their presence and they inspire fits of fancy unlike few mythical creatures ever have.
Dark Souls 3 is right around the corner, and given the series’ history with dragons, we can bet we’ll be encountering some legendary ones in this installment. Now with a genre as vast as this, I surely have left out other memorable dragons of gaming lore. If you’ve got a fire breathing (or any other element for that matter) nominee, sound off in the comments !
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Editor at Fextralife. I look for the substantial in gaming and I try to connect video games to the emotions and stories they elicit. I love all things culture and history and have an odd fondness for the planet Jupiter. I think my dogs are pretty awesome too.
Dragons Dogma has the best dragons, if only for how you fight them. Things like the dragon stepping on you and killing you are legitimate worries. (and that there are only like 2, though drakes aren’t uncommon in bbi.) It’s not like Dragon age where it has to actually attack, the simple act of movement for something so big is potentially lethal for you.
Dragon Age was Filled With Dragons too, Except there was so many they were a dime a dozen.
