Panzer Dragoon Orta

"Quite Simply one of the best games of this generation."

Panzer Dragoon Orta (PDO) is the 4th in a long series. The first Panzer game title Panzer Dragoon was released on the Saga Saturn as a launch title in 1995. Following shortly after came Panzer Dragoon 2 Zwei. This game came out about a year after the first one and improved on the gameplay tremendously adding berserks and the idea of leveling up. Finally came Panzer Dragoon Saga. This was an RPG style of the original, which came out in April of 1998. Now about 5 years later we get a sequel. This was the moment many Saga fans have been waiting for. For some this is the reason to own an Xbox. Panzer Dragoon as made its triumphant return and it’s only on Xbox. Let me just say this game was well worth the wait. It delivers in almost every category.

Gameplay:
Panzer Dragoon Orta, like the original, is a rail shooter. This means that you are restricted to a track or rail that you must follow. You can move around the screen but you are always moving and you cannot stop or go back. Think of the star fox series if you’re a Nintendo fan and don’t know this series. Panzer Dragoon Orta gets to be a very tough game. Unless you play on easy don’t expect to just fly through the game unless you are an expert of these game types. Every time you go up a difficulty (there are 3) the game gets progressively harder. When you finally get to hard you will have a very tough time advancing levels. So there is a difficulty for everyone.

When you first enter the menu you have the option to start a New Game, Continue, Pandora’s Box, Tutorial, and Options. When selecting new game you are asked what difficulty (easy, normal, and hard) then you start right into the game. Anytime in the game you can save and you get as many saves as you want per game. You can only save 1 file though. So selecting continue will not bring up a file asking which one to load it will just load the last save. Pandora’s Box allows you to view flight records, sub-scenarios, box game, encyclopedia, and appendix. In flight record you view game history and personal records. In sub-scenarios you play the game with different characters, dragons, and get new levels. The new levels consist of random scenarios but also a whole back-story, which is as big as the game itself. You can play as Mobo through this own adventures. You can play a historian and collect photographs of great battles. Or you can even play on the side of the Empire. Then in Box Game you can play any episode you want with special options enabled. This is a great way to go fight the first or second boss with a fully leveled up dragoon. He’s not so hard now. Then in Encyclopedia you can browse though various data and information about the Panzer Dragoon Orta world. The final option in Pandora’s Box is the option of Appendix. Here is where you will find the full version of the original Panzer Dragoon. In the Appendix you can also view illustrations, events, and films. Then there is the tutorial, which will teach you the basics as well as a few advanced maneuvers. Finally the options which allow you the change the volume of the sound, music, and voices, enable vibration, change inverted controls, button configuration, video settings, and instrument mode (how much data you want to see on the screen).

When you start a new game, you will witness a huge cut-scene getting you into the game. Then you will start your first episode (mission or level). The main game is 10 episodes long and will last about 3 hours on easy difficulty. Trying normal or hard the first time it can last 10+ hours depending on skill. The start of the game puts you right into the action. You, while on a rail, will be able to move around the screen. You can change views with a 360-degree rotation. By pressing the one of the triggers you turn 90-degrees to the direction you wish. By pressing both triggers you will rotate 180-degrees. On top of that you can just move your target sight around to get any angle you need. You can perform basic attacks like any other shooter. You can lock on or just fire by either pressing or holding the A button. Then you can perform a glide that will either slow you down or speed to up. This is used to avoid attacks, incoming objects, or get to a bosses weak spot. Then you can change your dragon form. You get 3 to choose from (balanced, strong/slow, weak/fast). There is an insane amount of strategy in choosing the right form for the right situation. Finally by pressing the white button you perform berserk attacks. Depending of your dragon you will either fire hundreds of projectiles, fire a concentrated beam, or regain health. As you can see this is a very deep rail shooter. This is not the unintelligent shoot everything randomly game. Instead you must become an expert tactician and strategist as well as rely on reflexes. As you destroy your enemies your dragons will begin to level up. Each dragon has a separate level so you need to use the one you want leveled up.

The game has a good story. Actually it’s the best, most in-depth story I have ever seen in a rail shooter. After every mission you will get a new cut-scene to advance the intriguing story of PDO. There is about 20-30 minutes of cut-scenes in the main game. I wont give any details about the story because I don’t want to ruin it for you, but I will give you a general summery. In the game you will follow a fascinating women through a story of self-discovery on an epic scale. If you want anymore then that you must play the game yourself. On top of the main story you will get a whole back-story that is long and enhances the already great story. The original Panzer Dragoon. Side scenarios, new characters, and dragons are extras you should expect to see. There is plenty of game here and to master it will take well over 20 hours. So don’t get to worried that the main game on easy is only 3 hours because you’ll get much more then that out of it.

Sound:
PDO offers some very good music. With the amazing sound and music, every level gets you pumped. The sound affects are right on and draws you right into the action. When you fire the appropriate sound occurs and at the right volume. This one of the few game I haven’ had to turn down the volume so I could hear the voices or the music. This game manages to have a perfect balance. You can also hear the dragon as it flaps its wings or lets a yell of pain as its hit with a missile.
The voice acting is excellent and some of the best I’ve heard. The only problem is that it’s not in English. They never dubbed it. This isn’t a huge complaint considering the voice acting we get here. You can tell they got talented voice actors when they made this game. This is only a minor complaint really. The only reason I did not give the sound a perfect score is the lack of custom soundtrack. I do agree that the built in music enhances this game and so you shouldn’t need custom soundtrack. That’s true at least the first or second time through the game. But in a short game that you will end up playing time after time, you want to be able to listen to your own music.

Graphics:
As everyone knows the graphics are amazing. These are the best graphics I have seen in a game period. I have never seen a game come close the amount of detail and atmosphere you’ll find in this game. I won’t be surprised if this is the best graphics we will find this generation. They are spectacular. This is a true visual masterpiece. The atmosphere is also excellent. You will fly through space with dozens of ships, fly in low orbit around barren planets, industrialized planets, you will fly inside large spacecraft, and you even get to run on an ice planet (yes I said run). There is plenty of variety here and it all looks beautiful.

Value:
This game is very fun. It offers some of the best shooting you’ll find. With over 20+ hours of Gameplay and tons of replay you’ll never put this title down. They made a perfect decision on length. You will get a long game with mastering and unlocking everything, and yet you can sit down and beat it anytime you get the urge. Its rare for a game to be both a long adventure when you want it or be a quick shooting fix when you want that. It should please everyone who knows good games.

Conclusion:
This is one of the best games you’ll find on the Xbox. Hell is one of the best you’ll find this generation. If you like rail shooters then don’t pass this masterpiece up. Panzer Dragoon Orta is sure to please. If you have an Xbox don’t be caught without this title. This is on the same level as Splinter Cell and Halo.

Gameplay-10/10
Sound-9.5/10
Graphics-10/10
Value-9.5/10
Overall-10/10

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