While it initially received some criticism for its short length, in some ways it was a precursor to other, more streamlined action RPGs like Jade Empire and The Outer World.Įncounters are random, and actions are governed by three gauges that charge in real-time.

This was very unusual at a time when almost every RPG was expected to last at least 40 hours even before getting into the optional content.

It takes only about 20 hours to complete, and there aren’t really any side quests. Indeed, in many ways, Saga is much simpler than the typical RPG. On paper, it’s a largely familiar premise. Set in the world of its predecessors, Panzer Dragoon Saga tells the story of a mercenary named Edge who joins forces with a mysterious dragon to get revenge on the maniacal Black Fleet. Panzer Dragoon Saga: An RPG Ahead of Its Time In hindsight, there was probably no amount of money could have accomplished that goal, but Panzer Dragoon Saga, the game that Sega ultimately produced, is arguably better than any Final Fantasy game of the era, even if it only saw a fraction of that series’ sales. A sequel, Panzer Dragon II Zwei was quickly greenlit, and even better received upon its release in 1996.īut as Zwei entered development, Team Andromeda was given another directive from Sega: create a Panzer Dragoon RPG that could outsell Final Fantasy. While the gameplay was somewhat similar to Star Fox, the next-gen graphics of the time blew away Nintendo’s early attempts at 3D, and the mechanics and setting were just different enough for it to carve out its own identity. One launch game in particular, the rail shooter Panzer Dragoon, impressed gamers and critics alike with its rich 3D graphics, epic soundtrack, and post-apocalyptic fantasy setting. Though Sega itself was very publicly imploding at the time, the Saturn still managed to build a very respectable library of titles. When the Nintendo 64 hit shelves in 1996, that was essentially the final nail in the coffin for the Saturn in the West. The result was the Sony PlayStation immediately outselling the Saturn when it launched a few months later.

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