The Panzer Dragoon Saga

Written by Ryan Smotherman on May 24, 2001

The Panzer Dragoon Saga: The History and Future of one of Sega's Most Beloved Franchises

You can always distinguish a hardcore Sega fanatic from a casual Sega fan. Just mention two words, Panzer Dragoon, if their face lights up with joy, you got yourself a hardcore Sega fan, if not you'll probably get the response of, УI never played itФ or Уwhat's that?Ф Well, I'll tell you one thing, these people are missing out. Panzer Dragoon has become one of Sega's most valued franchises with the hardcore Sega fan, it's right up there with Sonic and Phantasy Star in terms of it's popularity and brilliance. From the first two version's high octane shooting action, to the now legendary RPG elements of Panzer Dragoon Saga, the series can proudly claim itself one of Sega's greatest franchises.

Panzer Dragoon
Launched for the Sega Saturn in '95, Panzer Dragoon combined the most amazing visuals for it time, surpassing even Sega's own Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA, with intense shoot-em-up gameplay, while not revolutionary, it did make it's own mark on the gaming industry with it's uniquely designed world and enemies. Panzer Dragoon immersed you in a future gone wrong and the story of a boy and his dragon.

The story is set in a time when human kind is almost extinct, falling prey to their own genetically altered creatures known as bio-weapons. A tribe of humans known as УimperialsФ soon discover an ancient tower which houses an arsenal of devastatingly powerful weapons. The imperials use these weapons to destroy the creatures that stalk the land and feed on the living, but it doesn't stop there. The imperials soon discover the true use of the tower- it's the most powerful weapon ever created, and they want to take over the world with it.

You play the role of a young hunter who is suddenly thrown into the role of hero, as he must prevent the evil Dark Dragon from making it to the ancient tower, if the Dragon makes it, the world is pretty much over. Our hero is equipped with an ancient gun and he rides a blue dragon, the good dragon in the story, capable of shooting powerful laser blasts from its mouth. Gameplay consists of shooting down multiple enemies with your gun, or locking on with the dragon's lasers and blowing the enemies out of the sky, sounds easy, but it can be really difficult at times. Making things a little more challenging is the fact that there is no power ups what so ever, so you must make it through each level with the life you start with, not an easy feat by any means. And of course at the end of each episode you are challenged by astonishing boss characters who have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it's up to you to find out how to take them down.

At the end of the game there is a final confrontation between you and the Dark Dragon, and when the epic battle concludes the Dark Dragon is defeated (at least he better be), and the blue dragon sacrifices himself to destroy the tower, saving the world.

Panzer Dragoon Zwei
Released in С96, Panzer Dragoon Zwei made huge improvements upon every aspect of the original. Asides from the improved, cleaner looking graphics, Zwei also boasted different gameplay mechanics that took the fun factor to a whole new level.

Set thousands of years before the original, mankind has somehow adapted to their now devastated world by learning how to tame some of the creatures; the creatures are known as Khourieats. Worried that further mutations would once again create dangers of the Ancient Time, the Khourieats born with the blue-white light in their throats where killed immediately. You play the role of a young boy named Randy. Who decides to keep a mutated Khourieat alive, considering the fact that the mutant is born with a set of budding wings. One day as you are teaching your mutant, now named Lagi, how to fly; you are hit by a blinding white light. When you come to your senses you discover in horror that your village has just been destroyed by a massive airship. It turns out your village has fallen victim to a war brewing between two tribes known as the Mecchanics and the Imperials, who are fighting over control of the planet. Hell bent on revenge, Randy and Lagi set off to take out the Imperials.

Zwei's gameplay is basic Panzer Dragoon at its core, but it's the additional features that make the game so much better. First off, each episode of Zwei consists of multiple branching paths, which determines how your dragon will change and grow. After you clear an episode you are given points in three different areas, clear, route, and technical points. Depending on your combined score, your dragon will go through one or more metamorphic changes that increase the dragon's strength and size. Another gameplay change is the addition of the berserk command, a very powerful and amazing attack you can use once your berserk meter is filled. Your dragon unleashes a torrent of homing lasers at all opponents, blasting everything targetable until the berserk bar is empty, used in emergency cases only.

Panzer Dragoon Zwei was a big step from the original, but no expected the greatness of the last in the Panzer Dragoon Sega Saturn trilogy, Panzer Dragoon Saga.

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Panzer Saga jumped on to the scene in '98, towards the end of the Saturn's short life cycle. Sporting a better look and a totally different style gameplay than its predecessors, the game quickly became one of the best games of '98. Maybe not the most played though, considering the fact there was only 10 to 15 thousand copies released in the US, which has made the game highly sought after by hardcore gamers and collectors alike.

Panzer Dragoon Saga follows the story a young boy named Edge. Edge is an employee of the Imperial army and is given the assignment of protecting an excavation site that's digging for ancient artifacts. When dig team stumbles upon an ancient bio weapon that was designed to resemble a young woman, all hell breaks lose. As the leader of a rebel faction, named Craymen, shows up to gain control of the dig site. Him and his traitors murder everyone at the site, including Edge's mentor, knock Edge into a deep chasm, and they leave with the ancient artifact. Saved by an underground stream that breaks this fall, Edge soon finds himself surrounded by legions of bio creatures. Then out of nowhere a dragon swoops down and destroys the creatures, saving Edge's life and starting a bond between the two. Edge soon learns that he can control the dragon, and the adventure of revenge and to discover the true purpose of the young woman begins.

With the third installment, Sega took a totally different approach for Panzer Dragoon. Dropping the rails and fast shooting gameplay in favor of the level building and random battles found in RPG's, it turned out to be one of the best RPG's ever created. Spanning 4 disks, Panzer's Saga storyline, if somewhat short, is one of the best in the business, not to mention its amazing battle engine. Battles are fought in real time, instead of the turn-based combat found in many RPG's, ala Final Fantasy. You are given three bars that fill as the battle progresses, when one fills it is possible to use basic moves such as firing your gun, shooting your dragon's laser, or using items. With two and three filling up, your dragon is able to launch incredible spells that fill the screen and obliterate your enemies. You are also given the ability to circle around your enemies in all directions, having your safe zones (green) and your critical zones (red), which help in avoiding lethal attacks. I think we have all heard the saying, Уif it isn't broke, then don't fix itФ; I think with Panzer Dragoon Saga, Sega made an exception to the rule.

Without spoiling the game for anyone who's never played it, lets just saying the ending left you wanting to know what happens in the future. And until recently we didn't know when we'd get a chance to find out.

The Future
With Sega's recent decision to drop the Dreamcast and become a 3rd party developer, came new game announcements. They announced 11 new titles for Microsoft's soon to be released X-Box (11/8/2001), and one of them happened to be a brand new entry into the Panzer Dragoon series.

The only details released for the game so far is that it is going to go back to its roots as a shooter. As far as how the game will turn out when compared to the originals are unknown, bearing in mind that the developers of the Panzer Dragoon series, is the now defunct Team Andromeda. But, there are rumors of ex-Andromeda employees working on the project. Let's hope they can keep the look and feel of the series.

So, will Sega ever release another RPG version of Panzer Dragoon? Right now that is not quite yet known. I myself would like to see Sega take the series into two different directions, shooter and RPG. Maybe the new X-Box version could be Panzer Dragoon 3, while the next incarnation of Panzer Saga would be Panzer Dragoon Saga 2. Whatever they decide to do with the franchise, I'm just glad to see Sega not forgetting the franchise as they have done with other franchises of the past, Streets of Rage or Shinobi anyone?