What's New?

Published by Solo Wing June 19, 2020 11:02am in News

After a long delay, the v1.3 patch for Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available in Japan on Nintendo Switch.

Great news for Japanese players of Panzer Dragoon: Remake, as the 1.3 patch has just become available on the Nintendo Store. Panzer Dragoon: Remake’s official Twitter announced the news. Here’s the Google Translation from Japanese:

Thank you for your patience. ! Version 1.3 update of “Panzer Dragoon: Remake” for Nintendo Switch is now available in Japan! Please update the software and enjoy the new features.

Due to a delay at Nintendo Japan, Japanese gamers were up until now been stuck on the original launch version of Panzer Dragoon: Remake. Japan had not been able to experience the new features in v1.2 (such as Kobayashi-san’s music), or the large 1.3 patch, which came out a little over a month ago in other countries. This release will be welcome indeed.

Published by Solo Wing June 16, 2020 7:52pm in News

The first Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record teaser was revealed at the Upload VR Showcase, featuring art by Koichiro Tamura, platforms announced, new art with dragons/environments, and a confirmation that crowdfunding will take place in 2020!

Here’s the first trailer of Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record from Upload VR Showcase: Summer Edition!

Video Details for "Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record Teaser"

The trailer goes through footage of the Saturn Panzer Dragoon games, giving a brief history of them, featuring music from “Atolm Dragon” and “Flight”. We see a new version of the logo and art to accompany it, created by Koichiro Tamura, 2D artist from Panzer Dragoon Orta. You’ll find more original art near the end of the trailer, including art based on Episode 1 of the original Panzer Dragoon, suggesting (but not confirming) that we will see this iconic stage in Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record.

The YouTube video’s description tells us more about the platforms that Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record will be released on: PC VR, PSVR, and Quest. The trailer states that planned platforms are PC VR, Console VR, and Standalone VR. The game is expected to be released in 2021. We’ve also learned that the game will be powered by Unreal Engine 4.

The official tweet ended with confirmation that crowdfunding will take place in 2020. The trailer states that Wildman will need your help to add more episodes to the game.

The trailer ends with “Lagi, He’s still with me…”, based on the iconic line at the end of Panzer Dragoon II Zwei, leaving us excited for more.

Published by Solo Wing June 13, 2020 5:51am in Meta

Long time Panzer Dragoon fan Admiral Craymen joins us in maintaining the Panzer Dragoon Legacy digital archive and social media channels.

I’m happy to announce the addition of Admiral Craymen to the Panzer Dragoon Legacy admin team. Admiral Craymen, also known as TB Samurai, has been contributing fan art to the site for many years now and has begun helping us to curate the contributions of other fans and maintain our growing social media channels. Admiral Craymen has actually been posting art for a number of weeks now and I’m glad to finally make this official.

Also, I’d like to use this update to thank Geoffrey for his valuable contributions to running Panzer Dragoon Legacy over the years. He will stepping down from his admin role as he focuses on other things.

Panzer Dragoon Legacy has always been a community effort, but it really should be acknowledged who has contributed to building up the site over the years. For this reason, I’ve overhauled the About the Site page to talk about not just our current team, but everyone who made Panzer Dragoon Legacy what it is today.

Published by Solo Wing June 3, 2020 9:16am in News

We came up with sixteen questions for Forever Entertainment about Panzer Dragoon: Remake and you'll find the answers here in our latest interview with Monika Ginter and Kamila Dębicka from the PR Team!

Following on from our first interview with Benjamin Anseaume, the following questions were prepared for Forever Entertainment by Panzer Dragoon Legacy and members of our community. Thanks to Monika “BluNectarine” Ginter and Kamila Dębicka from Forever Entertainment’s PR Team for taking the time to answer our questions! This is not an exclusive interview; you are free to send your own questions to pr@forever-entertainment.com.

Note, the questions were sent to Forever Entertainment before the Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 patch and Google Stadia version were released.

1) With Panzer Dragoon: Remake now out on the Nintendo Switch, what are your thoughts about the game’s reception from both critics and fans?

