When SEGA released Sega Saturn in May of 1995, a revolutionary shooting game was launched day and date with the Saturn. It was the first game in what would become a legendary series for SEGA. Panzer Dragoon blew gamers away with its blistering speed, 360-degree combat, and in-game cinemas that were groundbreaking for the time.
In 1996 a sequel followed that expanded the universe and the game play. The graphics improved as team Andromeda settled into Saturn's complex dual processor, as did the game play. In order to expand the experience for the player, the game designers added branching paths so now players could replay the same stages multiple times as they uncovered different routes to the bosses of each area.
By 1998 the Sega Saturn System was in its final days, but that didn't stop the Panzer Dragoon team from releasing one of the most critically acclaimed games to be created for Saturn or any other system. Panzer Dragoon Saga took the series in an entirely new direction by merging the shooter aesthetic with the complexity of a turn-based RPG. In addition to the Dragon battles and cinematic story telling that the series was renowned for, the development team introduced the player to exploration on foot. This gave the player a greater sense of their place within the world as they could land the dragoon and explore towns and speak with the denizens of the dark and mystical world that had become the Panzer Universe. The 3rd game in the series spanned four massive discs and has become one of the most sought after SEGA properties ever.
Fast forward to November 2002 as the legacy returns. Smilebit Corporation, the developers of the critically acclaimed JSRF Jet Set radio Future and Gun Valkyrie, have set their sites on reawakening the Panzer legacy. With a team comprised of several members from the original team Andromeda, Smilebit is intimately familiar with the Panzer Dragoon universe. Time has passed and memories have grown dim, distant times have progressed from History into Legend. Now, the era of human prosperity has come to a grinding halt, with all but a few pockets of civilization destroyed by years of devastating battles. The population clings precariously to the brink of extinction, scattered across the desolate land, living in the darkest age in history. A new Empire rules with an iron grip, and a band of rebels begins a revolt in an attempt to become masters of their destiny once again. As the world is engulfed in the flames of war, an unlikely and unwilling Hero must become mankind's only hope. This fall, the Dragon will rise again. Panzer Dragoon ORTA is the triumphant return of one of SEGA's premier series.
Features:
- 10 stages of frantic action featuring multiple paths with unique encounters
- Real-time dragon morphing lets you customize your fighting style each form has unique abilities and consequences to the plot
- High-quality cut-scenes weave a compelling story of war, hope, and resurrection
- Unlockable sub-quests let you experience the story from the Empire's perspective
- Demonstrate perfection in combat to acquire historic Panzer memorabilia in the Gallery
