Panzer Dragoon Series Retrospective - A Complete History and Review

The channel soars on the back of the Patrons! - / ifinishedavideogame
What causes video games to be remembered? Why do Final Fantasy, Resident Evil and the Legend of Zelda live on while others fade into the background?
Today we're going to be exploring one of the forgotten - Panzer Dragoon. It's a series that not only deserves to be remembered for it's innovations and creativity, but also tells the story of Sega's downfall from console giant to struggling publisher. We're going to follow both from birth to death and discover what ties Nausicaa, the Dreamcast, Final Fantasy 7 and Star Fox 64 into a tragic story of noble failure.
It's part critique, part retrospective, part review and part history lesson - obviously full of spoilers and obviously full of my opinions.
===
Credit for the incredible thumbnail goes to the immensely talented - @MicahTheBrave
VDP Split footage was created by the incredible Digital Foundry who have an amazing video about the first two games use the Saturn hardware (highly recommend watching) - • DF Retro: Panzer Drago...
All media in this video is used for the purpose of review, commentary or criticism and is defined as fair use under US Copyright law.
=== Chapters ===
00:00:00 - The Question (Introduction)
00:02:51 - The Sega Saturn (A Tragic Genesis)
00:12:41 - Panzer Dragoon (Development)
00:20:17 - Panzer Dragoon (The Video Game)
00:33:39 - Panzer Dragoon (The Experience)
00:48:29 - Panzer Dragoon Zwei (Development)
00:54:35 - Panzer Dragoon Zwei (The Prequel)
01:07:51 - Panzer Dragoon Zwei (Evolution)
01:20:28 - Panzer Dragoon Mini
01:29:49 - Panzer Dragoon Anime
01:42:32 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Development)
01:50:36 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Foundations)
01:58:54 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Breath of Fire)
02:08:42 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (House of the Dragon)
02:19:24 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Side Quests)
02:26:38 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Four Disc Finale)
02:40:43 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (Divine Twist)
02:51:38 - Panzer Dragoon Saga (What Happened?)
02:59:39 - Sega at 2000 (A Dream of Spring)
03:06:40 - Panzer Dragoon Orta (Development)
03:12:58 - Panzer Dragoon Orta - Rebirth (Gameplay)
03:27:04 - Panzer Dragoon Orta - The Daughter (Story)
03:34:01 - Panzer Dragoon Orta - Pandora’s Box
03:43:32 - Crimson Dragon (A Failed Encore)
03:58:42 - Panzer Dragoon Remake (Swansong)
04:08:49 - The Answer (Conclusion)
===
#PanzerDragoon #Sega #retrospective

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

A special thanks needs to go to the channel's amazing Patrons who really came through with the support for this video and helped me get this finished. If you want to join the club and help repair me after future video related mental breakdowns, here is the link! - patreon.com/IFinishedAVideoGame

[@kowrow]

th for this gift! such a nostalgic throw back!

[@TruantPixel]

Thank you for compiling this incredibly detailed and well researched retrospective. As an indie dev and a long time fan of the original games, this really struck a chord. When you say these games defined the standard for all rail shooters that came after, you are absolutely spot on. Panzer Dragoon and PD Zwei were deeply influential titles on us, and went on to inform many aspects of our VR game, RUNNER. It inspired our take on the player-based movement, enemy encounters, the lock-on mechanics, the storytelling, the flow of combat, the influence of level progression on the music, the boss confrontations, the difficulty, and the unlockables. We wanted to reproduce that feeling of playing them for the first time, building the tension as you progressed through the stage and wondering what manner of screen-filling monstrosity might be awaiting you at the end. Though occasionally punishing in their difficulty, these games made an art form of encouraging players to learn to master them, and amplified the sense of accomplishment felt when you finally conquered their challenge. And the way the music was both other-worldly yet also timeless is something seldom seen even in games of this generation.

[@annyonny1224]

This was a spectacular video, holy smokes! And I'll take that 100th like, thank you very much.

[@bernardorodrigues7048]

14:11 game ?

[@Innovator8]

@@bernardorodrigues7048 Guardian Heroes, also released as a downloadable on Xbox 360 according to my googling, and got a Gameboy Advance follow-up called Advance Guardian Heroes.

[@johnchiu]

History is written by awesome video essayists

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Haha I was sort of thinking that while writing this but it's potentially a little presumptuous

[@johnchiu]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Presumpt away good sir

[@AC-hj9tv]

@@johnchiu Yes presumpt away

[@ForumArcade]

@@AC-hj9tv He can presumpt my way any day. 😏

[@prinniesforeveryone321]

​@@johnchiu gOod sir take some reddit karma. Updoot to your virginity goof sir 😊

[@echoversa1500]

The production value on these videos is sky high. I can sit and watch a 4 hour video about a game series I never played and be interested the entire time simply because I know what I am watching is of such high quality that it deserves my attention

[@forestcampbell8962]

Same!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That means a lot to hear honestly. I was really concerned this one was a bit of a drop compared to Castlevania so it's great to hear otherwise!

[@forestcampbell8962]

@I Finished A Video Game All good man,i never played any Panzer Dragoon games yet i was enthralled beginning to end man.

[@gamesandplanes3984]

2:20:15 - the dragon pup DOES do something. He seeks out valuable items. In free-flight mode, you'll notice sometimes he flies away from you. When you then fly over to see what he's doing, you then highlight him it interact. He'll then give you an item.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You know that's crazy that I never noticed that. Shame!

[@85bitsdeveloper]

One day the humanity will be blessed with Panzer Dragoon Saga Remake

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Sega just need to work at making it available! I'm sure you could reverse engineer a release from ROMs that are already available!

[@85bitsdeveloper]

As a programmer, I think the effort to create a remake of Saga using modern tools (unity, unreal etc) is easier than dissassembly the original one

[@TheNapster153]

Somehow, I want a Panzer Dragoon game with open world similar to Horizon Zero Dawn. Can you imagine travelling the world on your dragoon doing RPG stuff whilst engaging arcade style boss fights? Wicked!

[@The80Kat]

@@TheNapster153no more like the 2003 orta on og Xbox. On rails arcade type

[@projektEnigma]

Just want to say Thank You for all your hard work in the countless hours you put in recording and editing! You're one of the best!

[@PinkyJustice]

Yeah, pretty much came here to say this...

[@lingricen8077]

suck up

[@PinkyJustice]

@@lingricen8077 edge lord

[@nicholasbullock1709]

Same! Thanks IFAVG!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks bud. Honestly this one was a real slog to put together - the writing was very slow for some reason and the editing was a week from hell. I'm happy it's out there and people are enjoying it but man I was keen to move on!

[@LavenderRex7705]

I cried near the end of this video. The lost art of this franchise I've never really seen much of really hit me hard as an aspiring artist. It is much worse to be forgotten than to be criticized. Thank you for your documentation.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome and thanks for being part of the effort to keep Panzer Dragoon alive!

[@normtrooper4392]

History is written by the people who write history. If someone matters to you, then talk about it. Share that love and nothing will be forgotten

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's the whole point of the video really!

[@kristienwhitney-johns5863]

I dunno, the smack head down the street who I wrote about sure ain't remembered these days

[@andersdenkend]

Panzer Dragoon was and still is so unique. The stars aligned during its production it seems, from the crazy music, to the gorgeous visuals and awesome gameplay, Panzer Dragoon is one of the Saturn's defining games. Thank you for this retrospective!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome - hopefully this can go a bit of a way to encouraging people to check out the series (via emulation of course). I really want it to be a series remembered for it's gameplay and design rather than the costs!

