Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Nintendo Switch)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): March 26, 2020
- Release Date (EU): March 26, 2020
- Publisher: Forever Entertainment
- Developer: MegaPixel Studio
- Genres: Rail shooter
Game Features:
It all begins when a group of nomads riding… *checks notes* … ehhh... two-legged creatures are stopped short in their tracks by a spaceship of sorts that crashes nearby. The bravest one among them decides to explore it and is shortly attacked by a metallic-alien thing. The latter is then itself found under a pile of rubble as two armored dragons and their riders swoop in, chasing each other.
This action-packed sequence all happens in the opening cutscene and sets the trend for the game: shoot everything that moves. Panzer Dragoon plays as the opening scene, full of shooting in expansive-looking environments.
Our protagonist brave nomad is then approached by the blue armored dragon’s rider who is apparently injured. The latter entrusts to our hero to stop the other dragon from reaching a mysterious tower and that the blue dragon will lead the way, and off you go on your newly-found purpose!
Panzer Dragoon: Remake is a complete remake of the original title, with beautifully-rendered landscapes varying from lush green vegetation to deserted lands filled with cybernetic life. The latter will comprise a significant chunk of your foes, blasting bombs, bullets, rockets, and whatnot at you.
As a shooter, Panzer Dragoon is quite disappointing when it comes to attack types. A couple of more options would have made for a more diverse experience and satisfying kills. To defend yourself, you’ll have at your disposition a limited but effective arsenal: instant bullets and projectiles. The latter are accessible by holding the fire button and it will shoot all enemies you’ve marked with your reticle and they’re the most effective offense. However, you will also have to alternate with the weaker bullets for quicker response like when a projectile is hurling towards you with no time to dodge.
Additionally, the controls aren’t the most up-to-date. You’ll have the option between Classic and Modern inputs. The former tries to replicate the Saturn’s controls while the latter allows you to use both sticks to move and aim, and shoulder buttons to shoot. The modern controls should, in theory, feel more intuitive but the truth is that the classic button mapping made for an easier execution of commands. The modern layout will have you use the right stick most of the time, and the left stick, used to move, is barely accessed given that this is a rail shooter. Add to that, mashing the shoulder button incessantly and Panzer Dragoon: Remake became the first game I ever had a thumb-ache playing. So the Classic controls were the ones for me, even if only slightly better than the Modern ones. Additionally, rotating your view, which you will do as much as shooting, requires hitting the L/R buttons which made for awkward and not the most intuitive gameplay. An option to freely remap the controls would have gone a long way.
So getting used to the controls took me some time, as I tried to find which option was most optimal for me. Once I did, I could manage to clear levels and beat end bosses successfully but rather awkwardly. Upon completion of ‘Episode 6’, I was greeted with the following screen:
After less than 2 hours, I managed to beat Panzer Dragoon: Remake. This includes retrying missions and getting acquainted with the awkward controls. Sure, you can replay the levels to best your score and even try it on different difficulty but the bland nature of the game didn’t entice me to do any of this. At the time of writing, the game is priced at $25 on the eShop and despite packing a visual overhaul, the terrible controls and ultra-short playthrough don’t justify the price.
There are some redeeming features like the music score and a Photo Mode, which I undeniably found cool and arguably enjoyed more than the controls, which says a lot. These are but the exceptions to an otherwise bland game. The levels could have been expanded upon and the beautiful assets made more use of. Even as a rail shooter, giving some more control over the Blue Dragon would make for a more enticing experience.
At this point, I can only recommend the title in its current state to those looking to play this game to relive some childhood memories but only after a significant price drop. Here’s hoping the devs come up with free DLCs to add more content and replay value.
Panzer Dragoon - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Verdict
- Beautifully rendered levels
- Option to choose classic controls
- Photo Mode
- Controls
- Super short game
- Levels feel bland overall