I deeply admire this game's commitment to its vision. Everything aspect of Drakengard works in total synergy to provide an overwhelmingly unpleasant experience. And I say unpleasant, not bad, because it isn't bad, much less bad on purpose. It's pretty simple musou-style stuff, nothing particularly out of the ordinary in terms of mechanics. It's fun and satisfying on a basic level - too simple to carry the experience, but functional. I would say the gameplay is deliberately monotonous and discomforting. And that's good, because it's a strong match for the atmosphere, characters, and story.

I don't think any of those aspects are particularly strong on their own except the atmosphere (thanks to the hazy visuals and incredible soundtrack), but everything complements each other and allows the game to become more than the sum of its parts.