The launch of the Panzer Dragoon: Remake game was a great success for us! The amount of feedback we received from both the community and critiques helped us build the confidence that the game, even though it’s 25 years old, truly has a chance to shine among other modern franchises.

2) How well did you expect Panzer Dragoon: Remake to perform financially, and now that the game has been released, have these expectations been met?

Fully.

3) The upcoming Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 patch has an impressive amount of changes based in part on the feedback from the community. Were some of these features originally planned to be included at launch and held back due to deadlines?

The great amount of features included in v1.3 were added after the players’ suggestions, and we’re more than happy we could work on an update based on their feedback. Some of the features, like Gyro or HD rumble, were planned before the release, but needed more time for development, as they were considered extras.

4) We understand that Panzer Dragoon: Remake will be released on Windows PC and Google Stadia at an unspecified point in the future. Will these versions of the game include all of the patches from the Nintendo Switch version at launch and have you found it easier to focus on just one platform initially?

The upcoming releases on different platforms will of course include the features from the Nintendo Switch version! Thanks to being able to develop and update the game on only one platform at the time, we can provide new patches faster and more frequently.

5) The Witcher III features cross save functionality between the Switch and PC versions of the game. Have you considered adding similar functionality for players who buy Panzer Dragoon: Remake on both platforms (for example, the ability to synchronise game stats)?

This feature has not been considered yet, but it might be possible in the future.

6) We have seen many comments on forums and social media from Panzer Dragoon fans asking for PlayStation and Xbox versions of Panzer Dragoon: Remake. While we understand that PlayStation/Xbox versions haven’t been confirmed, is there a message that you can give to the hopeful?

Hope dies last ;) We can’t comment on this matter for now.

7) Panzer Dragoon: Remake was slated to be released in Winter but it was delayed. Can you shed some light on why the game was delayed?

The game was delayed a little bit so we could feature the premiere on Nintendo Direct Mini.

8) Ahead of the release of Panzer Dragoon: Remake, there wasn’t much in the way of news regarding the game’s launch. Then we received the surprise release on Nintendo Switch. Can we expect a similar launch for the Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake or will there be more communication with players before the release?

We believe the communication is here - you can always chat with us live on our Discord or visit our official social media profiles :) We can’t comment on Panzer Dragoon Zwei: Remake premiere yet.

9) How long was Panzer Dragoon: Remake in production (until launch), and now that the game is out on Nintendo Switch, how much longer do you intend to continue supporting the game with updates?

Panzer Dragoon: Remake was in production for around 18 months. The game will receive life-long support, as we greatly care about the franchise and its community.

10) Unlike in the original version of Panzer Dragoon, it is possible to experience the full game on Easy Mode in the remake. Is diversity among the player base and inclusion of players of different skill levels something you are concerned about?

Games in the past were way less accessible, but it was a part of their charm. We decided to simplify some of the aspects (mentioned full game in the Easy Mode). At the same time, we tried to leave a hint of nostalgia, when we added features such as cheat codes or Pandora’s Box unlocking after beating the game - for those who wanted a little “blast from the past” :)

11) There are a number of configurable options in Panzer Dragoon: Remake, for example, the ability to choose between the Yoshitaka Azuma and Saori Kobayashi soundtracks. How do you decide which features should be configurable and what should remain an unchangable part of your vision for the remake?

We had in mind that the game should leave as much freedom of choice for the player as possible. We chose those features, which in our opinion, are the most important and make the most sense in the remake.

12) We’re excited to hear more about the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake. Do you intend to create a close 1:1 remake in terms of gameplay, level design, and story, similar to the first remake, or is this an opportunity to revise these aspects of the game?

The success of the Panzer Dragoon: Remake showed us, that we should keep the gameplay almost 1:1 with the original, adding only the modern graphics – this has been emphasized by the majority of the players, and their opinion is the key point of the remake’s development.

13) The Saturn Panzer Dragoon games have a distinct earthly colour palette that is also present in official artwork associated with those games. Can you talk about the decision to go with a brighter colour palette for the remake?

