Panzer Dragoon Saga
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| Panzer Dragoon Saga | |
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| Developer(s) | Team Andromeda |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Release date(s) |  January 29, 1998 |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) |
| Platform(s) | Sega Saturn |
| Media | 4 CDs |
Panzer Dragoon Saga (titled Azel: Panzer Dragoon RPG in Japan) is a role-playing video game (RPG) released exclusively for the Sega Saturn in 1998 (see 1998 in video gaming). It was the third Panzer Dragoon game to be released (not counting Panzer Dragoon Mini, a spin-off title for the Game Gear), and so far remains the only game in the series that is not a rail shooter. Like the other Panzer Dragoon games on the Saturn, it was developed by Sega’s internal Team Andromeda development studio. The team disbanded after Saga’s release.
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[edit] Synopsis
The player controls Edge, a young hunter, as he attempts to free the world from the will of the Ancients with the help of a powerful flying dragon. The game blends strategic semi-realtime combat with free-roaming exploratory sequences. Like the other Panzer Dragoon games, the game is notable for its unique art direction and soundtrack, and for its unusual (and frequently abstract) world, story and characters.
[edit] Story
Chronologically, Panzer Dragoon Saga’s story is the third in sequence. It takes place after Panzer Dragoon Zwei and the original Panzer Dragoon, but before Panzer Dragoon Orta.
As with other Panzer installments, the story takes place in an unspecified post-apocalyptic environment where hostile mutant creatures roam unprotected areas and disparate human factions compete for land and resources. The largest of these factions is the Empire, built upon the buried technology of the Ancients. The ‘Ancients’ is the generic name given to the people that once controlled a world spanning, hyper-advanced civilization thousands of years before the start of the Panzer series of games. A mysterious cataclysm, hinted at as a terrible war during the course of the series, would spell the downfall of this civilization and nearly destroy the world, leaving the survivors to eke out a bleak existence among the blasted remains in the ensuing millennia. Eventually, the Ancients and their works would gain a sort of 'godlike' respect, and a horrific regard, among some people as they passed into legend. The remnants of these technologies are used in the development of much of humanity’s own machinery, weaponry and vehicles, such as the unusual floating ships which are a staple of the series.
The protagonist of the story (and the character whom the player controls) is Edge, a young soldier employed by the Empire. We find him at the beginning of the story on duty protecting an excavation site where Ancient artifacts are being recovered. After helping to fend off an attack from one of the wild mutant creatures within the cave where the excavation is being made, Edge discovers what seems to be the fossil-like emboidment of a young woman buried in a wall.
Before he can react, the excavation site is suddenly attacked by a rebel faction of mutinous troops from the Empire. Craymen, the faction's leader, orders his troops to seize the girl. Edge, along with the rest of his companions, are shot. As Edge is hit, he falls from the top of the cliff where he had seen them take the girl that he had inadvertently discovered earlier. He falls some distance into an underground reservoir. To his own surprise, he is apparently unharmed and manages to locate a gun to defend himself with. Then, attempting to find a way out, Edge is intercepted by a flying dragon. The dragon seems to be communicating with him on some spiritual level and, with its help, Edge decides to take revenge and decipher the mystery of the girl Craymen has kidnapped.
[edit] Game System
Using elements drawn from the RPG genre, the player uses a combination of puzzle-solving and strategic thinking with frequent interaction with non-player characters to progress in the game and further the story. Combat plays a large part in the game, with common small enemies and story-centric boss opponents standing in Edge’s way. As with other RPGs, experience points are handed out after successful battles with the player (or more specifically, the player’s dragon) growing in power and ability as it gains levels based on the amount of points. Panzer Dragoon Saga is strongly story-driven and the world contains a large body of literature in various forms regarding the setting's complex and frequently enigmatic backstory. Non-interactive cut scenes, many of which are pre-rendered CG sequences, are frequently used to illustrate important plot sequences.