[@jeanlundi2141]

Well the stars alligned insofar as the creators 'deliberately' wanted to create something unique. You can see this in some interviews...how they wanted the artstyle to be different from other RPGs in that era etc...

[@YEETUSDAFEETUS]

@@jeanlundi2141 I mean wouldn't you want it to look different too?

[@jeanlundi2141]

@@YEETUSDAFEETUS Yes, I meant that there were a lot of conscious decisions that made PDS into what it was. The stars aligning can be interpreted as just chance at play :)

[@bingobongo1615]

Ironically I love Panzer Dragoon Orta more than any other game in the series… The visual story telling, style and atmosphere is simply amazing

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Oh it's a great game for sure - I just wish more of the world building in the actual plot!

[@oboropro]

Same here.

[@megamanmarchek8293]

Sadly, that's the one game in series I have not played since I do not own any XBOX console.

[@Issalzul]

I came to have feelings about panzer dragoon, and i did! I got my saturn back in the day to play this series and it left a lasting impact What I didnt expect is a childhood mystery to be solved in showing me friggin STARBLADE. I was drawing that ship for years ahd thought it was a fever dream!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're more than welcome - got to love some Starblade!

[@hauntedhotdog]

I love these games so much. I have Orta basically permanently installed on my Xbox Series S. It's aged unbelievably well. I will never forget the time I stepped into a Toys R' Us to pick up a new console and played the Saturn for the first time. Panzer Dragoon was running on the kiosk, and the music was the first thing I noticed. It was so clear, so beautiful and grand. Even my dad commented on it. I wouldn't get a Saturn until maybe 1999, as I opted for the PS1 that day. In hindsight it was the right choice, but Panzer Dragoon made that choice very difficult. The world, the music, the brutal gameplay... it was familiar, but so foreign and alien at the same time. To this day, the combination of the art, the sweeping music, the minimalist storytelling, and the refined gameplay creates an experience that is singular and unique. I doubt the series will ever really come back, as Sega's spectacular mismanagement killed the chances of many people being exposed to it back in the day, but it's one of those things where... if you know, you know. 4+ hours of Panzer Dragoon content. My guy, an absolute banger of a video.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much! I agree that it's unlikely that we'll ever see the series return but that isn't such a bad thing if we can learn to appreciate and savour the past!

[@chrispierceall3627]

Time to pop in an earbud and cruise through the rest of work today.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Hopefully it jazzed it up my dude!

[@Sudo_Nimh]

This takes me back to the PanzerDragoonLegacy community. Thanks for the memories Edit: Slight correction, you can complete the game as Arm wing, the vanilla "final" evolution of Edge's Dragon. Finding all the D-Units evolves it into Light Wing, which gives you access to the level 6 laser. Without D-Units, 5 is as high as it'll go. Light Wing also comes with an interesting function of you not being able to morph into classes, but having the advantages of all of them. Then if you have the crest/pup you can evolve to solo-wing, which curiously gives you back the class morphing function.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Goddamn you're completely right about those dragon forms. I've just looked back at my notes and I skipped an entire section about the Light wing!

[@Sudo_Nimh]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame lol, cheers! What's weird is this comment got me looking at the game's release date, because I'm slightly embarrassed of myself to "Um, actually" a 15 year old game... then I found it's a 25 year old game! Which made me think of how old I was when I played it... Me as a precocious adolescent beat PDS 4 times in total, with several other abortive starts. I was just obsessed with the Panzer universe. Looking back on it, I found it very strange that Craymen's politics are "Authoritarian Social Progressivism" juxtaposed with Gash's "Laissez-faire Nihilism". It's very curious that the usual talking points about control and sacrifice are reversed in the cases of the two sides. We see an person trying to cause less suffering in the world, for a greater good, arguing from the point of Total Authority in using the Tower's for the utilitarian of the most people, even though others will suffer. Vs making everyone suffer but at least the suffering will be authentic? I think this really influenced me as a kid not knowing that these positions are usually reversed in mainstream political contexts, which is how I ended up as a "Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative" little shit. I've grown a lot since then, but haven't been so introspective about why until I really through about it through the lens of your video, about how much of my teenage years I spent in this narrative! So...Thank you!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Originally in the script I actually went into that in a lot more detail but I decided to slim it down because Saga was so long already! Your comment really made me regret that! Glad you enjoyed it regardless

[@jackdavis4657]

Panzer Dragoon Zwei was one of the first videogames I vividly remember playing as a child. I was scared, I was fascinated, I was hooked. Thanks for all your hard work and I'll be cruising through this video throughout the evening! Cheers!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Hope it brings you right back to that place! Nostalgia and a bit of info - that's me through and through!

[@Cool30Comics]

The remake was my introduction to the series, and I fell in love with it on the spot. Of course, i cant defend the loading times 😂 but this franchise has grown in me and inspired me to create art and stories again. And in creating art, I was introduced to what’s left of the panzer fandom (that welcomed me warmly and fight to keep us all connected). While megapixel is not the hero we want/deserve, I hope they can return with zweii. In the meantime, I’ll explore emulating these inspirational games! If you haven’t played these games yet, I definitely recommend giving them a (charged) shot!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much! That's an awesome comment and I love the passion in this little community!

[@stephenarnquist]

Seeing Tenchu and Alundra in the montage of "games that fell through the cracks" felt like a gut punch 😢

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Both really deserve to be held in higher acclaim. Alundra is a real personal favourite of mine!

[@omargod236]

Panzer dragoon always existed for me as that elusive collectors grail for the saturn, even back in the mid 2000s when i had just begun to collect. It eventually priced itself out of my realistic grasp, but emulation is great and having a modded saturn to play CDR backups is even better. Thanks for the deep dive as always, really excited to see this one go up! Fantastic video!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome - hopefully we can encourage some more people to get emulating and check it out!

[@gamesandplanes3984]

Still the best art direction in video game history. Low-polygon models and all... Just look at modern games. Millions of polygons. And no style. No soul.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Couldn't agree more. There is so much more to a game's look than it's fidelity

[@JurzGarz]

Don’t think you can tar all “modern games” with the same brush. There’s a lot of games out there with vivid art direction, and while most are on periphery of the medium, some of them are mainstream (Elden Ring comes to mind). There was a lot of boring art direction in old games as well, so this just feels like nostalgia goggles to me.

[@CrazyxEnigma]

Now that I've finished the video, I must say Orta for being 20 years old is shockingly beautiful and given 02 is around when I made the switch from Nintendo to Xbox I'm amazed I can't recall ever stumbling across it in a Blockbuster, flying around on a dragon is one of the few things that'd have made me play something that wasn't a Star Wars game. While I've heard the tale of Sega's collapse before it hits differently now that I'm older and that Microsoft and the Xbox have started to fall behind, for over twenty years we've had this three way console war going and it's easy to take for granted that it'll last forever, I'm sure Sega fans of the 90s thought so and it fills me with a sort of disquiet that I may one day ruminate on all the memories I had with the Xbox systems and games the same way Sega fans do today. Anyway fantastic video as seems to be your standard, this retrospective has certainly made me interested in dipping my toes in Panzer Dragoon. If I ever get my hands on a PC and an emulator thats going to be on my radar and who knows perhaps this video will reach someone who wants to make a spiritual successor to this series or even keeps it alive long enough for it to one day get the remake treatment a la FF7, RE and Dead Space. Looking forward to the next project!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You know I was thinking the exact same stuff all throughout this video and I wish I'd taken the time to include it. Potentially the difference is that Microsoft has the funds to just eat generation after generation of loss and stay in the game - whereas Sega were far smaller and obviously had to bite the bullet. It's just really odd to think of a world where the landscape was so different and I can't lie - I do sort of yearn for it. Maybe it's old age and nostalgia but there was something special about how creative that period was. Thanks as ever for watching my dude! Should be announcing the next video today so I'm sure you'll catch that on one of my many platforms!