The current color palette is a part of our artistic choice, thoroughly picked and discussed with every party involved in the remake’s creation.

14) We hope that you are all staying safe. What challenges has the COVID-19 situation brought to your working environment and has remote work been a good fit for your organisation?

We’re all trying to stay reasonable during this time. The safety of our teams is the most important thing there can be. Working completely remotely is something new for us, but despite its difficulties, we still manage to bring you new updates :)

15) It was nice to see the Panzer Dragoon fan base acknowledged in the credits of Panzer Dragoon: Remake. How did the community influence the development of Panzer Dragoon: Remake and what can we can do to help with the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake?

The feedback from players is a tremendous help! Of course, there is no way to include every suggestion, as we receive tons of it daily - and the opinions can vary very much in the same topics.

16) Lastly, there’s a question that fans have been asking for a long time: who was the Sky Rider who dies in the introduction to Panzer Dragoon? He’s been speculated to be a human, drone, and a descendant of the Ancients. What’s your angle on this fan favourite question?

That’s a tricky question! We like to think that the Sky Rider is one of the last Ancients. But of course – that’s only a thought! ;)

Thank you very much for answering these questions for the readers of Panzer Dragoon Legacy.

Thank you too! :)

Published by Solo Wing June 1, 2020 11:20pm in News

The dragon flies through the clouds in Panzer Dragoon: Remake as the Google Stadia version becomes available.

As announced by Panzer Dragoon: Remake’s Twitter, the Stadia version of Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available:

Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available on #Stadia! Take your Dragoon wherever you want and experience an amazing adventure!

Play now on @GoogleStadia↪️stadia.google.com

The game runs at 1080p on Stadia and with a similar framerate to performance mode on Nintendo Switch.

We’ll have more information and screenshots of the Stadia version in subsequent updates.

Published by Solo Wing May 29, 2020 8:20am in News

Forever Entertainment has confirmed that Panzer Dragoon: Remake for Stadia will launch with the v1.3 patch and gyro controls will be tweaked in an upcoming update, but is the current version 1.3 polished enough to provide a solid gameplay experience?

We would also like to inform all of our readers who haven’t been closely following Twitter and Discord that we haven’t seen the last of Panzer Dragoon: Remake on Nintendo Switch. Another patch is on the way. The official Panzer Dragoon: Remake Twitter has confirmed that the gyro controls will be tweaked. Beyond this, we don’t have information about the contents of the next patch. The latest patch, Panzer Dragoon Remake v1.3, was a large update that also contained whole new features such as Episode 0 and a performance mode. It’s reasonable to assume we won’t be seeing the same quantity of improvements in future updates going forward, although nothing has been confirmed.

Unfortunately not everyone has been able to download the v1.3 patch, with the COVID-19 situation still preventing the release of patch in Japan.

But the official Panzer Dragoon: Remake Twitter has just confirmed that the upcoming Google Stadia version of Panzer Dragoon: Remake will include the v1.3 patch “for you to enjoy all the new features”. The Stadia version of Panzer Dragoon: Remake launches on June the 1st.

With the release of Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 for Nintendo Switch, has the game reached a point where it has been refined enough to provide a solid gameplay experience? I haven’t written a full review of Panzer Dragoon: Remake or shared my thoughts here about the game, and that’s been intentional.

Early versions of Panzer Dragoon: Remake felt very much like a work in progress, with an immense amount of feedback collected from fans on Discord and used to improve the game. There’s a good collection of videos capturing some of these issues over on Synbios 16’s YouTube channel that you may find interesting.

With v1.3, I feel that the main gameplay issues, particularly surrounding the responsiveness of the controls, have been resolved. It’s not perfect, but Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 is, from a gameplay and level design point of view, a solid 1:1 remake of the original 1995 game. It’s hard to deny that from a graphical point of view, Panzer Dragoon: Remake, which has been rebuilt from the ground up, is technically on another level than what was possible on the Sega Saturn. The art direction, a somewhat more subjective quality, is more controversial and I might talk about this in a future article. But if you’re looking to get into Panzer Dragoon (or revisit it after all these years) and own a Nintendo Switch (or soon, have a Stadia Pro subscription), we’ve reached a point where many of the rough edges have been ironed off and it’s the right time to give Panzer Dragoon: Remake a try.

