Panzer Dragoon is a series I've known about by proxy since the release of Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. I love it when classic games get a chance as a remake, even if I have no connection to the original. Additions to the back catalog of video games are important for the preservation of these classics, so I decided to support the effort here. Panzer Dragoon is an on-rail shooter where you destroy waves of enemies whilst moving through the level. The game emphasises the ability to turn the camera to the front, side and rear view as enemies can approach you from a variety of angles. I quite like this element, as it contributes to player engagement. To succeed, you have to keep track of the radar, to check if enemies are approaching from your blind spots. Quickly turning to the correct view and defending yourself is quite satisfying.
Initially, I was enjoying myself. However, as I progressed through the game I found certain parts grew frustrating. In my opinion, this remake lacks the sense of control and precision that a shooter needs. For example, the aiming reticle is not three-dimensional and this makes it quite difficult to aim from third person. If it had depth, it would be much easier to tell how far away incoming projectiles are. It also obscures the player because it lays on top of every on-screen element. It can sometimes be difficult to see due to this. This is made worse by the incessant bobbing motion the dragon makes, obscuring the players view even further. Even in side view, the wings will move in front of the viewport, taking up far too much space. Furthermore, I thought the aiming was imprecise in general. It often took me several attempts to align my reticle correctly. I also do not like how the aiming and movement is controlled by one stick. Trying to aim correctly would often cause me to move into enemy fire. However, I am unsure how the original functions, so I appreciate that this point might be more subjective.
Outside of the gameplay, I do not think the visuals reflect the source material well enough. Whist they are certainly more detailed and more appropriate for modern hardware, there are elements missing that would make the game look better. For example, on levels that take place over the ocean, there could be more reflections in the water. The cutscenes could also be improved massively. However, I do like the remastered soundtrack, which is definitely an improvement made from the original. In conclusion, I cannot recommend Panzer Dragoon: Remake. However, I know that more remakes are being considered. So I wish the best for those and hope that they can make improvements on this version. Notably, the subsequent editions to the original Panzer Dragoon series were received better than the original, so perhaps that will spark an improvement.
Initially, I was enjoying myself. However, as I progressed through the game I found certain parts grew frustrating. In my opinion, this remake lacks the sense of control and precision that a shooter needs. For example, the aiming reticle is not three-dimensional and this makes it quite difficult to aim from third person. If it had depth, it would be much easier to tell how far away incoming projectiles are. It also obscures the player because it lays on top of every on-screen element. It can sometimes be difficult to see due to this. This is made worse by the incessant bobbing motion the dragon makes, obscuring the players view even further. Even in side view, the wings will move in front of the viewport, taking up far too much space. Furthermore, I thought the aiming was imprecise in general. It often took me several attempts to align my reticle correctly. I also do not like how the aiming and movement is controlled by one stick. Trying to aim correctly would often cause me to move into enemy fire. However, I am unsure how the original functions, so I appreciate that this point might be more subjective.
Outside of the gameplay, I do not think the visuals reflect the source material well enough. Whist they are certainly more detailed and more appropriate for modern hardware, there are elements missing that would make the game look better. For example, on levels that take place over the ocean, there could be more reflections in the water. The cutscenes could also be improved massively. However, I do like the remastered soundtrack, which is definitely an improvement made from the original. In conclusion, I cannot recommend Panzer Dragoon: Remake. However, I know that more remakes are being considered. So I wish the best for those and hope that they can make improvements on this version. Notably, the subsequent editions to the original Panzer Dragoon series were received better than the original, so perhaps that will spark an improvement.