Panzer Dragoon

"A very good game.."

Panzer Dragoon is one of the games that almost everybody who owns a Sega Saturn has. It was also one of the launch games. The game doesn't let you explore full 3d envoriments, but it does let you control your Dragon on the 3d area you are in. For example of a game like this: Star Fox 64. The object is to destroy as much as possible but not getting yourself killed. There are average length levels and usally a big boss, that's no that hard to destroy but when your low on health could do you in. Overall it's a Sega Classic...

Graphics: 9
For a first generation game, these graphics were top notch. There is hardly any flaws and glitches. Every thing (with the exclusion of the sprite enemies) had high polygons to medium polygon counts. The water in the first level looks great. The begining video is just cool.

Sound: 8.5
The sound has everything from explosions to the splashing sound the enemies make when they hit the water, the cry of the bugs when they get shot. The swooshing sound the dragon makes is very realistic (even though dragons are not). The only thing that bugs me is the music, it's very ''pirate'' sounding or it has a classical beat. Otherwise great.

Gameplay: 7.5
Well, there are tons of different enemies to destroy, but the lack of control of were you want to go and just shoot as you go is a real downer. The game itself is fun, but there just isn't much to do... it's a shame, it's really a great game but the limits bring it down. The homing missles are a nice touch but the fact that you have unlimited makes you use your normal gun less and less.

Replay Value: 8.5
The game like I said is fun, it could have used a two player option but still it's great. There are 7 episodes to play through and 3 levels of difficulty. Easy is more of a practice, you have unlimited credits and only play the first 4 Episodes. Normal is really hard, you take twice as much damage as in easy and have only 3 credits. And hard forget about it, one death and it's game over. The lack of randomizer of the enemies is bad but, still nothing funner than blowing the crap out of stuff...

OVERALL: 8.4

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/26/01, Updated 03/06/01