If you combined the epic monster hunting elements of Monster Hunter and combined it with the core gameplay of White Cat Project, what you get is a fast-paced multiplayer mobile ARPG called Dragon Project. The game features a world separated into different zones in which players can explore, hunt, and gather materials to improve their gear. Unlike most mobile games, the game features a gacha which summons different quests. These quests function like the hub quests in Monster Hunter, what this means is that the gacha allows players to hunt special monsters, either solo with NPC or with other players.
▍So What’s Good About Dragon Project?
Created by Colopl, it isn’t really a surprise that the controls and overall feel of the action in Dragon Project feel similar to that of White Cat Project, but what makes the game a blast is the sense of exploration players get from roaming the world of Dragon Project. Through slaying monsters in different zones and completing quests from the city, players can unlock new areas which give them access to different monsters and materials. Depending on the zone, sometimes players will be prompted to fight Behemoths alongside other players. Although this is by no means a new feature in mobile games, in Dragon Project’s case, it works really well to give players a sense that they are not alone in the world.
The second most obvious perk of the game is the combat and how Colopl creates simple intuitive controls for a combat system that is more complex than it seems. Whilst most of the combat is quite straightforward, when fighting behemoths, the combat takes cues from the renowned Monster Hunter series. Each Behemoth has their own attack patterns, strengths/weaknesses, and breakable parts that players will have to learn in order to make the most out of their quest. Breaking off monster parts will reward players with additional materials which can be used to craft new armor and weapons.
Early on in the game, players will be able to craft all the most basic weapon from each weapon type (Sword & Shield, Greatsword, Lance, Dual Blades, Bow) pretty easily, which allows them to find their favorite weapon type and focus spending their rare mats on items they really want. Each weapon has their own perks, from attack range, damage and attack speed to the different effects they have, for example, Sword & Shield users will be able to block incoming damage with their shields.
▍The Not-So-Good…
One of the biggest problems I had with Dragon Project isn’t exactly with the gameplay itself, but with the connectivity with the server. Playing the game when you’re sitting down in one place is usually not a problem, but when you’re playing in a moving vehicle you might find yourself lagging or being disconnected from the server quite often. Although the effects will vary depending on the player and their data service, it affected me. This also affects Behemoth hunting, as you get lags and delays making you miss certain AoE warnings or weakness prompts, but unless everyone in your party is lagging the chances are you’ll still be able to clear the hunt, given that you are sufficiently geared for the Behemoth.
Asides from the connection issues, the game’s story is also a little on the weak side. The story aspect of the game isn’t bad, but it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it hard to invest in.
▍Overall
Graphics-wise, like most MMO games, it can’t be compared to singleplayer titles, but the graphics are well enough to not be a liability to the game’s overall experience. Certain zones may appear to be overly simple and lack details to make it look great, but the monster designs balance it out.
Overall the game is definitely a game worth playing on mobile. The game offers a great combat system which doesn’t get boring easily. For those who are more into RPGs, the solo contents of the game can still keep you engaged for quite a while, but just don’t be expecting an epic tale. Dragon Project does require quite a bit of grinding, so for those who are more into casual mobile games, Dragon Project might be a little too much, but if you’re into Monster Hunter and ARPGs, there’s definitely something that you’ll like in this game.
