Games that Don’t Suck: DragonVale
Today’s game that doesn’t suck is DragonVale (free/universal) , a Freemium title from BackFlip Studios. Before I go into why it doesn’t suck, let me just point out that this game actually came DANGEROUSLY close to getting a “Suck” rating, solely for the one fatal flaw that I will go into later in this review. However the awesomeness was ultimately able to beat out the suckage, so If you’re into Sim-like time wasters to help you escape the tedium that Is your real life, there is much to like in DragonVale.
Watch the above video if you don’t feel like reading anymore. It should give you a decent idea of the gameplay.
Long story short, DragonVale is a Sim-like game where you are put in charge of creating a (hopefully) successful Dragon Zoo. In order to bring in visitors to your park (or more importantly, your visitor’s MONEY into the park) you will need Dragons, and the bigger the better. There’s a quick tutorial that does an excellent job walking you through the basics of the game, and gets you set up with your first dragon, dragon habitat, and goes over the basics of how to feed and breed your dragons.
The breeding Cave is where you can corss breed species to create new ones.
Two of the biggest things DragonVale has going for it is that unlike other similar games, like God Finger, there is no real downside to not playing DragonVale for a couple of days. Your gold does not “spoil” or anything if you neglect your park, you simply don’t make any more money than each exhibit can generate until you collect that money. But second, and more central to what makes DragonVale so fun to play, is the ability to cross breed your dragons and create entirely new races of dragons. For example, you might decide to cross a Fire Dragon with an Earth Dragon and create a Lava type dragon, or a Plant and Fire Dragon to create a Poison type Dragon. For some reason there’s a very Pokemon feel to the game in that each of your dragons starts out so adorably cute that you might not want to evolve them, but bigger dragons bring in bigger paydays, so feed them you will until they turn into very cool-looking adults.
All the dragons are adorable – At least as babies
Another big plus is the level design and art work. DragonVale is extremely colorful, and the animations are fluid and oddly fun to watch given how repetitive they ultimately are. There is much more to the game than I am going into here, but you probably will need to invest a good 6 or so hours playing in order to unlock some of the cooler achievements. Similar to other freemium games like Tiny Tower, you can speed things along by using the game’s “real money” currency of gems. However, you do not need to spend any money at all if you’re patient, and you can actually earn gems by having Game Center friends gift them to you (incidentally, my Game Center ID is “Dr Macenstein” (no period) and my iPad is “MacensteiniPad” if you have extra gems lying around…).
As you advance, you can purchase additional worlds to expand your park into
Kind of sucky though
Earlier I mentioned there was something about DragonVale that was so lame it almost cost it the coveted “Games that Don’t Suck” rating, and that thing is that for some reason I cannot fathom, it requires an internet connection to play. There is nothing about this game that is any different from Tiny Tower which plays fine on an iPod touch on a plane or long car ride, yet for some reason the game tells you it cannot launch without internet. The fact that DragonVale feels it needs to constantly talk to its server has me a little wary of what it’s doing and what it’s doing to my iPhone’s battery life/data usage when away from WiFi, but more importantly it alienates a HUGE potential part of the game audience – kids. If you’re an iPhone user, odds are the internet connection thing won’t be a problem, but since I got my kids addicted to the game as well, they have expressed their displeasure about this via the only way they know how – whining. And I have to listen to it.
So if BackFlip can just switch the way the game handles internet requirements (and again, I suggest the Tiny Tower method of check-in when you can, but play fine when away from internet as well) this game will be the perfect colorful timewaster.
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- All the dragons are adorable – At least as babies
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- As you advance, you can purchase additional worlds to expand your park into
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- The breeding Cave is where you can corss breed species to create new ones.
What about the insanely long load time? Or is that dependant on your Internet speed? Any idea? With my Verizon mifi, it takes way too long to load. I’ll try again in a week when I’m home with fast internet.
Yeah, it does take a little bit to load sometimes, but nothing crazy for me at least. Maybe 5 seconds. 10 tops.
Again, if they stopped the internet requirement and let it run locally, maybe that would cut down on the load time.
– The Doc
i love that game add me on game center Death the kide.
My Game Center is “Dr Macenstein” BTW.
– The Doc
Add me on dragonvale my game center user name is jyejyez
And for any other games to
how do I give you a gifr on dragonvale?
Add me, RPM1985
Add me for dragonvale too. thanks!