Outside of combat, the game is essentially made up of two distinct modes:
[edit] On Foot
When Edge is on foot he can move freely around his environment, talk to other characters, enter buildings, read books, and so on. This mode is used primarily for exploring villages, towns, and other safezones and has no combat functionality. Certain items and characters can be interacted with using a mechanic similar to that found with the rail-shooting games in the series. A cursor controlled with the D-Pad (or analogue stick) can be called up and moved around the screen to highlight (or ‘lock on’ to) specific objects of interest. Depending on how close Edge is to the object or character highlighted, a different response is generated — for example, selecting a pair of characters from a distance will allow you to eavesdrop on their conversation, while at closer range Edge will converse with them directly. Treasures and items may only be acquired when right next to the appropriate object.
[edit] Flight
When Edge is riding the dragon (which can be named by the player) the control scheme changes somewhat. Without input, the dragon will simply hover in one spot— movement is controlled by moving the dragon up and down to adjust its height and pressing the B button to fly forwards. Unlike the other Panzer Dragoon games, the dragon’s movement is not pre-determined, and instead the player is free to explore their environment as they wish. A modification of the on-foot mode’s cursor system is present, but is simplified somewhat: there is no differentiation between distances, and the dragon’s interaction is limited to ‘break’ (for opening item boxes and so on) and ‘access’ (for opening doors or switches). For breaking objects, the dragon's lasers have a rating scale; stronger objects require a more powerfully morphed dragon to destroy. However, with very few exceptions, any area with such objects can be revisited later to eliminate the obstacles and uncover their secrets.
When flying, the player may be attacked by a monster, with the chance of an attack at any given moment being indicated by a coloured danger metre in the HUD. (The game makes use of the traditional random encounter system as is typical of the genre.) The flight mode is used for exploring expansive ‘dungeon’ areas (such as the mine valleys opening the game) and takes place between the more relaxed on-foot segments of the game.
At one point in the story Edge’s dragon is replaced with a hover vehicle called a Floater. Although it has no flight capacity, the vehicle operates in almost exactly the same way both in and out of combat, lacking only the dragon’s berserk ability and possessing a permanent laser rating of 1.
[edit] Battle System
Compared to many of its contemporaries, such as the Final Fantasy series, Panzer Dragoon Saga has a notably cinematic combat system, making use of dramatic, sweeping camera angles and elaborate animation sequences to dramatise battles. In keeping with the thematic concepts introduced with the series' dragon, combat takes place in mid-air rather than on the ground and is not based on a traditional turn-based model, working instead with a real-time system. However, like other staples of the RPG genre, the player is typically able to attack, use items (such as healing items and the like) or use spells (called ‘Berserks’ in the game).
The player may confront multiple opponents at a time and can focus attack on different areas (many enemies have multiple points that may be targeted). The player is also given the opportunity to circle the enemy and attack from different sides, allowing them to attack a specific weak point that may only reveal itself from different angles. The risk is that this may also leave them open to a strong attack from that particular direction.
Enemies are also able to adjust their own positioning. A radar in the HUD indicates the respective safe, neutral and hazardous areas surrounding the enemy and the player's relative position. This constitutes much of the game’s strategy in that these safe areas — and the enemy’s weak spots — often change. Therefore, the player must quickly and frequently assess the strategic advantages and disadvantages of their positioning in order to gain the best advantage.
The real-time system also makes use of three ‘action gauges’ that deplete with each move made. A ‘move’ constitutes a normal attack, a Berserk attack (see below) or the use of an item. Basic moves such as firing Edge's gun or in unleashing a typical laser attack from the dragon cost one gauge, with Berserk attacks consuming anywhere from between one and three gauges. The gauges refill in real-time, the speed at which they do so dependent on the type of form that the dragon is currently in. This enables the player to decide on how best to apply their arsenal to whatever situation they may find themselves in during combat. The player can use as many moves as they like, whenever they like, as long as they have enough fully-charged action gauges to accommodate them — therefore, if all three gauges are charged, three single-gauge moves can be carried out consecutively with no pause between them. This system also enables the player to "beat the enemy to the punch", allowing them the chance to initiate a basic attack or avoidance maneuver before the enemy is able to react.
