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Panzer Dragoon Orta Preview

Chris Leyton

00/12/0000

One of Sega’s most popular series comes back in an all new adventure...

Back in 1995 Panzer Dragoon was the most expensive videogame ever created, itâs mixture of stunning CG, atmospheric musical score and arcade fuelled shooting action quickly endeared itself to the Sega hardcore. A subsequent sequel and an excellent RPG title ensured that the series became yet another Sega classic, up there with the likes of Streets of Rage and Shinobi.

However talk of Team Andromedaâs split and the lack of anything new since 1998, worried a legion of fans and it seemed that Panzer Dragoon might have gone the way of several other Sega franchises that havent seen the light of day in the next generation.

Thankfully the mantle was taken up by another Sega developer, most famously known for creating the âcell-shadedâ technique in Jet Set Radio and equipped with a number of ex Team Andromeda staff. Yes those Xbox friendly developers Smilebit have recognised the need amongst the Sega gamers for another title in the esteemed franchise, with the development of the fourth title in the series Panzer Dragoon Orta.

In the past not a lot has been known about how the latest title fits in the Panzer Dragoon storyline, a gaming series with a rich heritage of characters and storylines. TVG today learnt a few specific details on the title, along with a selection of fabulous new screens that youâll want to check out.

Set 1000 years after the fall of the ancient civilisation, the world is a hostile and arid place to be, a fallen age in history. The few remaining human tribes, who live scattered across the wasteland, are in desperate fear of biogentic terrors â“ powerful artefacts born out of blasphemy.

In the midst of the continued conflict over precious water resources the Empire, who wish to gain control over the organic weapons from the old age through military pressure, have discovered a production factory from the ruins of the Old Century and succeeded in creating their own organic weapon - the Dragon.

The key to restore peace in this distorted world is a mysterious girl captive under ball and chain, her name is Orta.

A recent fact-sheet confirmed to TVG that Orta is indeed set after the events of Panzer Dragoon Saga, and that surprisingly the games do follow in chronological order, something that has been highly debated amongst Sega fans.

Imperial Era Yr. 77	Panzer Dragoon
Imperial Era Yr. 89	Panzer Dragoon Zwei
Imperial Era Yr. 119	Panzer Dragoon Saga/Azel
Imperial Era Yr. 149	Panzer Dragoon Orta

Set over 10 stages the story is progressed through extensive cut-scenes both rendered with a mixture of the in-game engine and CG scenes. The action is a very similar experience to the first two titles in the series, offering a fast-paced and action-packed shooting experience. Like Panzer Dragoon Zwei, youâll be able to choose your own way through each mission with a number of points located in each mission.

Our factsheet also revealed a brief synopsis of what each stage will entail.

Opening Demo

Members of the Dragon Mare unit leave their attack carrier and make their descending rage through the streets, causing destruction in their wake. A girl lies locked in the top of a tower, suddenly the room walls are split open, dragons enter ready to attack her. A huge winged creature enters the scene to protect the girl and with a huge roar, flees the scene. Here begins the pursuit of the mysterious girl by the evil Empire.

STAGE 1

The seeker clan escape from the pursuit of the Empire army by entering the underground filtration plant of the armed city. They are found and surrounded, escape can only be made through your fighting ability and tactics.

STAGE 2

After escaping the Empire\'s attention, they enter the valleys. The scenery is beautiful, captured by the river flowing far beneath. As you intrude upon territories you are attacked by hordes of mutant creatures, there is danger hidden all around.

STAGE 3

While on the chase you stumble upon the remains of a battlefield, which was once an explosion of the Old Century weapons. This is a barren land where people of the Dark Age still live. Defeat the organic weapons and guard robots from the ruins by fighting in formation flight.

STAGE 4

The Imperial fleet, fighter planes, and Wyrm Riders engage in battle. This is a difficult stage in the first half of the game and takes full advantage of X-Box\' 3D processing power. At the end of the battle, the Dragon will fall exhausted.

STAGE 5

The girl and the dragon walk through the snowy mountains, touring the natural landscape in an effort to recover their strength. At a cliff edge they fly off in to battle again and a mysterious demi-human, who has been pursued by the Empire, appears. He says he needs the main character and leads them to the secret ruins.

STAGE 6

The girl and the dragon enter the ruins of the Old Century together with the demi-human. It is a mysterious spectacle surrounded by delicate brass like machinery from the Old Century, this is the place where the organic weapons were once produced. This is where the chase scene begins, an experience driven by speed and full of suspense, which reveals where the main character was born. Seeking the truth behind her own birth, the young girl accesses the network of the Old Century - Cestren.

STAGE 7

Inside the network, strange images appear. The girl sees her own past, made up of cut scenes from the previous Panzer Dragoon episodes. The girl is the child of Azel, born to carry her will and beliefs. The girl decides to follow Azelâs wishes to maintain balance in the world, with the help of the dragon. It is also revealed that the purpose of the demi-human is to become the successor of the planet by acquiring the DNA information of the girl to mass-produce demi-humans. The demi-human forces the girl to cooperate, but she refuses and a fierce battle begins. The defeated demi-human retreats into the âfactoryâ and tries to fortify his own dragon. The girl follows him to the capital of the Empire, where the factory is located.

STAGE 8

The Imperial capital comes into view and behold the factory of the Old Century can be seen. The Dragon approaches and is ambushed,. Just as you find it difficult to withstand the might of the Imperial enemies, the Wyrm Riders arrive to support. The demi-human must be stopped, you continue chase as the tower rises up ready to begin fortification.

STAGE 9

Rising into the air in chase you must avoid and destroy the rubble falling down from the buildings and airships. The dragon breathes heavily as it fights against the Dragon Mares and the girl asks if he is alright, the dragon roars in reply. The fight takes you into the factory core where you must destroy it. From the ruins appears the demi-human, riding a heavy attack Dragon. It fuses itself with three Dragon Mares that surround you, evolving its powers.

STAGE 10

You begin the final showdown. Having acquired new powers the heavy Dragon draws lightning from the dark clouds that surround and gathers it into an immense attack. This will be a spectacle of intense fighting action, testing your experience from the previous levels. Defeat will restore balance to the world once again.

We were also fortunate to uncover a few specific details on the Dragon that accompanies Orta throughout her journey. As previously known that Dragon has the ability to morph into three different phases during each mission. A gauge fills up in the game, allowing you to shift between the different types of metamorphosis when youâve reached the correct level in the gauge. The different types are:

Normal Type

The normal type has a balanced set-up with basic features.

Heavy Attack Type

The lock on effect is more accurate and inflicts a greater level of damage, but there is less lock on options.

High Spec Type

Has the highest level of mobility. Lock on laser is not accessible through this type but Homing Glide can be utilised to great effect.

Along with the traditional Dragon homing attacks and Ortaâs handgun attacks that are similar to the previous games in the series, youâll also have access to a number of different attacks. Firstly the Homing Glide is a powerful attack that sucks up the Hit Points of your enemies to replenish your own, however it is only accessible when youâve reached the High-Spec Type. The Berserk attack returns with magnificent results, launching this will harm any enemy characters in the vicinity along with a fabulous visual effect that sees the whole screen fill up with rich colours and then melt to a blinding white, along with a nice inverse filter that portrays the negative of all the enemy characters. You also have full control over the speed of the Dragon in this title, giving you the chance to accelerate and brake when you need to.