Drakard- a retro adventure full of palindromes

My first impression of Drakard was that it had a very strong retro vibe. That it felt like a game you’d have bought in the 80s that was sold in a ziplock baggy. Which isn’t a knock. Some cool games came into the world that way. At the same time, it also has more modern streamlined gameplay.

It’s an adventure game where you play an elven ranger who has to cross the wilderness to kill the drakard and then make it to the elven fortress.

  

Its origins are from a palindrome-themed 24-hour design contest. The palindrome comes in for the combat. You roll a die pool and try to make number palindromes like 5-1-5 or 2-2-2-2. Fortunately, all the monsters just require one hit. Higher level monsters just require more numbers on their palindrome and do more damage when you fail.

After playing it a couple times, I learned I was playing the second edition. So I looked at the contest edition and there is quite the contrast. The contest version is effectively a track of monsters while the second edition is a full wilderness map. 

And that makes a huge, beneficial difference. It adds a whole new layer of decisions to the game. For, you see, Drakard also involves resource management, looking after health and money and weapons and magic and food. And the make-or-break resource of the game is food. 

Movement is entirely food-driven. Every time you make a move action, you have to pay a food. And that move can be modified by low health and terrain. Forget the monsters. The real tension and terror of the game is trying to avoid starvation. In fact, killing monsters for food is a definite part of the strategy.

Honestly, the resource management is Drakard’s strongest and weakest point. It drives the game. On the other hand, it also limits what paths you take since you can only get one food at a time. You have to plan each movement around getting more food, which can make choosing your path become formulaic.

More than that, you randomly roll for resources at the start. Which is weighted towards higher numbers but if you end up with a low food, I am pretty sure it is mathematically impossible to win.

For me, Drakard is a net positive. The palindrome combat system is fun and I like that it’s not weighted towards high rolls. I really like the retro feel of the game as well. There’s a definite narrative in the play. And, yes, being a free download helps me accept the flaws.

There are a lot of fantasy adventure games out there that you can print out for free. While it has its flaws, Drakard manages to be distinct and engaging.