There are numerous means of using the action gauges. First, there are two forms of basic attack: the dragon’s homing lasers or Edge’s own gun. In the first case, the dragon fires a stream of lasers that attack multiple targets regardless of player input. (If there are less targets than lasers, multiple lasers will strike a single target.) In general, this attack is good for causing general or widespread damage, or for attacking multiple enemies. Edge’s gun is used to pinpoint individual targets and is good for causing concentrated damage to specific areas (such as enemy weak points). Unlike the laser attack, Edge’s gun can also be modified through the use of items [attachments] found during the course of the game; for example, the Sniper modification increases the damage the gun causes to weak points.
There is also a range of special moves called Berserks that are comparable to the magical spells found in other RPGs. Unlike the basic moves that are initially available, your dragon will learn these as it levels up. Berserk moves generally cost more action gauges to use than normal ones. Additionally, they also cost a certain amount of Berserk Points (BP) which may be thought of as a pool of traditional "spell points". Unlike the action gauges, BP does not recharge of its own accord (unless the dragon is in a form that allows BP regeneration, elaborated below). Normally, it needs to be replenished through items and rest (although there are also further Berserk moves that serve to replenish, rather than expend, BP). Some Berserks can be found hidden in certain areas.
At the end of a battle, the player is ranked depending on how quickly and efficiently they had handled it. The better the rank, the more experience points are received, eventually allowing the dragon to level up and possibly learn new battle techniques or even evolve into a different dragon type. These evolutions are generally plot elements that occur after a critical boss battle.
[edit] Special Berserks
There are also berserks which enhance the dragon depending on its type:
Healing Wing This can be used if the dragon is Normal type and all three gauges are full. Using this regenerates health.
Assault Wing This can be used if the dragon is Attack type and all three gauges are full. When used the dragons laser power increases and more damage is dealt when the lasers are used.
Defence Wing This can be used if the dragon is Defence type and all three gauges are full. Using this increases the dragon's defence power further for minimum damage.
Agility Wing This can be used if the dragon is Agility type and all three gauges are full. Using this increases the speed that the action gauges charge.
Spiritual Wing This can be used if the dragon is Spiritual type and all three gauges are full. Using this regenerates Berserk Points.
[edit] Morphing
As in Panzer Dragoon Zwei and Orta, the dragon has the ability to morph into different forms. However, unlike other games in the series, Saga uses a very sophisticated system that allows the dragon to transform into hundreds of different forms.
The dragon has five ‘attributes’: normal, agility, spiritual, attack and defense. Each of these will affect how well your dragon performs in battle. The normal statistic is a balance of the four types, if all three action gauges are charged then health is regenerated. The attack statistic increases the power of the dragons laser attack and berserks of the attack type are learned more quickly, but berserk attacks cost more BP to use and are less effective. The defense statistic decreases the amount of damage you receive from enemy attacks and berserks of the defence type are learned more quickly, but the action gauges charge very slowly. The spiritual statistic increases your BP efficiency (greater spirit means berserks require less BP), allowing the dragon to slowly regenerate BP when all three of the action gauges are charged, and increasing the power of the dragons berserk attacks. The agility statistic increases the speed at which your action gauges recharge as well as enable the dragon to maneuver more quickly, but you receive a lot more damage from enemy attacks as defence power is decreased, also when all three action gauges are charged your status will become normal (if you are poisoned or stunned). It is not possible to maximise one attribute without minimising another, and so the player must try and strike a balance between them depending on the combat situation that is being faced. Shifting a dragon's form also takes a gauge to perform while in battle, but you may change a dragons form at any time, whether its on foot, flight or in battle.
