When the original Drakengard was released a little while back by Square Enix, I must admit that I was a bit intrigued by it at first. After all, the game used a combination of aerial fighting involving the use of a dragon and ground combat that gave your character the ability to whip some of their own ass. Kind of a combination of Panzer Dragoon and Dynasty Warriors, really. But the game received some knocks against it thanks to its repetitive nature and its somewhat quirky design, which seemed a bit out of Square Enix's general nature at the time. I still kind of liked it, however, and had high hopes in checking out the sequel since its release in Japan last year. Now, we'll get that chance, courtesy of UbiSoft.

In the game, you'll start out taking control of Nowe, a member of the Knights of the Seal, a group dedicated to protecting sacred seals throughout the land. He's got the assistance of a powerful dragon with the ability to rain down heinous fireballs on those against him, as well as a powerful flight method that helps him get around. A danger soon emerges in the District of Shining Light, and Nowe and his faithful partner must strike back and keep the seals safe.

What's probably going to have some appeal about Drakengard 2 is the ability to drift away from one particular battle style. The final game will involve four different types of characters to choose from, including four different dragons who all have specific abilities that come into play during the 20+ hour quest. The game once again returns to the formula from the first game, ground and aerial combat, but the ability to use other central characters in battle should mix up the gameplay rather nicely, and not make it so repetition-filled.

But that's not all. Cavia Inc. has been working overtime to also offer more of an RPG-like experience that most Square Enix games are known for. The game will feature upgrades that are available for your characters and their weaponry, enhancing their powers and giving them a better edge against the dark forces tormenting the land. A new combo system will also come into play to keep count of your hits, and you have the ability of knocking enemies into the air (on the ground) with some vicious uppercuts. There's also information gathering that you'll need to do in order to prepare yourself for the boss battles, which the developer is promising will be much harder and put yourself and your unlikely steed to the test.

Game length shouldn't be too much of a problem either. As I stated, the game is 20+ hours in length and spans across 90 different missions to complete both on foot and in the air. The story's been revamped a little bit as well, focusing more on the bond between yourself and your ride and also those in the Knights of the Seal, giving you a better idea of characterization instead of just putting you behind the wheel of Joe Schmo and his pet dragon Puff. (Ugh, I can't believe I mentioned that.)

But the real question here is if the gameplay will be changed enough to give the game a solid recommendation. Like I said, I'm intrigued by the idea of being able to both pound enemies on your own in ground battle and hopping on your dragon to let 'em have it with distance shots. I just hope these new components are enough to make the game a little more strengthened in terms of replay value and interest. Obviously, Ubisoft sees enough of something to give the game a US release, so we'll just have to see how the final product turns out. High hopes abound, though. Drakengard 2 will be arriving very shortly, and we'll be back with a full review soon enough. Be sure to check back...oh, and use lots of mouthwash. Nobody likes a dragon breath.