Review
Release Date: 01.15.2003
Platform:
XboxDeveloper:
SmilebitPublisher:
Sega of America, Inc.Reviewed by
Christian Kontul on 4.28.2003
| Review Rating: 10/10 | User Rating: 8.47/10 |
Sega's Smilebit team has quickly become one of the most elite development groups in the industry. After the stellar Jet Set Radio Future and the hardcore GUNVALKYRIE, Smilebit has cornered a small niche on the Xbox; of course, that doesn't always equate to impressive sales. Both games have great presentations and unique gameplay, but, for whatever reason, people aren't buying. Fortunately for Xbox owners, Smilebit isn't giving up on Microsoft's console.
As the old saying goes, "third time's a charm," but instead of designing an original work or a sequel to one of their franchises, Smilebit was given the oppurtunity to revive a series that was believed dead: Panzer Dragoon. Created and cultivated by the beloved Team Andromeda, Panzer Dragoon and its successors are among the best of the Sega Saturn's small but fantastic group of "must-play" games. In fact, Panzer Dragoon Saga, the final SS installment, is arguably one of the finest games conceived.
PDS is different from the first two games in the Panzer Dragoon series. Unlike the original Panzer Dragoon and its sequel, PD Zwei, which are both shooters, Saga is a role-playing game. It has a creative battle system that incorporates several of the more frenetic elements found in its inspiration, but the epic story and emphasis on exploration are specific to PDS. After its release, Panzer Dragoon Saga was blanketed with high reviews and multiple awards, but the game's sales were disappointing. In North America, Sega actually limited its print run to 10,000 copies; that decision still has gamers paying out the ass on eBay.
Whether it happened as a result of disappointing consumer response or not, Team Andromeda was disbanded. At first, some people refused to believe it since the confirmation was disputable. As years passed and the Dreamcast came and went with no sign of a new Panzer Dragoon, gamers were forced to face reality; Team Andromeda was gone and the possibility of a new PD most likely went with it.
Thankfully, that's not the way things turned out. While it seems like Team Andromeda is destined to fade into gaming legend, Panzer Dragoon isn't finished yet. After more than four years, the Dragon of Destruction is back for another flight on Microsoft's Xbox in Smilebit's Panzer Dragoon Orta. But is this really a good thing? Is Smilebit capable of crafting a game that lives up to the series' pedigree? Does Sega even care about revitalizing Panzer Dragoon or does the company just hope to cash-in on the name?
Well, the first two questions are answered simply: yes and yes, in that order. As for Sega's intentions, who cares? It has the right to milk something this good.
Fans might be disappointed to learn initially that Panzer Dragoon Orta is a shooter and not an RPG like its predecessor. After about ten minutes with the game, all negative thoughts are going to fly away (pun intended). Panzer Dragoon Orta is polished and tweaked beyond compare. Everything, from PDO's detailed backstory and world history to its general presentation and game design, reeks of high production values and hours spent slaving over the drawing board. Obviously, Smilebit was more than up to the task of creating a game that does this series justice.
Panzer Dragoon Orta takes place a few decades after Edge and his dragon battled with the Empire. Even though the Empire was in ruins at the end of Panzer Dragoon Saga, they have since stumbled upon more ancient technology. As a result, the Emperor and his forces have risen to power and rule the feeble remains of the world with fearsome biologically created monsters. As the game opens, a squadron of dragonmare riders attack a small town nestled in the depths of a valley. The mission objective is to capture a young girl named Orta, who, for as long as she can remember, has been locked in a small prison in the center of the village. Just as the assailants surround their pray, a dragon whisks in to save Orta; so begins her quest to find out who she is and why the Empire wants her.
You'll undoubtedly hear at least one nincompoop (probably a person who doesn't own an Xbox) complain that Panzer Dragoon Orta is too restrictive because it's a "shooter-on-rails." This means that the game plays out similar to Star Fox or Rez. Orta and her dragon are stuck on a set path through a level. All movement initiated by the control stick is used only for position and dodging. Criticizing PDO for this is just silly. When considering how it plays, it's obvious that Panzer Dragoon Orta is a vertical shooter in disguise. The camera is placed a a third-person perspective behind the rider and her mount. Hitting the shoulder buttons on the Xbox controller slides the camera around 90 degrees to either side, thus permitting more looks at the action from the front, left, and right. This is necessary because enemy ships and monsters fly at Orta from all directions. Similar to all great shoot-'em-ups, Panzer Dragoon Orta has swarms of antagonists coming in set patterns with volley after volley of enemy fire looking to knock the hero out of the sky. Quick reflexes and memorization of squadron activity is a must, as the player has to always be moving and avoiding while looking for an opening to deal damage.