[@billdabeast4]

I've literally never heard of this series, but your editing and research keeps me so invested I can't help but binge every video on your channel

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear. Hope you enjoyed my other stuff too!

[@arsonal3]

You do a great job translating the feelings I had at the time as a kid. Especially the feeling of how FFVII felt at the time. That hype and how Panzer Dragoon felt up to that point was practically transporting me back to being at the Game Store, where I played so much of the game while waiting for my dad to finish shopping.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'm glad to hear it. It's awesome to hear that this video could take you back to that time!

[@MrMango-ll3nf]

I've never played these games and had only heard the name Panzer Dragoon before watching this video and I still LOVED this upload. The thing I love most about your vids is that I always know, whether I am familiar with the series/game or not, I will get a fully fleshed out perspective with historical context to boot! Every upload of yours is nothing short of a gift and I am very thankful for what I am sure is many 100s of hours of hard work and dedication. Much love brother.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks man - that's a lovely comment and really made all the hard work feel worth it. I kinda think of them as layman history - it's a mixture of facts, opinion and analysis which is really fun to write and honestly I'm chuffed people enjoy it!

[@AlexNights]

My advice, play the games they are beautiful crafted games

[@MaddSweetGT500]

Play the games ... Do it now. I hope you get the feeling of transcende into that world. I know that sounds corny ... But it's amazing and the story is amazing as well.

[@Roadent1241]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Yeah, someone else completely new, I understood and was intrigued by everything. I'm actually on my third rewatch as I type this. Please keep being chuffed! Just dun wear yourself out!

[@Paul_Lucas]

Amazing video. I lost a whole summer to Saga in 1998 - it is a short game, but the plot exposition and the immersiveness of the environment meant you could easily spend a lot of time in the game. I recall 100% completion took about 65 hours for me at a very leisurely pace. It was the first properly cinematic game I played and the art direction in this was absolutely incredible. I remember trying to figure out how the Imperial ships managed to fly, and not until I got to the Forest of Zoah and encountered a Golia did I realise "oh, yes look they are using repurposed monster carcasses for flotation" - the distinctive airy pulsing sound for the Golia is the same as any large Imperial ship. The rushed nature of the game works in its favour. I liked the blank slate of so many game elements - the Capital is levelled in the opening sequence of the game - what would it be like to walk around there? Was it a busy and thriving economy? Was it dangerous? The whole game is set against utter bleakness, has a bleak beginning and a bleak ending with the eventual, true death of your character - it's left to you to fill in many of the gaps in your head. I actually missed the true ending of the game - I have never liked using my own name for character names in save files, and never considered it important, so my first "alias" was "Edge", thinking "well so what, it's just a save file, why not just use the protagonist's name?" - of course Sestren tells me the Divine Visitor is Edge then, at the end of the game and I was very confused! Overall a great game with many flaws but unsurpassed in its world building and consistent art direction.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much! I think your comment completely encapsulates why I wanted to make this video. Panzer Dragoon is just such a special series and I really wanted to share how much of an impact it can have on it's players despite the console it's on and the genre it's in! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment!

[@drewh.9409]

you missed a subtle detail. at the beginning of the game, it asks you "the one who controls edge: what is your name?" the end of the game reveals why it's worded that way. pds is so well-written. it's a shame that it's so outside of everyone's radar, even hardcore retro gamers.

[@skeletonwar4445]

What you spoke about in Panzer Dragoon Saga's final twist with the Divine Visitor reminded me of another game that did a similar thing: Bravely Default/Bravely Second I won't go into detail so as to not spoil it, but it definitely manages to tie the player (and the player's world at large) into the events of the game in a way that isn't treated as a joke. I loved it when Bravely did it, so I'm glad to find out that there are other games that managed to do something similar.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I never actually finished Bravely Default - maybe I should give it another go!

[@skeletonwar4445]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame If you have the time, go for it! I really can't recommend the game enough. I feel like it managed what many current indie RPGs are trying, which is to be an "old"/"classic" game with modern QoL and sensibilities. As a fan of Final Fantasy V and someone who likes to have a lot of class customization in general, the Bravely job system is to this day my favorite out of any RPG I've played, with Divinity: Original Sin 2 being a close second for me. The real world tie-in also only _really_ happens in Bravely Second, but there are small hints to it on the way that one can notice in hindsight.

[@kasig2013]

Thank you so much for making this beautiful testament to such a unique series in the video game industry. I've been fascinated by Panzer Dragoon ever since I first played Orta on the original Xbox. I've been particularly fascinated by Panzer Dragoon Saga as this mythical "White Whale" of gaming. Been getting into the emulator scene in the past couple of years and I think that now, finally, I am able to fully experience this incredible franchise. No matter what happens to the Panzer Dragoon franchise officially, videos like this, as well as the hard work of other fans to preserve its legacy and make sure the old games are playable in some form will ensure that this franchise will never have to fade away into darkness. Thank you so much for this amazing video. I can't wait to take to the skies myself.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're more than welcome and I hope you enjoy your own journey!

[@rodrigogarciamartinez3377]

What a beautiful tribute to such a great yet misunderstood work of art. I am one of the few Spaniards who dared to enjoy this game as a child, despite it not being translated into Spanish. I still remember those long hours of gameplay and the ending of Panzer Dragoon Saga with "Sona Mi Areru Ec Sancitu" playing in the background. It still gives me goosebumps. The only thing I missed is that you didn't talk more about the Saga OST. Thank you very much for this tribute that I have watched from beginning to end. Thank you.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're more than welcome - it's always nice to see us fellow Panzer Dragoon appreciators come together. Hopefully this video can help turn more people onto the series!

[@Ren99510]

I literally never even heard of this series, but now I'm fascinated .Thank you for covering it!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome! Hope you check it out - it's well worth it!

[@Ghostcharm]

excited seeing you upload man. the work and time you put into these projects is insane. keep it tf up!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks man that means a lot. They are honestly so much work but I really feel like I'm doing my bit to keep a dying part of this industry alive. I was inspired by internet creators in the 2000s so if I can make some people hook up some older consoles that'll be mission accomplished!

[@gunstar420]

I shouldn't be surprised to see some of my favorite creators building each other up, but here I am, surprised. Love you both 💓

[@sigmapath1935]

This video essay is a fine accomplishment. PDS has been my favorite RPG along with Lunar and Grandia since the late 90s when I played them. I want to mention some notable points that I didn't hear you mention in your excellent and thoroughly researched video: 1. There was a suicide on the dev team during the development of Panzer Dragoon Saga 2. The source code for for Panzer Dragoon Saga was either lost or destroyed Finally, if you ever do a follow up to this video, it would be great to hear your thoughts on the music of the series. You talked about the music for the first game, yet it was Zwei that really defined the direction that the series would take musically. Zwei, Saga & Orta all have amazing OSTs that give the game much of its ambience and character. I always wondered what happened between the first game and Zwei that resulted in such a huge shift in the music.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Fair point on both points! I probably should have mentioned the source code and I specifically remember excluding the suicide simply because I didn't want to make any presumptions on it's impact on the team. As for the music - I think it's something I'm not particularly well versed in (despite loving music) and I think I lack the language to offer any real insight beyond "it suits the gameplay or story" It's something I'm trying to work on in future videos but it'll always be tough when you can't show lengthy portions like you can visuals!

