AbstractYears ago, a legacy was born that ruled the skies. As time passed and memory grew dim, distant times progressed from history into legend. Now, the era of human prosperity has come to a grinding halt, with all but a few pockets of civilization destroyed by years of devastating battles. The population clings precariously to the brink of extinction, scattered across the desolate land, living in the darkest age in history.
ESRB rating
 |
Animated Blood, Violence |
Full descriptionOne of Sega's more successful series on the 32-bit Saturn swoops onto the Xbox with the release of Panzer Dragoon Orta. Orta is a teenage girl who becomes a target of unspeakable evil after being rescued by a dragon while locked away in a tower prison. Cast in the role of the mysterious Orta, players take the reigns of her dragon mount through a series of 13 branching levels taking place along the planet's surface. The dragon has the power to fire magical blasts of energy at various threats in the air and on the ground, all of which are looking to recapture Orta.
As in the first two games in the series, the shooting action is set on rails, meaning players are automatically guided along pre-defined paths. Players can steer their dragon within the boundaries of the path, and can speed up or slow down to avoid projectiles or environmental hazards such as spikes and collapsing structures. Multiple routes can also be taken after triggering certain events within the backgrounds or shooting at specific targets. Enemy units in front and in back of the dragon are viewable on an overhead radar display, and players also possess a special attack meter that increases with every kill.
Once the meter is filled, players can trigger a Berzerker attack to eliminate everything on the screen. In addition to special attacks, players will be able to use some strategy in their war against the force known only as the Empire. A total of three dragon types can be flown, each possessing distinct abilities. The glide wing dragon, for example, cannot lock onto targets like the other two mounts, but it's faster and more agile. The base wing dragon offers a balanced mix of abilities, while the heavy wing dragon offers the most punch with its powerful lock-on missiles. A drawback is its lack of speed and maneuverability.
Panzer Dragoon Orta is a game designed to be revisited multiple times in order for players to improve upon their overall rating awarded at the end of each stage. A special "Pandora's Box" options screen offers a variety of unlockable secrets to earn by flying through previous levels and destroying more targets -- all while minimizing the damage received from enemy units. Among the hidden features waiting to be discovered are over 15 sub-missions playable with different characters and vehicles, movies, artwork, and even an emulated version of the original Panzer Dragoon on the Saturn.
Panzer Dragoon Orta: Years ago, a legacy was born that ruled the skies. As time passed and memory grew dim, distant times progressed from History into Legend. Now, the era of human prosperity has come to a grinding halt, with all but a few pockets of civilization destroyed by years of devastating battles. The population clings precariously to the brink of extinction, scattered across the desolate land, living in the darkest age in history. A new Empire rules with an iron grip, and a band of rebels begins a revolt in an attempt to become masters of their destiny once again. As the world is engulfed in the flames of war, an unlikely and unwilling Hero must become mankind's only hope.
Soon, the Dragon will rise again....
Editorial review
Source:
AmazonPanzer Dragoon: Orta is a quintessential action game with deceptively simple gameplay. You ride on the back of a flying dragon, blasting enemies and incoming missiles while your scaly friend soars along a predetermined path through gorgeous fantasy landscapes. Floating power-ups serve as tasty rewards to players who are particularly apt at dishing out carnage. Gigantic boss monsters make regular appearances, each one challenging the player to decipher the particular boss's attack pattern and weak points.
While its core gameplay is the very definition of old school, Panzer Dragon: Orta is much more than a shooter on rails. The dragon that Orta rides can shift into three forms: light, medium, and heavy. Success depends on a player's ability to quickly shift between forms in order to take advantage of the particular abilities of each. The medium form is useful in most situations. The light form is fast and maneuverable, ideal for quickly shooting down swarms of projectiles or attaining a favorable tactical position. The heavy form presents a slow, big target, but sports the most damaging weapons in the game. The shape-shifting aspect adds depth to the game, especially considering that each form can be upgraded with power-ups and enables a unique special ability.
Clever shifting strategy and a sharpshooter's eye earn a player much more than victory and power-ups. Skilled players are rewarded with extras such as passages of Panzer Dragoon fiction, concept sketches, additional playable characters, extra missions, and even the original Panzer Dragoon game from 1995. The goodies celebrate the rich history of the Panzer Dragoon series, and fill in the background of the game's unfolding story.
The story is worthy of praise. The game tells the tale of Orta, a young woman who is freed from lifelong imprisonment at the beginning of the game by a wondrous shape-shifting dragon. You play as Orta as she and her dragon blast their way through an oppressive empire's legions of soldiers and bioengineered monsters, all the while seeking the truth behind Orta's imprisonment and destiny.
Disappointingly, the genuinely interesting story is told through subtitles instead of spoken English. Subtitles would be fine for slow sections or noninteractive cutscenes, but Orta's text is displayed during pitched battles. The frantic pace and constant action demand the player's full attention, making it difficult to read text when you're desperately gunning down 20 incoming missiles while dodging around a cliff wall and trying to draw a bead on a flying battleship's weak point. In other words: the game is so good, you shouldn't be forced to take your eyes off the action for even a second.
Challenging, rewarding, and beautiful, Panzer Dragoon: Orta stands with Halo as one of the must-have Xbox games. --Mike Fehlauer
Pros:
- Gorgeous graphics
- Varied gameplay; three dragon forms add depth
- Excellent extras
Cons:
- Subtitles
- Easy mode isn't
Unleash Berzerker attacks to the clear the screen of enemies
Soar through 13 branching levels and unlock 15 secret sub-missions
- Portions of content provided by Rovi Data Solutions, Inc. and IGN Entertainment, Inc.