Panzer Dragoon: Remake Reviews
All in all, I had a good time with Panzer Dragoon: Remake. Sure, I would have preferred some quality of life tweaks to the original game, but it’s still a worthy adventure. And even though I only spent 2 hours with it, I feel that $24.99 is a fair price for this level of quality. That said, I hope you’ve expanded your system memory before you pick this up, since it’s a whopping 7 GB download. I don’t usually mention the size of games I review, but holy hell is that huge, and I realize not every Switch owner has supplemented their base memory yet. And while the original game’s cheat codes don’t work yet, I understand they’ll be added in a later update. Otherwise this is a perfect remake of a classic game. If you’re looking to relive your past or just experience a nostalgic jaunt to the days of the Sega Saturn, Panzer Dragoon: Remake is an excellent choice.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake brings with it an adventure that fans of the original are sure to enjoy, though some clunky controls and a high price point may put some gamers off. That’s not to say that newcomers won’t enjoy themselves though, with the solid level design and epic airborne battles offering plenty of fun throughout – I’m a sucker for the on-rail shooting genre too, so it ticked plenty of boxes for me. Panzer Dragoon: Remake could have just done with a little bit more polish in order to hit the heights that it’s capable of (and maybe an adventure that lasted a little bit longer than an hour).
Technical issues aside, the main problem with the Panzer Dragoon remake is that it’s a remake of a painfully short title that was originally rushed to meet a surprise launch deadline twenty-five years ago. There’s just not a lot of content in here to justify the somewhat steep price.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake is a solid take on the classic Sega Saturn shooter. Hardcore fans may find that certain aspects changed for the worse while newcomers may be perplexed by its barebones approach yet it's hard not to enjoy your time with this on-rails remake.
The beautiful and atmospheric rail-shooter of olden times returns stronger than ever.
We're happy that the Panzer Dragoon series gets another chance on Switch, and we can't wait to play the sequel in the works, but we'd recommend waiting for a price drop before buying this one.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Faithful remake of a short, crisp rail shooter from the 90s, without frills or new content and extras
Review in German | Read full review
The Panzer Dragoon Remake marks a welcome return for one of Sega's most enigmatic series. Although this first game is slightly hamstrung by its own position in history, it implies that the return of Panzer Dragoon is in very good hands.
Does that mean it's bad? Not directly, but you may occasionally need to remind yourself what you're playing. It is merely unfortunate that with the same degree of care that was paid to its visual and auditory departments, the gameplay truly could have been given new life. I still find myself having a great time playing it, and look forward to improving my high score, but I can't help but dream of what could have been.
While not perfect with its lackluster sounds and just passable framerate, Panzer Dragoon: Remake is about as close to a definitive version of SEGA’s cult classic Saturn shooter that fans could ask for on the Switch. With its gorgeous visuals and a superb soundtrack that’s aged like fine wine, MegaPixel Studios and Forever Entertainment have done an excellent job of modernizing one of the most memorable games of the 32-bit era.
The Panzer Dragoon Remake is a fun and quick way to experience a SEGA classic, if you’re okay with very simple gameplay and not much of a main plot.
Overall, this is a very faithful remake of a classic and beloved shoot-em-up with a fascinating world setting, now brought to life in a new and visually vibrant way.
We return to 1995 in a literal and direct way without brakes, we will be given the custody of the Blue Dragon Battleship and the imminent mission to stop the Dark Dragon that intends to unleash forces that even the Empire is not able to foresee. It takes to the skies as it did 25 years ago, with a new visual cleanliness but the same arcade feel in a world that is typical of the RPGs, which Panzer Dragoon boasts, a game that rewards the regular player as well as the player who returns from time to time to relive this magnificent journey. It's true that with certain touches of polish we could have a more rounded product, but we are not in 95 and now it's normal to see these updates. Who could have the hand in the fire that we won't have any surprise from MegaPixel Studio? Still, it's a recommended trip for both Solo Wing lovers and these new Coolia's who want to take to the skies.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Even if is a classic for the Sega Saturn, Panzer Dragoon leaves a lot to be desired. Specially regarding the duration of the game which can be completed in less than an hour on normal difficulty.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A cult classic gets a fittingly strange remake whose patchiness can't obscure the original's brilliance.
For the most part, this was a lovely trip down memory lane. Which feels sort of strange to say when it also served as my introduction to gaming’s new groundbreaking, revolutionary platform in Stadia. On both counts, I had a great time, and the experience has made me want to play more Stadia games, as well as get higher scores in Panzer Dragoon. Whichever way you look at it, that experience has clicked and combined quite marvellously.