[@ToGamesItMayConcern]

You are perhaps the best creator of gaming retrospectives, and this video may be your best so far. Incredibly well-done!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's a crazy big compliment my friend! I really appreciate it - hopefully I can just keep making weird videos that people find interesting!

[@aresgodofwar7401]

I'm so happy someone finally made a full video on PD and it's legacy 🔥🔥

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Hopefully I've done the series justice!

[@ablockthagr8]

I watch/listen to your videos every night before bed! Keep up the great work, I love reminiscing about the amazing games we had back then!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome man - hope it's giving you some crazy dreams

[@AxeMain]

Heroic quality. I have fond memories of Orta

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

It's actually playable on all types of Xbox so it's well worth a revisit for a quick evenings play!

[@TinyFunkyMan]

Im so sad that this video wasn’t as popular as the other ones. This deep dive into sega’s failures and ambitions is simply amazing and panzer dragoon is truly one of the best franchise in video game history. Thank you for doing this and I hope that the poor views doesn’t stop you from making these kind of amazing videos!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Honestly I don't view this video as having poor views at all! It's one of the most watched videos on the subject on the website and it's over four hours long! A lot of the time it's the series that dictates how big the video will get so I absolutely knew this one was going to be smaller! I think if it ends up getting 200k views by the end of the year I'll be really happy!

[@TinyFunkyMan]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Welp I’m happy that you see it this way! You’re one of my favorite KZbinrs and I just hope that you keep going! You’re content is phenomenal!

[@ChrisMortJr.]

i appreciate you calling this series "a lengthy review" instead of pretending that you're clever and quirky by calling it a quick review like seemingly every other longform reviewer.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I figure I might as well be upfront - plus if I can become the "lengthy retrospective" guy then that's a pretty good nickname to have on this platform

[@TheOdMan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, your retrospective videos are just a cut above the rest, I'm truly glad you continue to produce these, they are very much appreciated. I wish I would have had the chance to play Panzer Dragoon Saga when it came out, but I could never get my hands on a copy. SEGA's demise in the console market is truly a sad tale. I was lucky enough to grow up with a father who was, unlike most of his generation, interested in video games, and which meant I was actually surrounded by both Nintendo and SEGA consoles while growing up, SEGA was a bit closer to my heart, due to the simple fact that the Sega Mega Drive was the first console that was "mine". We've had everything from Atari 2600 to Commodore 64, Amiga500 and the crown jewels NES and Sega Master System in our house, but they've always belonged to either dad or one of my 4 older brothers. But the Sega Mega Drive was mine, and I loved it. Sonic and a bit later Wonder Boy in Monster World where just about my favorite things in the whole world, not that I didn't enjoy Zelda, Mario and Metroid on my brothers NES and SNES (as I've said on another of your videos, they are some of my favorite games), but yeah SEGA was just a bit closer to my heart, playing it in my own room at night with the TV turned down while the rest of the house was asleep, good core memories. So I followed them through the Saturn debacle, and then I got my hands on the Dreamcast, and Sonic Adventure is still one of my top games of all time, I played that to death with a cousin of mine, great stuff. The Dreamcast deserved a better fate, but due to mismanagement it was simply not to be. Thank you again for your great work on these videos.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're more than welcome. I'm glad this video could prompt some nice memories for you - it was a real passion project and I'm really happy with how it turned out! Remember it's never to late to try out Saga! It emulates really well these days and I still really recommend it as it stacks up great again modern RPGs!

[@RevenantPoet]

As someone who adores dragons (Spyro sparked my fascination at a very young age and never let me go), Panzer Dragoon has always been a series that's had me enamored at a distance, but I could never dive too deep into it. Thank you so much for this thorough look at this truly amazing series and the historic events surrounding it--I have a whole new appreciation for it now. And, as always, it was such a fantastic and engaging video, you always do amazing work!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear. I'm glad this video could offer you an insight into this crazy world! I highly recommend checking it out on some emulators and thanks for the kind words!

[@RevenantPoet]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Oh yeah, if I ever have a machine that can handle it (my laptop can barely hold it together, haha), I'll absolutely be checking out the emulations! Before this video I was out of date in thinking t was still impossible to play--but I'm stoked about it now. And no worries--your videos are always fantastic!!!

[@centurionstrengthandfitnes3694]

Truly outstanding work here. I got a Saturn so I could play the first Panzer Dragoon on release in the UK, and continued in that vein for everything Panzer Dragoon afterwards right up until I bought an Xbox for Orta. Azel was the highpoint for me (as was the CD soundtrack collection for it, of which I had two different versions) I had the anime, too, (awful as it was) on VHS video and the soundtrack to the anime (perhaps the only worthy thing to come out of that whole project) on CD. The series was a massive influence on me, and the world of Panzer Dragoon continues to be one of, if not my top, favorite from video game history. I can't imagine a better tribute to it all than this incredible video. Thanks so much for these 4 hours and 14 minutes of raw entertainment and joyful recollection. Got yourself a sub, sir.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thank you so much - it's amazing to see that there is still so much passion out there for this amazing little series. There is news that Sega might be working on another game as part of their retro revival - we'll have to see if this comes to fruition!

[@gavinpowell4607]

What a lovely nod to Yukio Futatsugi's professionalism and contributions at 3:56:46 onwards. Clearly a very talented guy.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

He really is one of the unsung heroes of the industry. I hope this video introduces more people to his work!

[@neonkenomi320]

I was once introduced into the Panzer Dragoon series by watching an old neighbor play the original when I was little. I only had a tiny memory of it but I remember being captivated by the art direction and atmosphere of the world. When I was like 7 or 8 years old, I had a friend who had a an Xbox and Orta alongside the JSRF bundle, I remembered we both had a blast playing and unlocking Pandora’s Box which is where I found the original again. That would cement my love for the series, I would also remember the old coverage of Orta when G4 was in it’s prime with shows like Judgement Day and that time when X-Play did a small retrospective, if you can find it. Team Andromeda/Smilebit will always one of favorite development studios and I’ve thought it was a shame that they were folded by Sega. Their talent was so strong, I couldn’t imagine the stuff they would be making had Sega’s sins didn’t catch up with them. I’ve thought they could of repurposed Saga’s engine for a mainline Phantasy Star game in different timeline.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Yeah I can't lie I feel the same about Andromeda/Smilebit. It's such a shame that forces outside of their control prevented them from continuing. What I'd give for another game that builds on Saga's formula or another crack at Jet Set Radio!

[@neonkenomi320]

@@drunkensailor112 I'm referring to Smilebit after the whole Sammy merger. It seems the talent was either gone or spread out to different departments.

[@TinyFunkyMan]

Let’s go! I just wanted to say, I’ve been studying in university for video game programming and design and your videos really helped me appreciate the legacy of many games franchises. These older games have a lot of fresh ideas that inspires me to make games. So thank you and keep on keeping on!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome dude. Really cool to hear I'm keeping the flame burning for these older franchises as that's exactly what I want to do. Good luck with your studies and hopefully this video can provide a bit of distraction!

[@peepooh9813]

You made me care for this series in a way I didn't know I could. Thank you for all the work you did making this video.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Sounds like a job well done! I just want to turn more people onto how cool Panzer Dragoon is!

