Played on:
Xbox
Since Sega dropped the Dreamcast and focused all their efforts on game development, they've made many games that are hit and miss. They have mostly been hits, though, and they've got another awesome game on their hands with Panzer Dragoon Orta. Some players may not really get into this wonderful arcade-style shooter, though, as this type of game generally is an acquired taste.
The unique control aspect of the Panzer Dragoon games comes with the ability (and need) to fire in all directions around you - the full 360 degrees. Pressing either of the triggers will spin you 90 degrees in that direction, while pressing both will turn you around 180 degrees. This control system makes Panzer Dragoon unique, and players will need to swing around pretty often to win most stages.
On top of this, the game allows you to switch between three forms, which also changes the look of the dragon you ride on, your weapon abilities, mobility, and defense capabilities. For example, the big, slow dragon has the most firepower, but it cannot dodge attacks as easily. Switching is easy and an integral part of the gameplay, and it becomes second nature after a little while.
Panzer Dragoon Orta looks wonderful - not only does it harness the considerable graphics power of the Xbox, but it also puts it to good use with some really interesting art. Each of the game's levels has a unique atmosphere, and many of the enemies have some really inventive designs. Your own dragon and the character who rides it, Orta, also look really cool in a Japanese sort of way. Despite all this and the very unique character design, the game doesn't fall into too many of the standard anime stereotypes, which is somewhat refreshing for me.
While the game's first level is probably the worst-looking one in the game, the rest are really nice. The water and sky effects here are some of the best I have seen in just about any game; along with Splinter Cell and Halo, this game puts to rest all doubts that the Xbox is the most powerful console out there.
As is with most shooter games, there is a major boss at the end of almost all of the levels in PDO. In classic style, they're huge, complex, and will require a bit of study in order to beat them. Even though this game pushes a huge number of polygons for the backgrounds, Sega did not have to compromise much to get the bosses in there too; some of them are awesome just to look at.
In this game, the player will traverse lots of massive, outdoor levels that are chock full of enemies. They are spaced out enough, though, to where you can admire some of the scenery as it zooms past. The frame rate very rarely drops under 60fps, and you can see huge distances - even past the considerable range at which you can shoot enemies.
It's not all outdoor, though; the game will take you through tunnel systems and other caverns, and while these areas don't look half as good as the open-air levels, it's mainly because those other levels are just that breathtaking.
If you have never played an arcade-style shooter before, it might be a bit difficult to explain the gameplay without oversimplifying it. You control your dragon while shooting down hordes of enemies with missiles or rapid fire shots. Dodging the enemies' shots is sometimes difficult, though, as your range of movement is a bit small. Instead, you can use moves to speed up or slow down which can get you around attacks, and you can also shoot down many of the missiles or other projectiles fired at you.
Generally in shooter games like this, the major draw for replayability comes in the memorization of enemy patterns and the ability to execute a good run where you kill enemies quickly and rarely get hit. For those players that have zero interest in this kind of gameplay, Orta is going to be a short adventure. For those who love this style of game, there is plenty here to mess with: three difficulty levels, secrets to unlock, and ratings for your performance on each level.