Published by Draikin May 28, 2020 9:06pm in News

Google has announced that Panzer Dragoon: Remake will arrive on their Stadia Pro service on June 1.

In a new update on their website, Google has announced that five new games will be released on Stadia Pro on June 1, bringing the total number of games available in Stadia Pro up to 17. One of them is Panzer Dragoon: Remake, making this the second platform the game will be released on after the game’s initial launch on Nintendo Switch. Those subscribed to Stadia Pro (or taking advantage of the trial version) will be able to play the game at no additional cost.

It’ll be interesting to see how well the game plays on Google’s streaming platform. On the one hand, input lag is typically higher on a streaming service such as Stadia, and there’s also a loss in video quality due to the video being compressed. On the other hand, technically Stadia is much more capable than the Nintendo Switch, which should allow the game to run in a higher resolution and a more stable framerate. It’s not clear at the time of writing if the Stadia version will be version 1.3 of the game.

Regardless of the technical aspects, a previous poll on our Twitter account showed that only 1.3% of the 862 people who voted were actually planning to play the game on Stadia. The official Panzer Dragoon: Remake Twitter account also has been rather silent about the Stadia release. We can probably expect more attention going to the PC release (on Steam and GOG), although a release date for that is yet to be revealed.

Published by Draikin May 13, 2020 6:00pm in News

Update 1.3 for Panzer Dragoon: Remake on the Nintendo Switch has been released, introducing a wide number of fixes and enhancements!

The official Panzer Dragoon: Remake Twitter account has announced that update 1.3 for Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available for the EU, NA and AU regions! Forever Entertainment has detailed the following list of changes in v1.3 of the game:

New additions:

• Episode 0
• Super Weapon Mode
• New gameplay options: rumble, classic reticle, auto-aim zoom, HUD toggle, performance mode (60FPS)
• Cheatcodes in the main menu allowing the player to cheat in a campaign (god mode, infinite credits, super weapon mode)
• Gyroscope controls

Improvements:

• SFX system and sounds rework
• Multi-button fire (A and B)
• Input lag removed from all actions
• Camera rotation speed increased
• Easier and more responsive targeting system
• Full options access trough pause menu
• Blue Dragon motion re-work
• Start language based on console account language
• New, reworked Pandora’s Box is now available after beating the game at any difficulty

You can see the new trailer showcasing the various updates here:

Video Details for "Panzer Dragoon: Remake - Version 1.3 Update Trailer"

Answering questions from fans on Twitter, Forever Entertainment also added the following points:

• The aiming reticule can now go behind the dragon on screen, if you choose it in the options menu
• The Japanese version of the game is still waiting for Nintendo evaluation, and will be announced when it is ready
• The patch will also be included on the physical version from Limited Run Games
• Cheat codes appear randomly on loading screens

For those of you who already have the game, let us know what you think of the update on our social media channels or our Discord channel!

Published by Draikin May 8, 2020 8:53pm in News

In an interview with Mr Wildman (Haruto Watanabe), Naoki Horii (from M2), and 4Gamer, we learn the origin story of Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record!

During an interview with 4Gamer and Mr Wildman / Haruto Watanabe (founder of Wildman Inc.) and Naoki Horii (director at M2), we learnt the following about the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record.

