"Puts the 'super' in superlative. Absolutely ****ing fantastic!"

In a break from the rest of the Panzer Dragoon series, Saga is the only RPG in a world of shooters. Strangely enough, it ends up being the best of them all and one of the best games I've ever had the good fortune to play. And here's why.

Graphics: 10/10

The Panzer series has a reputation for great graphics- the first game was the best looking game ever at its time of release, Zwei even better, and Orta on the Xbox is in another world of graphical supremacy. Thankfully, Saga doesn't disappoint- it is arguably the best looking game out for the Saturn. Stunningly detailed, vibrant worlds are filled with some truly awe inspiring monsters for the dragon to hunt down. Special effects, like the berserk attacks and lighting effects, are so good you won't believe this is coming from the Saturn. There is the slightest slowdown during massive berserk attacks, but as the action is turn-based this doesn't affect the game in the slightest.

Sound: 10/10

In my NiGHTS review, I said it had the best game soundtrack ever. From a technical standpoint, that is true due to its revolutionary style, but in sheer musical terms, Panzer Dragoon Saga's is better. Its sheer power enhances the effect of the gameplay on your senses, and the game just wouldn't be the same without it. Whenever you encounter Azel and Atolm, the classic theme comes up again- each battle becomes less of a game element, and more of a crusade as you fight the enemies. The sound effects have been partially recycled from Zwei, but this isn't a bad thing as they were fine in the first place. Voice acting is of a very high standard, although the characters speak a made up language, you can hear the emotion in their voices and can almost translate it by going on emotion alone. It's the attention to detail in every aspect of this game that makes it so fantastic.

Gameplay: 10/10

With Panzer Dragoon Saga, the creators Team Andromeda were taking a bit of a gamble. After two superb shooting games, there was always a chance that their first RPG venture would turn out to be crap. Thankfully, this isn't the case and it's better than any of their previous efforts.

Panzer Saga is a 4-disc spanning epic that takes place in an imaginary world, which is both futuristic in its use of technology and primitive in others. Players control Edge, a young boy whose life is changed forever when his comrades are murdered and he is left for dead. Edge is saved by a dragon, and then he sets off to avenge his friends. Of course, he becomes deeply embroiled in a storyline full of twists and turns which leaves him as the only hope for the world.

The gameplay in Panzer Saga can be broken down into three main elements- most of the exploration in the game takes place on the dragon. There is no fighting in the style of the earlier Panzer games, as the dragon is free to move within the boundaries of the levels. Items are found here, and there are occasional puzzles to be solved. Nothing too taxing, mind. The rest of the exploration is in the various villages of the Panzer world- these take place on foot and are among some of the best looking sections in the game. These areas are basically a breather for Edge to heal up and buy items, although some of the plot is unraveled along the way. But of course, the majority of the game, and the best part of it, is in the superlative battle scenes.

Battles either take place at random while exploring on the dragon, or are pre-scripted according to the storyline. These take place in real time and Edge has to wait until a gauge has filled before initiating an attack. The dragon can also maneuvre around its enemies (usually 360 degrees, but it varies according to the landscape) but when the dragon is moving your gauge doesn't fill up. To survive in battles, you have to strike a careful balance between dodging the enemies attacks and giving yourself enough time to retaliate.

What makes Saga unique from other RPGs is the fantastic battle system. On the battle radar, green and red areas appear. Green means your dragon is safe from attack, and red means that the enemy can launch its most damaging attacks from here. However, it's not enough to stay in the green area and blast away, as most enemies have their weak points in the 'danger zone' and you have to adjust your attacks accordingly. These areas can also change as the battle commences, causing you to rethink your tactics on the fly- a concept pretty much unheard of in RPGs.

In battles, Edge can use his guns or the dragons lasers to dispatch enemies. Some enemies are immune to different types of fire (particularly in the Uru tunnels dungeon) and shooting them with the wrong weapon can make the battle much more difficult. Clearly those with lesser intellects are going to struggle here. In addition to the normal attacks, the dragon can learn special Berserk attacks. These are similar to those in Panzer Zwei and Orta, only they are a lot more varied. There are about 20 Berserks in total, each with different effects. Berserk energy comes in the form of BP (Berserk Points), like magic points in a normal RPG and can be recharged. Using Berserks at the right moment can turn the tide of a battle and save your dragon's hide at the last moment. An added bonus is that they look spectacular. You mightn't think they look nearly so cool when the enemy is attacking you with them, though.

The range of locations on offer in Saga, and the size of the whole game is overwhelming. The game begins in the valleys and mountains, and moves from the deserts into the sunken ruins and the forests of the world. You'll recognise most of these locations from previous Panzer games, but now that you can explore them more fully than ever before you get to appreciate them more. What's impressive is that instead of stapling together a collection of random stages in the previous Panzer games, these are actually a part of a whole world with its own detailed history as you will learn in Saga. This makes Saga the perfect companion to the two shooters, as it fills in the gaps in the storyline and answers some of the questions brought up in the other games.

Ah, the storyline- rarely has one in a game been so detailed. Like I said earlier, Saga is full of twists and turns- there are moments in the plot that are simply unbelievable. Some made me swear out loud (not a rare thing really, but still significant) with shock. You spend a good portion of the game watching cutscenes, all expertly directed of course. As you watch these, you begin to feel a bond with the characters in the game. Later on in the game, some things happen that you just wouldn't expect to happen- things that you take for granted change dramatically. In this way, Saga keeps you guessing as you're never sure what's going to happen next.

Ultimately, it's impossible to sum up Panzer Dragoon Saga in one review. It is one of my favourite games ever, and one of the best games ever to come out for the Saturn. If you disregard Saga because you didn't like the shooting prequels, you'll be missing out on one hell of a game. Panzer Dragoon Saga is a masterpiece. Time will not weather its beauty. You must experience it.

Lastability 9/10

The only problem with Panzer Dragoon Saga is that eventually it has to end. It is a big game, not the most difficult RPG ever but that's not really the point. Once you beat Saga, a Box Game is unlocked which adds to the replay value. Plus you'll want to play through it a few times to discover every hidden secret.

Overall
Panzer Dragoon Saga connects with the gamer on every level imaginable- it's one of the few games I have played which draws you into the universe as if you were part of it, and toys with your emotions as you play it. It sounds fantastic, looks fabulous, has the best battle engine ever conceived an RPG, and it's massive. What more could you possibly ask for?

96%

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/04/03, Updated 05/04/03