Gamename: Panzer Dragoon Saga
System: Sega Saturn
Score: 10
Review: Panzer Dragoon Saga – Saturn
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 9
Sound: 10
Replay: 7
Overall: 10
The debatable best Saturn game and RPG. For me there’s no better, and I’ll
go as much as to say: THIS IS THE GREATEST GAME EVER. There, now those who want
this after my review, weep, unless you have $/£60 spare.
For anyone to say this game isn’t as good as I say, fine, but you stick with
your little Final Fantasy 7-10’s ok?
Panzer Dragoon Saga/RPG/Azel, whatever it’s called for you, continues from the
shooters of the original and PD Zwei. However, it changes the formula, to an
RPG. Changing the formula in a series is usually a disaster, in this case,
it’s a classic.
The main character you control is Edge, a young boy working on an excavation
site, which comes under fire whilst he and his mentor are defending, by the evil
Lord Crayman. Edge is eventually shot and falls deep into an underground pool,
where he makes his way back up on a lift. After an encounter with a herd of
monsters, he is saved by a Dragon, which is from the original two, and becomes
your partner for this epic. He sets off to avenge his mentor and kill Crayman,
and find out more about the mysterious girl he sees being lifted out of the cave
(Azel). However there are various twists in the plot, and the game becomes
engrossing.
The game physics see you controlling the game in different ways. Firstly you
will experience life as Edge, as you control him walking around, its all pretty
simple and you get much more later in the game. The there’s Dragon flying,
which you will do for most of the game. It is easily controlled and selecting
things is simple, the control is great and then just as it couldn’t get better
the battle mode. You have a choice of Berserk moves which are learnt throughout
the game, and are used for various things, homing laser, items, such as Blast
chips, and usual pin point laser shots. Whilst your bars fill up so you can fire
at the opponent, the more bars are full (total 3) the more option there is to
use, you can move around the enemy, sometimes to avoid shots, sometimes for
usefulness, and others to get in the line of the weak spot. The battle system is
great and unlike any other RPG’s, it gives you much more freedom, the battles
come randomly, but are certainly not annoying, unlike other such games.
Another great thing is the ability to change your dragon, your dragon goes up in
level, and evolves, sometimes needing to do certain things. But once you get to
a certain level, you can morph into more spiritual, agile, attacking, defensive
modes, depending on circumstances, and you can change it slightly or loads
depending on how you wish. There is plenty to collect and do, and a world map
where you can get to the different areas. There is a strong diversity of
enemies, over a hundred, different types, huge bosses, and it’s all recorded
so you can read all about each enemy etc. if you wish to.
The graphics are undoubtedly the best on the Saturn, better than Nights, Shining
Force 3, Deep Fear, whatever. In game you may feel they are a little scrappy,
and the opening walking part looks pretty awful, but suddenly, the game looks
amazing, the walking bits even look great, the people the buildings everything.
The Dragon riding is great to watch, and in certain elements looks absolutely
fantastic. The battle mode looks fantastic, the enemies all are detailed and the
huge bosses (such as ones in the Tower) are magnificent to watch, especially
their intricacy. The FMV’s don’t quite match that of psx games, they have a
very slight patching, but sure look fantastic, they look beautiful even, every
one of them, such as the opening where you stare down on Edge talking, its
fantastic to watch, the game could be all this, and could be shipped as a movie,
the storyline would make it a classic on its own.
The sound is the best on any game ever, full stop. Its one the games greatest
elements along with the gameplay and story. The speech is Japanese, but gives it
that ‘foreign land’ feel, so adds to the game itself, and the sound affects
of the dragons wings, footsteps, wind, everything sound great. But it’s the
soundtrack that really steals the show. Don’t believe anyone who says Final
Fantasy 7 has the best soundtrack, this does, don’t believe me? BUY IT, I sure
am when I get some money together, £30 though. It goes with the game perfectly,
and gives you a cracking atmosphere, its beautiful, and possible one of the
games finest elements even though it would still be the best game ever with no
sound.
Maybe he biggest let down is the replay. The game comes on four discs, and for
the long run, takes a hell of a while to finish. But when the epic quest is
finished, what is there to do? Well, on completion, you get a bizarre little
game where you control a baby dragon and talk, pretty much crap (dragon speech)
with the other dragons on a small ranch. You get a little race on your dragon
against the clock on the first part of the game, the excavation site, and
another little game. You can try and get all the secret items, and the 12
D-units (I wont tell you the use) and you can try and find all of the enemies,
quite a challenge, and level up your dragon even more. You can still fly around
the world map, but there isn’t much to be done. Some may get bored after they
complete it, but those that really enjoy it will come back, and really
wouldn’t get bored of going through it again, it seems really emotional, but
doesn’t flaunt it, and the game just seems to have a feel that its not a game,
much like I had with Zelda 64, except more with this.
This IS the finest game ever made, in terms of, well everything, it may cost you
a bomb, unfortunately because its rare, its real value should be its quality,
its one hell of an experience.
Dan L.
