I finally gave into temptation and bought the first episode of Dragon Academy, the new flash web based game from Go! Comi

Sadly, I have to report I regret buying it, as it stands it’s not worth $7.99 an episode, I would say at best $3, and even then I’m not sure I’d be interested.

Art wise it’s great, it’s not the smoothest flash experience, and the sound is a bit tinny at times, but for what it is I was impressed.

This episode includes chapters one and two, and basically introduces what I’m guessing are the two love interests, Max and Sef. As well as setting the standards for the story. While this is in it’s essence a detective story, it’s clearly having mystical overtones.

The story flow in this chapter isn’t all that good. Both Max and Sef are suspects in your uncles murder, and it’s revealed to soon. In a way to much is revealed, and in another to little. This chapter should at least have carried us to arriving at the Academy, stopping as it does may be a good cliff hanger, but after the short prologue, having a short chapter one is less likely to draw people in.

To be honest if this was what I was going to be seeing constantly I’d probably be tempted to buy future episodes, even at the $7.99 price tag. Though I doubt I’d be as vigilant with it as I am with manga.

So if it’s so great why do I regret buying the episode? It’s to short, and I do mean short!!. It took me just over ten minutes to play through the first time, and even less on the replays. Now it’s true it does have some replay-ability from the different choices you can take. However that doesn’t really change the fact that it’s to short. The new areas, or rather new text is only around three minutes worth.

I expect other chapters to be the same length, or there about, as this one, and sadly I just don’t see it as being value for money. I’d rather pay a little extra and buy a manga volume, that at least is something tangible for the cost.

That’s the other thing I don’t like, it’s web based only. given the cost of the chapters it would have been a good idea to have a downloadable version so that people can play it offline as well.

To me, this really isn’t value for money, it’s definitely beautifully drawn, but at $7.99 it’s not worth it.

If they increase the chapters to twenty minutes playtime (without alternative routes), and add a downloadable version (or news of a full downloadable version at the end) then it would be one I’d probably buy occasionally.

The other thing that’s essential, is that a schedule be posted. As it is there’s still no news on the number of chapters, or the time frame for releases. How can they expect people to spend $7.99 on a chapter when there’s no news on the next chapter, or even how many chapters there are.

For example if this runs to ten chapters that would put it at $79.99, and I’m sorry, but no matter how good a flash game is, it’s not worth paying near eighty bucks for.