Panzer Dragoon Orta

[gear02]

My one day mini review:

Just got it last night and I must say this thing is a GEM. For those who don't know, it's a shooter on rails, meaning you don't have freedom to change directions. However, that's good because enemies show up in all directions and when you have to fight guys from the rear and the front AND the sides, you really don't care where you're flying.

As mentioned, enemies appear from all over the place making this a very enjoyable shooter. It might sound simple, and for a little while it is, but there's a subtleness to this that I really can't explain.

The graphics are outstanding and the gameplay really makes you feel like you're on a dragon fighting for your life. The pace is frantic, but deliberate.

I've waiting a long time for this game without really knowning what the game is all about, and it's worth it.

[ProMinx]

Yeah, Panzer Dragoon is a cult classic among millions of people who have never played or even seen the game before. I, too, fall in that category. I have my copy of Panzer Dragoon (I waited until Best Buy released it today so that I could use all the many discounts I know of in my favorite store) sitting on my couch still in its plastic. Maybe I'll get to play after I get back from having coffee with the girlfriend's mother...

ProMinx

[apmiller]

Panzer Dragoon Orta just sitting there still in the package...very sad.

I would have had that sucker ripped open and well played before it left the store! But then againg all my video games get that treatment...I'm sure my games feel used and cheap by now. A whole lot of gaming one night stands...sigh...

[ProMinx]

Don't worry. I removed the game from the plastic shortly after returning from coffee with the girlfriend's mother. I've already played it a bunch too, but this game is DIFFICULT. I've played hours and hours, and have only reached the 7th level (of 10 plus dozens of unlockable missions and games), but I'm quite stuck. You have to fight this giant worm (probably 7 times your length) that travels underground and pops up to bitch slap you or leave little blockades that you have to blow up. I have no problem knocking down his health, but the problem is that every time he gets below about 40% health...he summons this gateway which he then travels through and fully heals himself. This is not very fair considering how there are no life power-ups in the entire game...and it takes about 5 minutes to knock the worm's health down to roughly 50%. Not fair! I need to figure out a new strategy...(and yes, I have tried attacking the gateway...but you can't lock on to the son of a bitch). Otherwise the game is pretty cool.

ProMinx

[Cantacuzene]

I just picked this up. Played teh first 3 levels and I'm amazed. This is one good game.

[ProMinx]

Okay, I'm on the last guy (yet another single enemy stage, not that they aren't difficult...) and he's bloody impossible. First you kill him in some weird spiky bone form...then he comes back completely rejuvenated on a huge dragon and keeps flying into these clouds on the left and right where you can't see or target him (but he shoots you from the clouds). That I can handle, I've just gotten used to doing a glide attack a few seconds after he disappears into the mire...then he flies right in front of you and tries to tailwhip you for a few minutes (not difficult to avoid, and a decent time to knock hid health down without much or any damage to yourself)...but then he starts doing this insane attack where 1 shot takes off like 3% of your life, but he launches 5-8 of them at a time...and they track.
This is where he kills me every time. I have tried everything, glide attack, dash back, strafing around (and any combination of the two)...but the only way to keep these things from hitting is with your special attack...which we all know you can't use all that often. There has to be a trick, but I just can't see it for the life of me. I've tried to locate any special target on the dragon...but when he fires those tracking light arrows...I'm screwed everytime (and I usually start this part of the boss with about 80% life...and die about a minute later).

ProMinx

PS - What kind of overall stage grades are you guys receiving? My average level score is definitely a C, and I have only had two Bs (no As). This game is difficult as hell...