I have the same problem: cannot load the game for several hours ((( it says “loading” and that’s it… My user name is Irunechka
Add me on game centre, “dj.humphrey”. I have both Tiny Tower and Dragonvale and will happily send you gifts if you return the favor 🙂
Add both br8kdwns and neonfx for gem sharing!!
Addd mee on game center redred100 P.S. ifr u have any gems could i have the plzzz
Add bigalsie if you want gifts
This game is pretty cool so far havin a blast
add me GC: D Roads
This is one of my all time favorite iPod IPad apps
Add me on game center my name is— pygrus
Add me on gamecenter Cm022 (yes that is a zero)
Add me : Suscend
Why Can’t I keep building habitats? Can you only have a certain amount?
You get to build more habitats as you level up. to level up, clear trees and rocks, feed your dragons, and grow food.
-the Doc
You also earn xp when you buy decorations so they aren’t just a waste or something pretty to look at.
Add me on dragonvale too !
My game center name is Zargoll
Add me I’m Otheigh in DRagonVale 🙂
Is a great game!!!! Add me please Sirious85 (gamecenter)
Great game and great review for it! Anyone can add me, ID: Socksarepurple
I gift as often as I can, hoping you guys do too 😉
Fun time-killer game so far!
ID: MongolianMadDog
I try and log in every day to send off gifts, so add if you like.
Thanks for the review and explanation.
I’ve gone through the list of GC IDs and added a bunch of you. Feel free to add me also: myke_kealey
Add me ppl I have no friends on dragonvale reven13
Add me for gifts 🙂 ChiefFrancis
svp ajoutez moi pour obtenir des gems et je vous ajoute directement
merci mon nom: ” LETITJO92 “
Add me too ! ShikiRan Let’s do this !
Add “Methrandel” needin gem gifts please and thank you 🙂
Add me!! SAIRA ESCUDERO if u send gems u will 🙂
Lol i love your reviews ^^ do you know any other game like this? I love them but i cant seem to find any… If u want to, add me on GC… My nick is ZjuggernautZ… Or Hot Shot o.o not sure xD i just bought the iphone… On my profile from GC says : Hot Shot is… ZjuggernautZ lolz
Try Tap Zoo its free and cool!!! Let me know if it was worth it and if you liked it or not!!!
Please add me- Night 99 Dragon
It gets boring after a while though…
(if you’re not buying gems/cash to speed up everything)
when visiting freinds islands, do you just click on give free gift?or can you choose what gift to give?
my GC is saviado add me cause ill send gems and u can visit my place for money
How exactly do park visitors earn you more gold? Don’t the dragons earn a predetermined amount of money per minute? I am just trying to figure out how to earn more cash.
Also, other than friending others and/or spending real money – is there any other way to earn gems?
Thanks!
When you visit friends you earn coins by clicking on the party hats. To send a gem (the only gift) you do that from the list by tapping the button that says “send gift” next to the friends name. As far as i know you can only send 3 gems/gifts every 24 hrs. The party hats are similar, 3 per friend once every 24 hrs.
Gifts and buying for real cash are the only way to get gems.
If you want to add me, my name as listed here is my GC id. ;D
Hey doc. Saw u had a rainbow dragon egg and I got 1 question … HOW THE HELL DID U GET THAT!?
And speaking of rainbow dragons add saviado No it’s not me. I’m Cm022 U should ad me also
add me fireflame1801
addme fireflame1801
Love the game, hate the wifi requirement…
add me up basti2682!
Add me as well please, X111, need gems! 😀
I didn’t read the full review, so I’m not sure if you mentioned this. One of the things I like about this app is that it doesn’t have goals that REQUIRE you to spend real cash. Sure getting a rainbow dragon would be way easier if I did, but I don’t have to. 😀
How do you get a rainbow dragon without buying it?!?! Please tell because it’s the ONLY dragon I don’t have!
Add me, kotnim
My gamecenter name is “Captain America$” If you give me a gem a day i will return the favor. So quickly send requests!
Add me, kotnim
Thx
Hi, Add me on gamecenter and i’ll give you a daily gift on dragonvale…
only have one friend there so far so she is the only one getting gifts :/
just send a request to LadyCeci
<3
Add LadyCeci ! I gift back <3
add me Samantha0912 🙂
Add me on DragonVale! My game center ID is bohemianlife!
Add me: yomamastities@aol.com
Need friends on dragonvale name is frenchy83406
Add me for Gem Trading:
ruffy25
Add me. mbeezkneez on game center. Always returning gems.
Add me oh and if ur gonna add me please gift me cuz I get sad when my friends don’t XD dragons_fire_breath