Panzer Dragoon: Remake Reviews
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.
Since I was always just a "Nintendo guy", and never put my toe in the Sega pool, Panzer Dragoon was a game I always heard about as being highly revered but never checked out myself...
Panzer Dragoon: Remake is a decent take on an all-time classic that goes some way to modernising it, but doesn't quite nail the landing. Awkward controls and a visual style that's a clear improvement but could still look much better result in a game that's mainly for fans of the original who are curious to see how it would look with a new lick of paint.
A flawed remake of one of the Sega Saturn's most recognisable classics, that fumbles the controls and visual upgrade and yet remains a relatively enjoyable homage.
Releasing the original Panzer Dragoon as a standalone remake is a bold move to begin with. A dual-pack of both remakes could have made a bigger splash, but while we wait for Zwei's re-release to materialize, this is what we've got. Approach it with caution and an open mind.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake has made its revival for its hardcore fans. We may not get to experience the same hype when the original was released, but definitely carries the volume to provide another run down the emotional hype train. While it could be worth a permanent spot in your Nintendo Switch, if you weren't a loyal fan of this series, it could be questionable. Compared to modern games that come with unlockables, bonus content and easter eggs, there's only one cycle of play through with relatively short storyline.
Review in Korean | Read full review
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
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.
If the developers come through with an update that refines the state of this remake, then maybe then the future for Panzer Dragoon is bright. Maybe then, the world will finally get to eventually play Panzer Dragoon Sagas.
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).
Alas, Panzer Dragoon: Remake rode on the nostalgia hype train too quickly and didn't deliver a compelling contemporary experience.
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.
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.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake restores a cult classic on-rails shooter, flaws and all.
From the very beginning with the opening cinematic, it’s clear the small crew over at MegaPixel Studios are certainly Panzer fans like myself, putting a lot of time and effort into making this as familiar as possible, the recreated opening cinematic runs in sync with the original version on Saturn, just with far much more detail.
A cult classic gets a fittingly strange remake whose patchiness can't obscure the original's brilliance.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Panzer Dragoon: Remake will certainly appeal to fans of the original Saturn game and to those of you I say absolutely pick this one up. I had a fun time blasting my way through the game and really enjoyed the updated visuals. The new soundtrack lacks the punch of the original, but sounds more sophisticated. Luckily the original can be toggled from the options so you get the best of both worlds. A high price combined with a short campaign and a niche genre makes this one difficult to recommend to anyone except devoted fans.
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.
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
The beautiful and atmospheric rail-shooter of olden times returns stronger than ever.