RETRO REBOOT SHMUPtember - Panzer Dragoon II Zwei (Sega Saturn)

Of all the Sega franchises, I really miss Panzer Dragoon the most. The SHMUP genre has a plethora of classics to choose from, leaving many of the names off this month was not an easy decision. Titles like Arrow Flash, Zaxxon, Thunderforce, and M.U.S.H.A. will certainly get their time. But I can't think of a better game to wrap up this month with Panzer Dragoon II Zwei.

While the Sega Saturn didn't have that much in demand Sonic The Hedgehog game to bolster its appeal in the United States (Sonic Xtreme was TOO "xtreme" to be released), some of the games for it were very impressive. The first Panzer Dragoon originally released in 1995 as a launch was a very good rail shooter with great music and fascinating 3D graphics for its time. It was met with strong critical reception, with perhaps its major drawback being its rather snug difficulty. 

Rail shooters are a variation of shooters were you move on a precalculated path, guiding a reticle to take down enemies and using your reflexive offense to deter fire. Imagine playing a light gun game like Time Crisis, but without the light gun. The series was developed by Team Andromeda, who still work on the Mario & Sonic Olympic series. The staff began to work on Zwei in 1995, while the role-playing game, Panzer Dragoon Saga (a golden goose I've been seeking to claim for my collection. I'm going to end up paying a king's ransom for it), which would be released three years later in '98. The Saturn was in its twilight in the United States by this point, so the game has become one of the most rare and sought after titles. Zwei is a much more improved successor, improving the visuals and the controls, as well as deepening the lore and narrative. While it's too bad that this is a prequel (sheesh, even back then...), it does establish some origins and is definitely worth playing through for a stimulating experience. 

The control scheme is mostly unchanged, but feels more fluid. Jean-Luc Lundi rides atop Lagi occasionally on land and through the air, using a standard rapid-fire gun and homing lasers that the dragon can fire, which is capable of locking on to multiple targets or one target several times to maximize damage. Lagi is also capable of a berserker attack, which occurs once you've built up meter by killing enemies to activate it. It fires a barrage of homing lasers while leaving you invulnerable for a few seconds, meaning this is worth spamming and can prolong your life in really tight situations. With the press of a button, it's possible to sweep the camera 180 degrees for a quick switch, so enemy tracking is made easier if bogies are on your six and/or flanking you.

Alternate routes also provide more depth to the gameplay, and an evolved dragon, based on how well you do. When it comes to challenge, Zwei really does take it easy on you compared to the first game. This might be a detriment to those seeking the rigorous difficulty of the first. And if anyone tried Panzer Dragoon Orta for the Xbox, they seem to have recalled that criticism and developed an absolute beast of a game. So yeah, comparatively, Zwei can be beaten in a really short time and might be dropped in favor of Star Fox 64. It's one of those calls where does a development team pull back on the odds and make something a little too approachable for its own good. Shoot'em ups gained their notoriety by pushing gamers to the height of their reflexes, if you make your title too easy, it defeats the purpose. And this wasn't a series that was born in the arcades, either. Interesting decision, but at least the game isn't breaking your spine. 

Panzer Dragoon II Zwei's OST is amazing. The music invokes a sense of grand adventure with perilous fanfare. It's not often that I will listen to video game music in a casual setting, but Zwei's arrangements are worth it. There isn't actual English dialog, the characters all speak the native tongue, which helps establish its own universe and makes it feel atmospheric. To me, most Sega games from this era were very memorable to me because of their music. BUG!, Mr. Bones, Clockwork Knight, Nights Into Dreams, these games had a lot of personality and the OST really augmented this, they were very distinct.

Remakes of the first two Dragoon games have been or are currently in the works. I still have yet to receive the FIRST remake I ordered through Limited Run, but I'll go punch some drywall about that later. While I've learned it can be a little fruitless to hope Sega will revitalize most of my favorite dormant franchises, the fact that they are being redistributed is a little assuring that they aren't completely forgotten about. If you were a fan of Star Fox 64, Panzer Dragoon II Zwei is pretty similar in some manners and it's definitely worth checking out.  

Views: 114

Comment

You need to be a member of Game Fix to add comments!

Join Game Fix

facebooktwitterinstagramyoutube

PODCAST

Events

FRIENDS OF THE SHOW


© 2024   Created by Verlane.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service