He is tasked by the dragon’s previous rider to chase after his opponent before he reaches a black tower, and the hero dutifully follows this mission across seven levels that feel as if they were pulled, or at least inspired, by Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind. You play a young man who forms a psychic bond with a blue dragon after witnessing a battle between two dragon riders in the desert.

What story there is in Panzer Dragoon is conveyed with little dialogue, only hinting at a larger world in the locales you traverse. It is, in essence, a faithful remaster of a game that still stands out to this day, even if it lacks impact. But what changes there are don’t add much, and what is already present feels fleeting.

Panzer Dragoon: Remakefeatures reimagined alien locales and new control schemes that aim to modernize the rail shooter while still staying faithful to its origins.

Panzer Dragoon was a weird game when it was released for the Sega Saturn as a launch title in 1995, and 25 years later that still holds true for its visually improved remake.

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