The ‘morphing’ element comes from the physical change your dragon goes through in adjusting its attributes. There are effectively four ‘extreme’ forms your dragon may take, each representing agility, spirit, attack and defense. If a balance is selected that is anywhere between these four extremes, then your dragon takes on a physical form that is reflective of this balance. This can mean that if you have a dragon that is high in defense but then increase its agility a little, it will begin to look a little more agile and aerodynamic. Every possible combination of attributes has its own unique form that differs slightly even from the other possible combinations closest to it.
The dragon will also morph into different physical forms of its own accord as it levels up, indicating its development and growth as it gains experience. In addition to the forms that the dragon will transform into during the regular course of the gameplay.
[edit] Hidden Dragon Forms
Among the regular dragon forms you take during gameplay, there are two other hidden dragon forms that can be taken.
[edit] Light Wing
This dragon form is taken after all twelve of the D-Units that are scattered throughout the game are collected. Light Wing was designed by The Ancients as the ultimate dragon. With Light Wing you can use all of the special berserks listed above. Also when all three action gauges are charged you will regenerate health, berserk points and your status will become normal.
[edit] Solo Wing
It is harder to obtain this dragon form than Light Wing; first, you must get the baby coolia from shelcoof in Georgias and then go to the red ruins in the Forest of Zoah to obtain Solo Wing. Unlike Light Wing there are no special benefits but when you morph Solo Wing into different types the dragon will take the form of other dragons from other Panzer Dragoon games.
[edit] Critical and Consumer Reaction
Panzer Dragoon Saga was received with unanimous praise from international gaming publications, citing its sophisticated art direction, vivid and unusual story and its cinematic, fluid battle system as particularly noteworthy. Official Sega Saturn Magazine UK gave it a review score of 96%, and provided the entire first disc of the game with a £4.99 edition. However, the game, coming late in the Sega Saturn’s life, was released in very low quantities in the US and Europe. Only 6,000 copies were first produced for the game’s American launch in May 1998, and many retailers failed to meet pre-order demand. Sega released a second batch of 12,000 copies the following June and then another 12,000 in the late Summer.
Because of the title’s limited print run, English-language copies of Panzer Dragoon Saga are, today, something of a rarity. What copies do exist tend to be recognised as valuable by their owners and copies have been regularly sold on eBay for over $200 US. Although the game is frequently requested to be re-released on a modern format by fans, there is apparently no interest from within Sega in re-issuing it for any console whatsoever. Despite its scarcity, the game still enjoys a persistent following.
The game has received the highest MetaReview scores of any game ever made to date.[citation needed]
[edit] Soundtrack
Fans and critics alike have noted the unique and ambient sound of the music composed by Saori Kobayashi and Mariko Nanba as one of the high points of the title. A "Mini Album" was released prior to the official release of the game itself, a 2 disc set with the first CD containing a selection of music from the game and the second disc acting as a game demo. The 2-disc OST was released later with a limited print run that eventually made it difficult to obtain. It would be re-released in 2001 as "Azel: Panzer Dragoon RPG Memorial Album" with two bonus tracks remixing the ending song. However, this print run would also be limited.
While this may contribute to the perceived value that the OST and the "Memorial Album" re-release currently command on sites such as Ebay, it should also be noted that the music that they contain has also met with as much acclaim as the game itself.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Panzer Dragoon Website
- The Will of the Ancients fansite
- The Panzer Dragoon Saga Oasis A Panzer Dragoon Saga fansite
- RPG Gamer's Panzer Dragoon Saga page
- RPG Fan's Azel Panzer Dragoon RPG OST review
- RPG Fan's Mini Album review
- RPG Fan's Memorial Album review
- The Art of Panzer Dragoon, a database of concept art from the series
- Panzer Dragoon Saga Video Project, A site dedicated to Panzer Dragoon Saga videos
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Panzer Dragoon video games
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Panzer Dragoon • Panzer Dragoon Zwei • Panzer Dragoon Saga • Panzer Dragoon Orta |
