Inside and outside of the cutscenes, characters will say things I don’t think any other character in a JRPG has ever said. Many of the shots in these cutscenes linger, giving the game a contemplative feel, even during dramatic sequences. Plus these cutscenes actually look good and suit the tone of the game, not something you can say of most videogames of that era. This game gets full marks for atmosphere. The frequent CG cutscenes that fill the first two discs of the game are highly cinematic, well-directed affairs. In fact, every single battle in the game takes place with your main character seated on your dragon, as does most of the exploration – really the only time you get to stretch your character’s legs is when stopping in villages and campsites. Unlike the Final Fantasy series which gives you an airship about two thirds or three quarters through the game, Panzer Dragoon gives you the power of flight in the shape of a dragon right from the start. In many ways this game reminds me of Xenoblade Chronicles (despite a 13 year age gap) and Ico/Shadow of the Colossus (I’m certain Team ICO were inspired by the Panzer Dragoon world).

My disc problem is a big let down, because although Panzer Dragoon Saga stays close to RPG conventions, there are a number of surprising departures which make this game feel fresh and exciting. I’ve cleaned the discs, but the best I can manage is the title screen of disc 3, and even that seems to have been a one-off. Having completed the first two discs (of a total four), the third and fourth discs aren’t being read by my Saturn. And not with the game itself, which is extremely good, but with those damn discs. Not life issues – as of now there’s a stable home life, bills paid (mostly), studies OK, clean bill of health – but issues with Panzer Dragoon Saga. It’s a familiar set up, and I’m concerned I’ll never find out how it ends. Our plucky young hero is motivated by the death of a loved one to seek revenge against the evil Empire. The basic plot outline itself is nothing too unusual: a group of rebellious nomads worship the Ancients, seeing them as gods, while the evil Empire portrays the Ancients as devils while exploiting the Ancient’s technology. What really surprised me about Panzer Dragoon Saga is how it tells its story.

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