[@deathboy68]

Back in 1995, I went to a friend's house to pick him up to go out for the night. His younger brother was playing his new video game system on the television. I had never seen a Saturn before and I watched the opening FMV from Panzer Dragoon with my jaw on the floor. He gave me the controller and suddenly I was flying on the back of a dragon. I went out and bought the system that week, knowing little about it but that game all alone was enough for me to have to have it. To this day, it remains one of the most satisfying series I have ever played. Thank you for this wonderful video that took me back to the "Long Ago". I miss it.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's really cool - it's such a shame that we've lost that sense of wonder at seeing new technology within the industry. Maybe I'm just an old boomer but seeing the graphics of the PS5 or the Xbox just don't hit quite like seeing full 3D for the first time!

[@mattis1981]

I have to say, and this goes for all your videos, they are absolutely excellent! The storytelling, the details, and most important; the passion. I can genuinly feel the passion, and it’s highly contagious. I knew nothing of Panzer Dragoon, and basically nothing of the Saturn, but now I feel a great urge to dive into the console and the games. I think you are the best at these lenghty essays and history of videos, and I hope you continue to make them. Massive respect to the work you are doing.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks so much! This video was a real passion project but I'm really pleased I could share some of my love for both the Panzer Dragoon franchise and the Sega Saturn! Hopefully projects like this can help keep interest alive even as the decades pass since it was relevant!

[@pastelshoal]

Thank you for putting more eyes on this series, namely Panzer Dragoon Saga.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Yeah if we can just get more people talking about it hopefully some momentum can build for that collection!

[@jameslebus2432]

Not sure I’ve ever seen a creator your size responding to virtually every comment on their work. Your passion for what you make is clear enough in your work but it’s genuinely moving to me to scroll through here and see it’s actual breadth.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

To be totally honest - I really don't understand why other channels don't do it! People seem to really enjoy having a chat about the ideas in the videos and sharing their own stories. I love reading them and it takes almost no time to reply so why not! Glad you enjoyed the video! This one was a real passion project so every comment it gets feels extra special to me

[@jameslebus2432]

Well this platform needs more creators like you. Creating things with the main motivation being that you just WANTED to create them as apposed to financial or attention driven motivations. It’s a shame creators like you are in the vast minority. Hope you get as many eyes on your work as you deserve.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much! Well the channel is really growing a lot and I'm doing it full time so even if it stays at this level I'll be happy! At the end of the day I just want to share weird stories from what I consider to be the most interesting era in video game history!

[@djtoxicdhg]

I gotta say one of the things that I absolutely love about your channel is the fact that I can watch a video on a game that I've never really heard of or that I don't have much interest in and still watch the entire video and find my time well spent.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear and a massive compliment my dude. Glad you enjoyed this video!

[@burstmortem6638]

FOUR HOURS OF PANZER DRAGOON AND SEGA NOSTALGIA WHOAAAAAAAA Edit: I just finished the video, and man this is even more heartbreaking than I thought But im glad vids like yours exist They are sad stories but also important It gives another look at dead franchises and makes me want to root for their return It makes me feel geuinely sad and passonite for some games I have no nostalgia for (like prince of persia) And makes me wanna replay franchises I love (like castlevania) Keep up the great work While I go download a saturn emulator and cry into my dreamcast

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

And sadness! Don't forget the crippling sadness!

This video makes me want a Panzer Dragoon Collection so badly now, and I have never played the series.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I think we call do! It would be all the fanbase deserves after all this time!

[@ChaoticMeatballTV]

Glad to see this video made. Panzer Dragoon is one of those franchises that really deserves to be more accessible on modern hardware, but it feels like it's left behind simply due to how difficult the Saturn is to emulate. That and the sheer price gouging of Saturn games in general, especially Saga makes it rather disheartening for anyone wanting to play these games.

[@85bitsdeveloper]

This is a myth, since windows 98 and ssf emulator it is possible to emulate saturn

[@Kiryuu3]

@@85bitsdeveloper Mednafen is really great as well. I played all three Saturn Panzer Dragoon games on it with no glitches or anything.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks my friend. Yeah a big part of me making this was to try and elevate Panzer Dragoon as a franchise that is remembered for it's design innovations rather than as a retro collectable. The Saturn emulation scene has come on leaps and bounds so they're currently more available than ever!

[@SuperFlyGhost]

Take a seat brothers and sisters, the high lore master speaks to us his tales.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'd certainly be the strangest village druid around

[@jonesbt22]

You have an incredible way of laying out the developmental history, lore and gameplay of the series you cover in a very cohesive way. Even when the games themselves feel disconnected your analysis of these things wrap them into one compete story.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much. I'm always trying to craft it into a singular narrative because I just think that's a much more interesting way to look at franchises!

[@jonesbt22]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame absolutely, you get into the nuance of game mechanics, the story, the graphics and why these developmental choices were made in context of the developmental history of the game. It's easy to review these things on one facet or the other but you relate them all together. I'm working on my own game and having your channel as a resource is extremely valuable. The Castlevania retrospective is is basically a masterclass in why certain aspects of the series work or fail.

[@RayzeCruxis]

I've been married twice. Once to my love for gaming and also to the Panzer Dragoon homing shot. The homing shot puts out way more.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Haha thats an incredible comment

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

What an amazing essay. My parents bought me the Saturn after begging like a maniac, just because I saw a promo VHS with the Panzer Dragoon intro. Since then, I've been obsessed with PD, especially Panzer Dragoon Saga, one of my favourite games of all time. I've always dreamt of a new PD Saga in a Fallout style, big, really big and long. The setting is just fascinating to me: a global war in a far future almost ends the civilization, and thousands of years later there is this unrecognizable and almost alien earth with a complete new ecosystem, product of the ancient bioweapons that thrived and adapted to live by their own, along with the more robotic ones that remain semi activated. And all with a tribal society, an empire, war lords... The amount of time, effort, and love they put in this universe, a new universe different from the typical medieval fantasy, futurist/sci-fi, or Mad Max-esque postapocalyptic scenarios, and Sega always seemed to not give a fck for it despite the effort and the love from the devs. The wasted potential is so frustrating to me. I am 46 now and I think I'll never see a new PD Saga... They have abandoned this franchise. What a shame.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

It is a complete shame isn't it and that's exactly why I wanted to put together this video - to try and do the series justice and let people have an insight into how cool it was. Even if PD never comes back, hopefully I can introduce some people to what a unique and engaging world it is

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame also absolutely agree with the remake issue. I bought it, super excited, and I only played it for 20 minutes and quit bored of it till this day. I thought it was me, that my taste has changed and I couldn't feel what I felt when I was a teenager. But no, it wasn't me. It's like for some reason, the remake is right, but not right at the same time. Maybe someday, who knows... There must be devs who are also PD fans. One of the biggest games which is crowdfunded is Elite: Dangerous. Maybe someday someone will make it as big and breathtaking as the Fallout series. We already have got the technology. Every time I play a game with amazing graphics, like Death Stranding, I always imagine all that in a PD game. Even the music is at another level. In a time where all was D&B or tekno, Sona Mi Areru Ec Sancitu hit me hard till this day. It fits so well in the game, it's like the visuals, the strange atmosphere, are absolutely transformed into music perfectly. The effort put in building such an amazing world can't get lost. Hey, at least I've got a copy with the box and everything. I'll never sell it lol. I thought I lost it in my parents house because I've always been a mess with CDs, but a couple of years ago I found it.

