Panzer Dragoon Orta - Review

Added August 11th, 2003 by EminaZ

Introduction:

Sega treated Xbox fans to a very nice treat when they released the much anticipated sequel to the legendary Panzer Dragoon series. The Panzer Dragoon series is loved and adored by many around the world, Sega finally gave Xbox the game that many Dreamcast owners only wished for. Like all games on rails, this game is simply, sexy, and sweet. But will this sequel be enough to feed the hungry fans of the series? Find out in this full blown review.

Gameplay:

One of the most fun games out there, you start the game by watching a very beautiful CGI movie. After your get yourself together and realize that you have just witnessed the perfect CGI intro, you will be placed on a very powerful dragoon and be subjected to play the first level. If you haven’t played a Panzer Dragoon title before, fear not – there is a tutorial in which the game teaches you the basics of the game. In the tutorial, you will be taught everything from controlling your dragoons speed to changing the camera angels to changing the dragoons form. The tutorial gets the job done if you are a beginner. If you trust yourself of learning the basics then you could begin the first level of Panzer Dragoon Orta. This is more like a tutorial too, although they wouldn’t teach anything, the game won’t go hard on you. It is also one of the shortest levels on the games.

The shift of difficulty in this game rises very acutely, if one would compare the difficulty of the first two stages, that person would find that the second stage is so much harder then the first level. You will have to fight a boss after each stage, these boss fights are usually very colourful, simple, and reek of creativity.

You will be greeted with options every time you pass a level: “Retry, Save and continue”, and “save and exit”. You will be graded after each stage also, and if you did bad; then your grade will be worse. If you retry, you might be able to get a better rating since this game is on rails and basically have static gameplay. There are different routes you could take in some stages to add to the experience of the game.

A downfall of this is its length. While the game overall is pretty much near perfect, it is too short. With are around 10 stages, some of which are simple boss battles. This is a disappointment for the fans that have waited so long for this game.

Your dragoon could take three forms, all which could eventually be upgraded. The three forms are defense, power, and normal. You will have to master each one, and the rage each one has. You collect rage by destroying enemies. You actually have to know where to use your defense form, and when to use your power form.

Graphics:

What could anyone one say about the gorgeous graphics in Panzer Dragoon Orta with out praising it? Simple words will not never speak justice to the graphic, and although a single screenshot doesn’t either, it sure does help.

As you could clearly see in the picture above, the graphics are some of the best ever to grace a console. The water is very silky and reflective, the clouds are very humble and real.

All of the stages are very nicely done. Unlike some games, Smilebit is constant with the quality throughout the whole game. If you could see this game in action, you would be amazed.

The animation and effects are also very nicely done. Look at the beam the dragon is releasing. See how beautiful it is? It is much more beautiful in motion. The dragoon’s wings are hypnotizing, the beams are beautiful – all of the graphics are just plain “yum”. Impressive work from Smilebit.

Audio:

Much like the graphics, the sound effects and music is just plain awesome. All of the characters speak in a foreign language. Although not an expert of languages, I would say that the language in Panzer Dragoon Orta is either Greek or Latin. Which ever it is, it is very beautiful language that adds to the mystery of Orta’s past. You will be presented with subtitles in order to understand the story.

The music in the game relates to the environment that you are in. This is common sense, after all; you wouldn’t want to hear dramatic music in a beautiful forest. You would, instead, hear the river just under you and some nice calm music.

Smilebit choose some beautiful audio to accompany the graphics.

Controls:

The game on rails, that means you won’t have control of what direction your dragoon will go. It is destined to end up somewhere. However, you could move your dragoon left, right, up, and down slightly. While this may sound unattractive, let me assure you – it is very nicely done. Your dragoon will go forward no matter what you do. But you could slow it down and even speed it up for a short period of time.

Like an FPS, you also have a crosshair. You hold down the “A” button and move the crosshair on the opponent, after doing so you could move it on more enemies or you could release the “A” button in order to fire a beautiful beam at them.

You could control the camera by pressing a combination of the left and right triggers. Ever time you press the right trigger, your screen will turn 90 degrees to the right. In contrast, every time you press the left trigger your screen will turn 90 degrees to the left. You could also press both of the triggers in order to do a 180 degree camera turn. You will need to perfect the camera system because you are going to be surrounded by enemies.

You change your dragoons form by simply pressing the “Y” button. Each form has its own advantages and disadvantages, naturally. You could also make a quick forward dash or slow down if the dragoon mode you are in allows you to do so. For example of benefits each dragoon form has, the defense form will transform your dragoon to a small, weak, dragoon. This is a good thing if you are low on life for it is easier to doge enemies, also the rage for the defense form allows you to heal a bit; this form also give you the most chances to dash or slow down. The power form is very big, making it an easy target for enemies, you could also lock on less enemies while in this form. But the sheer power of this form makes it very attractive.

Very nice controls, if I were to change how the controls work; I wouldn’t know what to change.

Replay:

Smilebit had replay in mind while creating this beauty. What could make you replay a game? Harder modes? Probably not. How about a whole, probably new to you, game? That is right. Smilebit has included the original Sega Saturn version of Panzer Dragoon. This is a very nice reward that adds much time to the experience. It will show you how graphics leaped a huge leap from the Saturn to the Xbox. It will also show you how the gameplay of the two games is very similar. Nice to know that Smilebit decided to be true to the roots of the series.

But that isn’t all that is suppose to keep your copy from collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. There is also a mode entitled “Pandora Box”, this mode is basically replay heaven. Here you could replay stages with different characters, customs, options. You could play mini-games, discover history about the series, and find some artwork of the series.

Summary:

A respectable sequel to one of Sega’s classics. Smilebit stayed true to the roots of the game, Smilebit combines sexy graphics with eerie audio and simple, yet original, controls and feel make this game a must have for any Xbox owner that wants a near perfect game to play for two or three weeks.