This description makes Panzer Dragoon Orta sound just like any ol' shooter. In truth, it is; chances are you've played something similar to PDO. On the other hand, it's so well done that it's unlike anything you've ever experienced before. The shooter genre has been around for more than 30 years, and it's apparent that Smilebit has learned some lessons from previous developers and their games. Panzer Dragoon Orta exhibits a near perfect balance of superficial thrills and visceral thrills to satisfy even the most jaded gamer. Gameplay sounds deceptively simple, and it is easy to pick up, but the more you play, the more you begin to recognize PDO's various nuances. Orta can fire single shots with her pistol and the dragon can lock-on to several enemies at once, then shoot a powerful track laser at them. Orta's steed can also speed up or slow down with the touch of two simple buttons. By "gliding," as it's called, the dragon can hurt enemies by flying through them or avoid attacks by accelerating or decelerating at certain times. Finaly, after dishing out enough pain, the legendary beast can execute a "berserk'" attack that fills the screen with death.
Rapid fire, lock-on, and special attacks all come standard in the shooter genre, but Panzer Dragoon Orta separates intself by letting the player switch between three different dragon forms on the fly. Dubbed the "Base Wing" form, the "Heavy Wing" form, and the "Glide Wing" form, each type has different offensive and defensive capabilities. The Heavy Wing dragon fires the most powerful lock-on laser, though not as many as the Base Wing. It's also too "heavy" to glide (hence the name!) and its maneuvaribility is limited. The Heavy Wing form utilizes a berserk attack that takes a huge bite ouf of a single villain's life. It's ideal against large enemies or boss characters. But tough baddies normally unleash enormous barrages of missiles; that's where the Glide Wing form comes into play. The base wing dragon doesn't have a laser attack, but it can fire a rapid, targetting shot that's perfect for picking a ton of bullets out of midair. It's quick and super evasive, with the most glides at its disposal, and the Glide Wing dragon can use a berserk attack that damages the enemy while restoring its own power. The Base Wing form is the basic dragon; it's essentially a mesh of the other two forms.
Panzer Dragoon has survived in the past thanks to its intense action and great presentation, and, chances are, PDO would've been no different, but the transformation mechanic brings an entirely new dimenstion to this shooter's gameplay. The game gives the player a rank at the end of each of PDO's ten levels based on their performance. Figuring out which dragon is best for each part requires a lot of strategic thought. The thing is, Smilebit has done a wonderful job of setting up each level so that there are multiple ways of doing everything. It's entirely up to the player to decide how they want to tackle Panzer Dragoon Orta, and there are a lot of options. None of this would mean anything if the game wasn't fun, but PDO may be the most enjoyable experience you'll have with a gaming console for years. Everything, from shooting down a viscous enemy globule to fighting a gorgeous, screen-filling boss, will have your heart pumping and hands sweating. The boss battles, in particular, deserve to be singled out; the last five or six fights are just outstanding. Huge monsters or ships with multiple sections and several means of attack will have you dodging, switching dragons in real time, and firing like a madman, all while laughing gleefully.
And while the gameplay will have you on your knees, thanking God for the creative minds at Smilebit, the graphics and sound may cause spontaneous urination. Even by today's standards, Team Andromeda's Panzer Dragoon Saga could be considered one of the most visually pleasing games yet released. That's saying a lot, considering the Saturn wasn't exactly known as a 3D powerhouse. In spite of the draw-in and clipping, PDS is a beautiful game because of its atmosphere and presentation; Panzer Dragoon Orta is no different, but now it has the power of Microsoft's Xbox to fully realize the developer's vision.
The concept art is remarkably stunning, with imaginative character, monster, and ship designs, but seeing them animated, in full 3D, is an entirely different story. As far as visuals go, Panzer Dragoon Orta is at the top of the heap on consoles. Orta's dragon animates beautifully as it skims over stages populated with creatures most people could never even create in their dreams. The levels are just as impressive; whether they're bursting with life or completely barren, they'll repeatedly have you scooping your jaw off the ground.
The sound also takes advantage of the Xbox, with full support for Dolby 5.1 surround included. Not only does it add more to the game by hearing which direction ships are coming from, but it really makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action; it's too cool. Music is a mix of new tunes and some classic stuff from previous installments in the series. The new stuff sounds really nice. Every song matches its level's mood perfectly. That might not always mean that you'll be humming each number when the Xbox is turned off, but you'll be engrossed when it's on.
Smilebit has ensured that you'll be playing Panzer Dragoon Orta for a long time. On average, the first playthrough should take about five to six hours. That's not much, and Smilebit knew it, so they delayed the game to add a ton of sweet extras that extend PDO's replayability a lot. At the risk of spoiling some surprises, this review won't go into detail about the Pandora's Box option. It is common knowledge that the original Panzer Dragoon is hidden somewhere, and there's a bevy of background information contained in the game's numerous encyclopedias and appendices. On top of that, there are a lot of little "things" that challenge the player to complete numerous different tasks from different perspectives.
After an absence of nearly five years, Panzer Dragoon is back in a big way. It's hard to imagine Smilebit ever topping Panzer Dragoon Orta. They've produced a title that lives up to and exceeds the expectations created by its predecessors. It is, by itself, worth the price of an Xbox, and when it's selling for some ridiculous price on eBay a couple years from now, PDO will still get a full recommendation. This is the reason you're a gamer. Buy it.