[@blackleon1708]

Missed my birthday by couple of days, but it still 4 hours of high quality entertainment. Truly a gift

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Damn! Well I hope you can enjoy the birthday comedown with some cool and interesting old video game lore

[@jeremycarnes1656]

Oh man, I didn't expect this to be the one! Awesome!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Yup after Castlevania did so well I thought I need to do a real passion project video next and so took on one which might not do as "well" but is a real important topic in my mind! Hope you enjoy it!

[@agroed]

Thank you so much for all the mountains of work you do on these videos. You have without a doubt created the most comprehensive retrospectives on every franchise you've covered. It's utterly self-evident how much passion goes into every release. This is a series that I just got into in the last couple years, and it captured my affection so easily. The rail shooters that are simple but challenging and epic, but then my god, it's just ridiculous how immaculate Saga is. I can't express how much it warms my heart to see this series get treated with the respect and reverence that it deserves, and to know that there's at least one more person out there who won't soon forget "those Saturn games where you ride a dragon and shoot stuff" any time soon. You've become my favorite video essay channel so quickly it's practically mind-blowing. I recommend you to every retro gamer I know until they wanna slap me XD. You're seriously the best. Thanks for everything. I can't wait to see what's next.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks so much for such a nice comment. It really means a lot as I've had a lot on my plate lately (surgery which has delayed the next video) so it's always lovely to hear from people who are enjoying my stuff. Honestly - I'm just happy this video is out there to act as a record for the future. Fingers crossed Panzer Dragoon is never forgotten!

[@bloodbandittv]

Fun fact: The Saturn never got released in Norway, because it didn't aim at the same age group their Distributor was. So i never knew about the Saturn until many years later. I now got the console with Panzer Dragoon, Zwei and Saga, and it quickly became one of my favorite franchises ever. I always tell people i know to emulate the games or come to my place and experience it. It's a damn shame that it kever got the sale and attention it truly deserved, because its an experience unlike anything i have played. Thank you so much for this video, it is truly amazing

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're more than welcome - thanks for doing your bit to keep the franchise alive!

[@frankc.531]

I spent the afternoon with this. Thank you so much. I teared up several times. It brought me back to my late teens and the best time in my memory of my hobby.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear. I'm glad I could transport you back to a time when good old Sega ruled the world!

[@saschaberger3212]

Flipflop channel my man: I'm addicted to hour long video game essays for quiet some time now and I want you to know that you entered my top 3 of all content creators ever. It ain't much but I want you to know

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear man and I really appreciate you saying that. This one was a real slog to put together so hope you enjoyed it!

[@ChicCanyon]

I can't wait to dig into this

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks so much for the support my dude. It always means so much and it's always great to see your name pop up in the comments! Hope you enjoy it!

[@mbrz1970]

I had never heard of Panzer Dragoon and even though I will probably never play it, I have nothing but respect for its teams efforts and hard work after watching this video. I was shocked by Saga and its accomplishments on a Sega Saturn of all things. Thank you for helping to preserve this series memory.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'm really pleased that I could introduce you to the world of Team Andromeda! They really were a special group who made some amazing games and I'm really pleased I could do my bit to keep their memory alive!

[@MothroPossum]

I have never played a Panzer Dragoon game. However I've heard praises for saga and I've seen game play of the first, and the images from that footage have stayed with me. The imagery has stayed with me. If a game/series is able to do that to someone who's never played it, it must really be something

[@iPlaySEGA]

Such a beautiful series! I'm still listening to all 4 soundtracks!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That Saga soundtrack is utterly majestic - it's such a shame that I wasn't able to talk about it more!

[@MoonSpiritChannel]

So glad somebody has taken the time to look at such an overlooked series that's been a huge cult classic series.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I figured after Castlevania I'd bought some leeway for a real passion project so I'm really happy I got to make this!

[@chrissullivan6572]

I'm still so glad Mr. Sunday shouted this channel out. Your videos are honestly an inspiration to anyone who wants to make content.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's really awesome to hear. Glad you're enjoying my videos!

[@da5e]

You've produced over four hours about a computer game series, and hardly ever said the word 'utilise' during those hours. I salute you.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much!

[@sznurowadlo]

I just bought the remake of first game on GOG based on your excellent essay regarding Panzer Dragon series. Good work.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Hope you enjoy it my friend - absolutely download a Saturn emulator to check out the originals as well!

[@GoldenNovaYugioh]

Finally had the chance to sit through and watch this, and as expected it was an informative and enjoyable experience! I'd seen snippets of Panzer Dragoon throughout my life, but was never able to grab a hold of the actual game long enough to get a good focus on it, so it was great to see what the game and story was all about. Gonna have to get my hands on some emulators soon so I can try it for myself!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'm sure you'll absolutely love whichever one you pick up. It's one of those series that has undeservedly lost it's reputation so any amount of singing it's praises we can do will be important work (along with just being fun as hell to play!)

[@dangerd.5960]

The fact that he didn’t cover panzer dragoon for the tiger r zone is sad Great video I always had an interest in this series!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Yeah I did think about doing it but I sort of don't think those handhelds are proper video games in the traditional sense - I should have mentioned it in the disclaimer!

[@DaKirbinator]

Thank you for making this video I always loved Panzer Dragon, having gotten to touch Orta first and falling in love retroactively. And indeed, being unable to follow that to any actual gameplay beyond the first game and the fourth. No emulation, no rerelease, and no coverage. I didn't even hear about the remake for the switch until your video now, with so little news on the subject. This has been an illuminating spark in my heart for the series I thought only I knew about.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome. It's one of my favourite series and I really wanted to make sure there was a record of quite how creative and innovative it was!

[@theladyofbees3895]

I really did not intend to watch all 4 hours of this in one sitting, but it looks like my love for the series and my interest in what you had to say won out lol. Thanks for making this. I appreciated your critqiues towards the latter half of Saga. I thought the burning forest was cool and the tower a bit of a slog (I may have switched around the center paths in the tower around one too many times lol). But, differing perspectives is what I like to watch this content for. Thanks for giving some love to this unique and strange little series.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Yeah I felt really bad having to criticise that part because I really do love Saga with all my heart but it's impossible to not mention it as it's so pervasive. Luckily I think my passion for everything the game does right is a little louder!

[@tyrantravealpha]

I'm about halfway through this behemoth and I must say, the effort you have put forth here is nothing short of breathtaking. You must have a crazy good work ethic to put something like this together. Cheers!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Believe me it takes quite a bit to put them together (especially the editing) but it's really worth it to feel like I'm contributing something to the memory of these great titles

[@tyrantravealpha]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame You are absolutely a credit to keeping this franchise in the public eye. Keep up the good work!

[@TheBeird]

Sir, just wanna say that this was a brilliant video. I only played the first two Panzer games on the Saturn as a teen, but this world has always stuck with me and I have checked in over the decades to see if anything was stirring with it. Got all the soundtracks and take inspiration from it all the time. While I was happy the remake of the first game came out though, it made me realise that this series shouldn't come back for new installments. I want the games to be available for people of any generation to check out, but while the remake is a nice enough game true to the spirit, you can't recapture the vibe of games from older hardware. See, art is not just about the product itself. Art also captures the moment in time in which its birthed into the world. That is what makes them special. The vibe of the times they bring with them. While Sega Saturn graphics are dated and probably have no appeal to modern gamers, you cannot recreate the atmosphere of those original games on new hardware. Saying that, if a remake of Zwei and Saga come out, of course I'll get them. I just wish we could have the originals too, so that the blood, sweat and tears of those orignal game developers is never forgotten.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're completely right and have essentially summarised my entire mindset about remakes vs older games. It would take so little for companies to offer us both - it's baffling that it's never on the cards

[@ClockedIt]

What a mammoth undertaking, which I feel you achieve in wondrous quality. I was more than happy to sit through over 4 hours of what I consider to be arguably Sega's greatest and most creative series of games. On one note, I hear the 2,000 copies of Panzer Dragoon Saga in Europe number quite a lot these days, but I was working in Electronics Boutique in the UK in 1998 when this game launched (I'm 41 now) and I specifically remember a memo from our HR confirming that 5,000 copies are being made available. Would be great to get this number truly confirmed one day. Anyway, a staggering video and I appreciate all the effort you've put into this.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks so much. It means so much to get feedback like this because honestly it can be easy to doubt yourself while working on such a big project! That's interesting about the shipped numbers. So many of the "facts" are so hard to find concrete evidence backing them up - I almost want to do an interview with some of the people involved to try and get clarity!

