Dreamlords

(37 votes, average: 3.43 out of 5)

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Dreamlords is a MMORTS in which the combat and movement are done in game while city management, research, and advancement take place via your web browser. With a lengthy single player campaign to conquer and plenty of PvP options, Dreamlords is a massive, one of a kind experience.

Dreamlords Information
Game Title: Dreamlords - The Reawakening
Genres: 3D, MMO, Fantasy, Browser
Publisher: Games Campus
Developer: OnNet
Area: Global
Official Site: Click Here
Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Pros: +Unique Game play. -Simple controls. -Multiple units, equipment, items, techs, and traits allow limitless customization. -Helpful global chat channels.

Cons: -Complicated game. -Single player missions repetitive and boring. -Limited maps recycled endlessly. -City management via web browser may put off some players. -Resources difficult to acquire during early game. -Some traits and other features must be purchased with real cash.

Dreamlords Reviewed

Though it was available since early 2007, Dreamlords was officially released in June 2008. Dreamlords styles it self as an ‘MMORTS’ like Saga, but is so unique that it deserves a category of its own. While much of the game play is conducted in a standard RTS manner, combat, troop movements, and so forth, the nation management aspects including construction, research, and resource useage is all done online through the Dreamlords website. Dreamlords is a massive game that requires a good dose of player commitment.

Each player plays the role of a ‘Dreamlord’, a God like entity that has recently awoken from a long slumber to take command of the near by mortal population and either work with or conquer the other Dreamlords and their armies. The Dreamlord is a usable unit during battles and will often be the single most powerful unit on the field. Players can choose their Dreamlord’s gender and color and later equip it with various armor and weapons. There are three races that players can choose from, each with a slightly different play style. The Thul are beast like warriors who mostly advance through combat. Players who prefer the combat aspects of the game over city management are best off with the Thul. The Nihilim are the more complicated magical race. The Thul require more management and are generally the most complicated of the three factions. The final faction is the Covenant who act as the neutral race between the two extremes. New players who want a mixture of play styles are best off with the Covenant.

There is a tutorial in Dreamlords though I found it woefully inadequate. The tutorial shows the basic movement controls and camerae manipulation but does not go over the more complicated aspects of the game, the stuff that actually warrants a tutorial. For the first hour I found my self using only my Dreamlord in battle since I couldn’t figure out how to recruit additional troops. Luckily, there are several universal chat channels in game which allow players to ask questions to the entire player base. The graphics in Dreamlords are neither impressive nor disappointing, though the camera will take some time to get used to.

Game play in Dreamlords consists of a area map broken into dozens of territories. Players can move their Dreamlord to from one territory to any adjacent territory but must then conquer that territory before moving on again. Each player is on their own individual map and cannot be invaded by other players. But more on PvP later. This unique map is there for each player to conquer and in doing so players expand their territory and collect loot from the monsters they defeat. Oddly, each territory does not have a unique geography, instead there are several pre-made design that are randomly chosen each time players enter a territory. The problem with this is two fold. Firstly, the geography of any location is inconsistent which, I feel, detracts from the ‘persistence’ of the Dreamlord universe. Secondly, there are only a few designs which means players will end up playing the same basic scenario dozens of times. Add to this the fact that almost all units move at a sluggish pace, and the fact that it takes several hours to be in a position to have multiple units, and you’ve got a slow paced game that will likely deter casual gamers.

Now for the part that really differentiates Dreamords from Saga. In order to build new structures of research new technologies, players must visit the official website. (don’t worry - a button in the game interface takes you directly to the site) The website page is simple to navigate and understand, but just what buildings to build, what technologies are to be researched, and what traits should one acquire are left to the player to figure out. For construction purposes, there are three main resources. They are: wood, metal, and stone. The common currency is called ‘Soulshards’, and another element called ‘Tribute’ which can be used to acquire special spells, equipment, and other features. Tribute must be purchased using real money, though players start with a set amount.

Dreamlords is one of the few games in the MMORTS genre, the other two being Saga and Shattered Galaxy. Dreamlord seems to be much more in-depth than its rivals, though it requires far more commitment from its players. Each unit can be equipped with various pieces of gear, and there are literally dozens of ‘traits’, and technologies to choose from. Don’t expect anything approaching a functioning economy or army in the first few hours of game play. Be prepared to spend hours clearing identical maps of identical NPCs for territory and resources. Only after hours of repetition can players participate in PvP. PvP is very much clan based, which in Dreamlords are called Convergeces. By joining a convergence, players can conquer territory on the special PvP areas, which reward extra resources and Tribute to members of the Convergence in control. Since Tribute is such a powerful resource (which must otherwise be purchased), control of PvP territories is very important to a nation’s progress. Dreamlord is not a game for the casual MMO gamer, but that shouldn’t stop anyone interested in the genre to give it a try. To fans of games in the Civilization or Total War series, Dreamlords is a great free experience that will keep you occupied for hours on end and so is highly recommended. If the half game, half web browser aspect of Dreamlords is unappealing, try Saga which plays similarly but handles base management in-game.