Drakan: The Ancients' Gates (Sony) - Game Play
Last modified on May 7th, 2003
- After an enemy has been targeted, using the 'R2' button, the circling color band Target Lock indicators change color as the enemy takes on damage. The colors change from yellow (targeted), to orange (some damage taken), to red (considerable damage incurred), to black (destruction is imminent). You can use this indication to gauge how far away the enemy is from destruction and adjust your attack strategy accordingly.
- Pressing the 'L2' button, when an enemy is marked by Target Lock, will switch to alternate targets when more than one enemy is present.
- The 'Right Analog mini-Joy Stick' can be used to rotate the camera view and should be used to your best advantage.
- Use a combo attack coupled with a backwards roll against close range enemies, then run back in and do it again. Another useful strategy is to run along the left side of enemies and whack them in passing. They will usually not be able to
strike her while doing this. Should they attack quickly, stab before whacking them with a combo attack. Stabbing usually causes an enemy to stumble backward, clutching its gut.
- Enemies will sometimes drop useful items upon their expiration. Some will be automatically picked up if they land on Rynn. Others can be obtained by having her walk over them, although sometimes this is easier said than done. Use the 'L1' button to automatically pick up everything available as long as the items are not too far distant. Note that this does not work from behind a locked gate.
- Roll from side to side, or travel a zig zag course, to dodge the shots of enemies, who attack from a distance, if you want her to charge in and attack them with a melee weapon.
- A medium or long range bow can generally take out far off melee weapon carrying enemies, before they can reach your character.
- If the enemies can't see all of her (the game's artificial intelligence is generally less than so), they'll normally act as if she doesn't exist. Thus she can hide partially behind a tree, rock, or other cover, and fire at them with a bow at her leisure.
- If she can sneak up very close behind an enemy and you then press the 'Square' button, Rynn will jump and smash the enemy. Doing this will often result in the instant demise of the enemy, depending on the strength of her equipped weapon. It seems to do around two to three times as much damage as a normal weapon hit. This is often referred to as a Back Stab in the walk through.
- Be sure to "Hot Slot" potions and weapons. The ability to quaff a potion or switch to an unbroken weapon on the run can mean the difference between continuing or restarting.
- Swimming is accomplished using the left and right mini-Joy sticks in concert. Use the left one to move Rynn forward or turn. Use the right one for diving and surfacing. Don't have her try to swim too far without resurfacing as she can drown.
- Keep moving during aerial combat, by establishing a lock, circling the enemy, changing altitude and varying the distance, and continuing to fire. Other useful strategies include divide and conquer, and after locking on, back pedal as you fire away with a homing attack, keeping just enough distance so that Arokh's attack makes contact and the attacking dragon is too far away to get any or many attacks off.
- Both Analog mini-joysticks can be used to control Arokh in flight to perform aerial stunts, which can prove useful in evading enemy fire.
- Should she or Arokh become frozen, rapidly press buttons to shake her or him out of it.