[@timpize8733]

2:49:38 The Nomad Soul (Omikron) did this too, and brought the idea arguably further albeit in a more obvious way. At the very beginning, the player is asked by a character to enter the game and transfer his "soul" into his body. And when we die or want to switch to another character, we simply transfer our soul into another one. Pretty fun gimmick.

[@timpize8733]

Those retrospectives are definitely well made. Despite being very familiar with the subject I learn a whole lot. Also it's nice that they always manage to end on a positive note despite the downfall of most franchises. 😆

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I've always wanted to play that game! The fact that it's made by the Heavy Rain guys and has David Bowie in it just appeals to me!

[@timpize8733]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Yes, very different from Heavy Rain and what they did later though, but definitely worth trying out.

[@animatedplastic]

Wow. What a history. Great video. I just watched the Castlevania one yesterday. I did not know the termoil that this franchise went through. I remember having a friend that loved this series. I personally never really got the game, but because of his fanatic love for it and the fact I loved the Sega Saturn, I bought the US version of this game. I was blown away at how many discs this game had. I will admit I was much more into the Working Design games at the time because I was discovering these amazing catalogs of Japanese ONLY Saturn games that I never knew existed. I got about 1/2 through the game when I kind of gave up on it because I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do in the town. This lead to me moving on to other games, but I always hung on to that game with the idea I would revisit and figure it out. I have to say Sega was a hot mess in the 90s. It's like once they were on top they lost their direction and then splintered. They should never have released the 32X and Nomad. They didn't seem to think about long term vision and were only focused on what they could get out of things at the moment, which is sad because that is kind of where we are today with everything. I did wind up with a Wondermega and the CDX for cheap. I was very sad about the Dreamcast. I loved the Dreamcast as well, but the US handling of it was just horrible. Being first in the console market only worked for Sega once with the Genesis. They never seemed to recover from that concept. I am glad that they still exist as a company and hope that they remain innovative in game design. After watching the Castlevania video and this one it makes me sad that the need to make money (which is important) overshadows making a good solid game with depth, great game play, and storytelling. I guess I'll be looking through your videos to find another video to watch.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I've got to say I have a soft spot for telling a tragic story about a video game franchise that didn't get what it deserved!

[@mfnick7536]

Amazing, thank you for doing this. Dragoon Zwei & Saga are genuinely 2 of my favourite games of all time. Especially Saga. Plus all the Sega history was really appreciated. Never realised just how closely tied the 2 seemed to be.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

You're welcome - just glad to do my bit to elevate this series!

[@crdbtmn8232]

Usually I wait until the end of your videos to comment but the story of the creation of the Panzer Dragoon trilogy especially the environment and circumstances that led to Panzer Dragoon Saga was just amazing. It might actually be for the time it was released the most ambitious game ever made, I just am blown away by it all, the game sounds like a masterpiece the combat system, a successful and innovative switch to another genre all while telling a compelling story that acknowledges the previous games. Would it even be possible for a game like this to be made today? it seems like the restrictions they had, their passion for the project and Sega's desperation which allowed the funding all lead to the final product. I only imagine what team Andromeda could've done if sales allowed for a sequel. Your channel and your videos just provide probably the most important thing to gaming as a whole the preservation of these stories, like all of your videos this is truly amazing. I think it goes without saying you are one of the best content creators on this platform.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks so much my friend. That means a lot to hear. I'm glad you enjoyed the video so much as this was a real passion project to put together!

[@matthewpelli]

This video cemented my commitment to final playing through the complete series of games. Hopefully we get that remake of Zwei soon. Great video!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I really recommend it - they're super accessible with emulators and man, Saga is worth every second

[@risingsun6463]

Thanks for the hard work bro - know this was a tough one for you

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks for the support dude - it was much appreciated!

[@roccondil5]

I am only now realising as a grown up how lucky I am for having played PAL panzer dragoon saga back when it came out. It is still my favorite game ever! Such an incredible and unique work of Art! The ending will stay with me till my end days. Sadly my saturn and all games got stollen... 😢😢

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Oh no that's absolutely gutting. I'm very sorry for you but also jealous that you gotta play it on real hardware at the time!

[@roccondil5]

@I Finished A Video Game oh, it was awesome! I had the analogue controller and everything, which made the experience even more unique, it felt like it was made for that game! At least I get to cherish the memories...

[@meheretourgessa2805]

dude you're voice is so entracing and relaxing and these retrospectives are so ridiculously detailed, thank you man! I usually fall asleep to these videos but am constantly replaying them to get the full thing

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's really nice to hear! If you can believe it I was always extremely self conscious of my voice - it's been nice to find out people enjoy it!

[@ChuckART]

Awesome video man. I feel like content like this, about such older topics, almost do a better job at conveying what’s so special about them better than the original media itself. Amazing video

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I don't mean it to sound arrogant but I kinda agree! I think the beauty of a video like this is that it's not just the experience of the game but also the context and history as well. That takes some real effort to seek out so I hope these documentaries elevate the series they're about even for people who have played them before!

[@ChuckART]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Absolutely!! The passion, effort and love you have comes out in the video.

[@SwammyCDN]

A deep dive into a series that I only heard about but never got a chance to play? Consider my curiosity piqued

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@grpdadgod]

Longest video I have ever watched, as a proud owner of all three originals, as the first buyer and getting to enjoy them on real hardware I really appreciate your effort.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'm honored! You're a lucky guy having all three originals!

[@AwesomeJimJam]

gotta say you have one of the best cheeky usernames i’ve ever seen on the internet. the length of your videos is so easily explained by “i finished a video game” and i get a kick out of seeing it every time. glad i found your channel this year

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's awesome to hear. I worried for a while that it was a little too snarky for KZbin but I think it encapsulates the spirit and vibe quite well!

[@wes1431]

Seriously excellent work! Even with no personal attachment to the series myself, having grown up with Nintendo and Star Fox 64, you’ve got me wanting to play through the series. Seeing the notification of a new video from you is an event for me at this point, and I feel confident in saying this is your best retrospective yet. The choice to include the history of SEGA alongside the game was well worth any extra work/time that was added to the production of this video. A++ and I can’t wait for the next!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Wow that's awesome to hear man. I really appreciate that as this was a really tough video to put together (lots of technical issues and personal issues along the way!) Great to hear that it's come together

[@Maggerama]

Damn, your scripts are well-written and so TIGHT for the length. It never feels like you're trying to pad your videos or anything. On the contrary, the time you take to fold all kinds of interesting facts and judgements together feels just right. I really respect you, man.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I really appreciate that. It's the products of many late nights sat drafting and redrafting trying to really nail down to the core of what makes the creators and their games interesting! Glad to hear this video nails it as this was a real labour of love!

[@Maggerama]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame That's what I thought and that's how it feels, too.

