Dragon Marked For Death (AKA DragonMFD or DMFD) is a 2019 video game developed and published by Inti Creates Co., Ltd.. It is a 2D side-scrolling action RPG where up to 4 players can play together in online multiplayer. The protagonists, known as the last surviving members of the Dragonblood Clan, have forged a pact with the Astral Dragon, who granted them special new powers to carry out their revenge.
Dragon Marked For Death was released for Nintendo Switch on January 31, 2019, Steam (PC) on April 21, 2020, and PlayStation 4 on July 22, 2020.[1]
Gameplay[]
You play as a member of the Dragonblood Clan, whose home was destroyed by the powerful Medius Empire. Swearing revenge on Medius, the surviving members of the Dragonblood Clan form a pact with the Astral Dragon Atruum, granting them the ancient power of the Dragon.
Players will take on various Quests from villagers to increase their status in the world. Quests will send the players on a variety of adventures big and small, such as defeating monsters, defending a convoy, searching for treasure, or rescuing a noble. By playing their roles well and dividing tasks, skilled players will discover efficient and speedy ways of completing Quests during multiplayer campaigns.
Players can choose from 4 starting characters and 2 extra characters (Empress, Warrior, Shinobi, Witch, Oracle, and Bandit), each with their own unique skills. They'll gain experience by defeating enemies and level up, which increases their attack power, defense, agility, luck, and other parameters.
You can find more information about the gameplay and mechanics here.
Plot[]
The following is sourced from the official Dragon Marked For Death English Website[2]:
Prologue[]
Long ago, forces of Celestials and Astral Dragons clashed in a realm steeped in chaos. Caught in the midst of a battle between gods and dragons, humans either prayed for salvation or hid in the dragon's shadow, waiting for peace.
After eons of conflict, the largest of the Astral Dragons, Atruum, was felled. Run through at the hand of the Celestial Primatis, Atruum plunged to the earth below. The forces of the Astral Dragons soon fell into disarray and were defeated one by one.
The Celestials claimed a hard-won victory.
The Celestials used their holy weapons to purify the corpses of the enormous Astral Dragons, and used them to revitalize the lands destroyed by war.
When their work was done, they created two moons in the sky to watch over the lands and left the realm.
The Dragonblood Clan[]
Caught up in these terrible battles, a small clan of humans were plunged deep into an abyss of death.
The dragon Atruum happened upon the humans after His fall, and offered them the blood from His dying body, giving His life to save them from certain death.
With the blood contract sealed, anyone born into the clan bore the the Dragon Scar on their body, and worshipped Atruum as their guardian dragon.
Whether Atruum took pity on innocents caught up in the war, or only acted upon the whims of a superior being, is unknown.
The Age of the Divine Family[]
Crafted from remnants of massive Celestial weapons known as "Relics," loyal followers of the Celestials created castles, and they anointed themselves as blessed rulers of the land.
They were known as the Divine Family. They preached of the filth and lowliness of those who lived on or in the land which was once Atruum's body, and of the divinity of those who lived high above the realm.
A new age dawned as the survivors of the war gathered below the Relics and submitted to the rule of the Divine Family.
However, there still existed humans who did not submit to the rule of the Divine Family.
They were the Dragonblood Clan.
Those who worshipped the Astral Dragon Atruum were despised by the Divine Family and forced from the towns of their followers, to live on their own in exile.
"History becomes legends, and legend becomes myth.
Our story begins as the memories of the great battles between gods and dragons recede into the mists of time."
You can find more information about the game's plot and lore here.
Development History[]
Dragon Marked For Death's 14-year development history (from 2006 to 2020) spans through four console generations (PSP, Xbox 360, 3DS, and Nintendo Switch).
You can find more information about the game's development history here.
Main Credits[2][]
- Director: Ryota Ito
- Mega Man Zero series (Director)
- Mega Man ZX series (Director)
- Mega Man 9 (Director)
- Mega Man 10 (Director)
- Character Designer: Toru Nakayama
- Mega Man Zero 1-3 (Character Designer, Illustrator)
- Mega Man ZX (Character Designer)
- Chief Character Graphics Designer: Hirokatsu Maeda
- Mega Man Zero 1-3 (Character Graphics)
- Mega Man Zero 4 (Character Designer, Illustrator)
- Mega Man ZX series (Character Graphics)
- Azure Striker Gunvolt series (Character Graphics)
- Blaster Master Zero (Character Graphics)
- Scenario Writer (Planning), World Planner: Makoto Yabe
- Mega Man Zero 3-4 (Scenario Writer)
- Mega Man ZX series (Scenario Writer, Character Designer, Illustrator)
- Sound Producer: Ippo Yamada
- Mega Man Zero series (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Mega Man ZX series (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Mega Man 9 (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Mega Man 10 (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Azure Striker Gunvolt series (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Blaster Master Zero (Sound Director, Sound Producer)
- Main Programmer: Akihiro Shishido
- Mega Man Zero series (Programmer)
- Mega Man ZX series (Main Programmer)
- Lead Programmer: Shinichi Sema
- Mega Man Zero series (Programmer)
- Mega Man 9 (Main Programmer)
- Producer: Takuya Aizu
- Mega Man Zero series (Main Programmer, Producer)
- Mega Man ZX series (Producer)
- Mega Man 9 (Producer)
- Mega Man 10 (Producer)
- Azure Striker Gunvolt series (Producer)
- Blaster Master Zero (Producer)
- Producer: Yoshifumi Hashimoto
- Rune Factory series (Producer)
- Story of Seasons series (Producer)
- Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Producer)
- Muramasa Rebirth (Producer)
Screenshots[]
Trailers & Videos[]
Sales & Reception[]
According to Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu, Dragon Marked For Death is the third best-selling game among Inti Creates' IPs, although specific sales numbers were not given.[3] Initially, the reception to DMFD was mixed, but thanks to the game's year-long update campaign, it has become positive overall. Aizu cited the sales for DMFD to be greater after the update period than prior to it.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Dragon Marked For Death English Website, Product: http://dragonmfd.com/en/product/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dragon Marked For Death English Website, Introduction: http://dragonmfd.com/en/introduction/
- ↑ Takuya Aizu's quote retweet for a DMFD holiday sale
- ↑ ``Rockman Zero'', ``Gunvolt''...Inti Creates, a renowned 2D action company, suddenly released ``Gal☆Gun'', a ``3D sexy shooting'' game, into the world. What are the "guerrilla tactics" necessary for small and medium-sized game companies to survive?