[@despacito_deux]

I'm absolutely loving your channel, the format and narration is not only very entertaining for a historical and design analysis, but it's also honestly inspiring and makes me want to make video essays myself as I'm deeply interested in video game history. You have an excellent focus and are able to comment on small details I'd have missed otherwise, such as the impact of camera positioning or button mapping. Can't wait to learn more in future retrospectives !

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much - glad I could inspire you and hopefully you enjoy making videos yourself!

[@LittleBigKid707b]

I can't thank you enough for this high-quality Panzer Dragoon documentary. As a very old school Sega fan I really appreciate this. You deserve all the success you get. Greetings from California.

[@unclerogerANKI]

@IFinishedAVideoGame Amazing retrospective, four hours flew by! It was a great trip down memory lane and it was special to hear somebody else's thoughts on this great franchise. Similarly, it was very interesting to hear more about how these games were designed and developed, so thank you so much for this most impressive video! As somebody who's known the series since 1996, I'd like to add some thoughts 1) In general, I don't think the series really had a chance to succeed commercially. Its overall design was too unique, alternative and artistic, with inspiration coming from a mix of Dune, Moebius and Miyazaki's Nausicaä's, as you have shown us. None of the main characters ever looked like they were meant to meet the expectation of videogame fans of the respective periods. On the contrary, see how most of the FFVII characters could have belonged to a fighting game (and viceversa). Even the dragons were not exactly standard. The Panzer Dragoon universe is not western enough, is not Japanese enough, it's futuristic yet ancient in some ways... It's just amazingly weird and special. All in all, I think this has been a major reason behind the lack of wide commercial success of the series. And I repeat, commercial success, because artistically, it is top shelf material 2) I wonder if you considered spending more time on the scoring/performance aspect of the games. In 2013 I picked up again Zwei on the Saturn after having experienced more hardcore shooting games between 2005-2010. Whilst I knew the cinematic side of the game by heart, I was very happy to understand its underappreciated scoring system better and to rediscover the game as a legitimate challenge in "performance gaming". A 100% shotdown ratio with a high score, ADEC at the max, secret bonuses and the like is not an obvious challenge and I'd recommend it to anyone. 3) Similarly, I really loved how Orta managed to expande gameplay further, but organically. Considering it came after two artistically successful sequels to the original, each with their significant evolutions (by comparison, how little did the first three Resident Evil games changed, not to mention most fighting games?), I think it's amazing how they managed to yet improve things. I believe the main innovation in Orta is the introduction of "style choices" in the the gameplay. PD1 and Zwei could potentially be optimised: there was always a best way of doing things. Orta's dragon forms allowed players to "express" themselves differently and to have equally effective approaches the game's challenges. The dragon upgrades happening through the collection of the gene bases also required an element of planning (especially in the successive playthroughs) as to what form of the dragon the player wanted to bet on. I remember how carefully I planned what form to upgrade when, as I practiced my performance walkthroughs. It was so good to experience this extra element of tactics that weighted through the whole game, not just for a level or a boss fight. I also think that the three coexisting dragon forms were a much better choice compared to say, having three different dragons to choose from. So again, mad props to the designers. 4) A question for you. Do you have any insights as to why, through the years, it was always PD that resurfaced and never Zwei? From the bonus inner-game in Orta, to the Sega Ages 2500 compilation for PS2 to the remake for the Switch, it's always PD that got a further chance. And, despite being the game that created the universe and set the tone for the series, to me it will always be the lesser brother of Zwei, with unforgivably choppy framerate, unjustified zoom as you look left, right or backwards and a crosshair whose style was thankfully dropped for the subsequent installments. If I consider the fluidity of Zwei (something that reflected in the controls too, imo) and all its additional elements, I don't really understand how it was always on the back burner... Do you have an idea why?

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

That's a great few points - especially about how Orta adds systems that bake replayability into the experience. I wish I'd said that myself! As for your final point about PD being remade - I'm not actually sure! I think it was likely done because it was seen as a simple game that could be remade cheaply and included as an "extra". It's odd because it clearly wasn't massively planned out in either case!

[@TG-ge1oh]

Can't tell you how glad I am to see another video from you! I know video essays of this length must be a tremendous amount of work, but I do hope you keep making them.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Don't worry my friend - they are still coming thick and fast. I'm already onto the next one and will probably announce it on the stream tonight!

[@TG-ge1oh]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame Yay! Btw, while I have you here, have you ever thought of the Divinity series of rpgs?

[@marcellosilva9286]

Back in 2011 I had my first exposure to Panzer Dragoon Saga through the now hopelessly-obsolete SSF emulator, but I never finished the game and didn't play the others in the series, however, in 2017, I went back and finished the first Panzer Dragoon, but it was only in 2022 when I finished Zwei and Saga, and those two were absurdly incredible titles that made me a full-time fan of the series. Though I still haven't played Orta, I plan to someday, since it now seems that Xbox emulation is finally picking up steam after decades of nothing. Thanks for making this incredibly inspiring video, shedding some light on the context and development of the games in the series, and spreading the word on the massive improvements made to Saturn emulation in the last few years.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Your welcome - I think if this video can inspire some more people to check out those emulators and play through these games I'll consider that a success. There is just too much quality in the series for it to be forgotten as a collectable

[@IzumiKonata06]

So many of the comments are of people who never played the series and are now interested because of this video essay. If more KZbinrs spent more time doing actual research and making better videos, things would be extremely different in the gaming landscape. Thank you so much for the hard work, it's a great window on the series' and Sega's history. Loved it all the way through! Go play panzer dragoon now if you haven't yet!!

[@skeletonwar4445]

This video makes me regret not having played these games as a kid. I'd love to see what kind of impact it'd have made on me.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

It's never too late for them to have an impact on you! I highly recommend checking them out!

[@skeletonwar4445]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame You know what? You're right. Time to get some emulating going!

[@SlitBodmaud]

This whole video was just depressing. However, im gladnit was catalogued somewhere, as its a very important piece of video game history. A video game and company’s fates so clearly intertwined. Absolutely tragic.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I just wanted to make sure that Panzer Dragoon's crazy history didn't fall into obscurity - hopefully this can inspire a few people to check it out and share in my love for the franchise!

[@SlitBodmaud]

@@IFinishedAVideoGame I actually just started zwei today. Cant wait to try out sagas!!

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

I'm sure you'll absolutely love it. It's just as original and charming today as it was back then!

[@remydrums85]

This was such a great watch. I was never into Panzer Dragoon, but I was captivated by your passion for the game and for the deep, rich history of its publishers and creators. Such a cool lens to look at the fall of Sega through. Really really enjoyed this video, and all of your other content as well. You do a great job, and I’m glad you’ve got to a point where you can focus on this full time. You certainly deserve all of the success you find in this line of work.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much my friend! It's been a really wild year but I'm really excited about the future and where this channel can go! I've got a ton of ideas for interesting stuff in the future - hopefully everyone's into it!

[@Xlaudiuz]

I think I've watched most of your lengthy videos, and I must say that this has been an absolute marvelous experience, all the way from the cadence to the transitions, the tone and inflection are just... perfect, I'm taken aback just from the sheer level of craftsmanship and care, I really cannot wait to see what stories your channel will tell in the future, thanks for all the effort, I'm sure it will pay off, as all the good things usually do.

[@IFinishedAVideoGame]

Thanks very much. This one was a real passion project but I really wanted to be the one to tell the story and I think it turned out really well! It's a lot of effort but seeing comments like yours really makes the sweat and tears worth it haha