• Naoki Horii, representative director of M2, was impressed by Wildman’s “The Gunner of Dragoon”, and decided to introduce Wildman to SEGA.
• Initially, Wildman hadn’t thought about making on official Panzer Dragoon game. Instead, he went to SEGA to ask them if he could put the Blue Dragon in his The Gunner of Dragoon game. However, SEGA encouraged him to instead try to get an official license for a Panzer Dragoon game instead. As such, he ended up making a pitch for Panzer Dragoon VR and delivered it to SEGA.
• SEGA asked M2 to make a Panzer Dragoon for Nintendo 3DS, but it didn’t end up happening. Instead the VR project seemed like it would get a lot of attention.
• Discussions with SEGA went smoothly thanks to Mr. Horii.
• Wildman Inc. will also be publishing the game, which means SEGA doesn’t stand to lose any money on the project. Wildman argues that if he were to ask for a SEGA to invest money into the game and the sales didn’t meet expectations, it could damage the Panzer Dragoon franchise. That’s something he wanted to avoid.
• Wildman also mention that despite low sales outside of Japan, Panzer Dragoon has a cult following, especially in North America.
• Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record is a VR remake of select stages from the trilogy, rather than a full VR remake of the first game. Wildman wasn’t sure if he could make more Panzer Dragoon VR games after this one, so rather than making a full remake of the original game, he wanted to include parts of Panzer Dragoon II Zwei and Panzer Dragoon Saga as well.
• For Panzer Dragoon Saga, the focus was on recreating the battle scenes in VR.
• There will be very few stages in the initial game, but it will contain “3 dragon fights + popular scenes”. Since they don’t have a huge budget, the focus is on recreating a small number of stages in AAA quality.
• Wildman says the goal of this project is to continue the Panzer Dragoon series based on the attention and performance of this VR project.
• Development of Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record is going well.
• The D-Unit Type 01 (a.k.a. Blue Dragon) in Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record is a 3D model created by K’s Design Lab based on the garage kit created by Yoshikazu Yamamoto based on the official documentation. It’s still being tweaked. Not all models will be based on garage kits.
• SEGA has given Wildman Inc permission to use crowdfunding to raise funds for the development of stages and scenes that can’t be implemented by Wildman alone.
• Mr Horii explained that people within SEGA had been pitching a new Sakura Wars project every year, much like with Panzer Dragoon, but there are a lot of steps involved in making such a project a reality. It took a “reckless young man” to knock on SEGA’s door and pitch his own project.
• Mr. Horii thought that if he could show Gunner of Dragoon to SEGA, there would be a future where Wildman would make a Panzer Dragoon game, and also a future where SEGA would make their own Panzer Dragoon game again.
• When presenting his demo to SEGA producers, Wildman told them that they “should do this too”, referring to making their own Panzer Dragoon game. Mr. Horii says he was hoping for Wildman to do that.
• Mr. Horii isn’t earning money from this, but he’s fine with that. He just wants to see the game released.

We tried to translate this to the best of our abilities. The full Japanese language interview can be found on 4gamer.net, where some concept art from Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record has also been added. Nice to see Atolm!

Published by Solo Wing May 8, 2020 9:56am in News

The creator of the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record writes about the cancellation of Tokyo Game Show due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As reported by The Verge, the organisers of Tokyo Game Show have announced that 2020’s event has been cancelled. This is to prevent the further spread of new coronavirus infection in Japan. Tokyo Game Show 2020 was due to take place from September 24th through to 27th at the Makuhari Messe convention center, which is just outside of Tokyo.

Wildman has written in a tweet (DeepL translation):

The Tokyo Game Show has been cancelled since February, which means that there is no more opportunity to test drive the show, so we’re still thinking about what to do.

There will be an online event, but there’s the question of how that could work for a VR game like Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record. In any case, we hope Wildman Inc can find a good solution for demonstrating Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record, which was previous announced to be released in Japanese Fiscal Year 2020 (ends March 2021).

Published by Draikin May 2, 2020 2:10pm in News

New images of the supposed Panzer Dragoon Saga remake "Azel Resurrection" were posted again on 4chan, and thanks to Simon Gibbs we now know the contents of the message hidden in the artwork.

After the previous two supposed leaks, a new batch of “Azel Resurrection” images was recently posted on 4chan. The images reveal more artwork similar to the ones posted before. The quality of the artwork, some of it looking like it may be based on 3D renders, is undoubtedly high. Enough so that they actually resemble promotional or teaser artwork more so than concept art used during a game’s development, which often consists of sketches and usually don’t have this amount of polish.

Another curious inclusion is a large amount of text, most of it written in a weird alphabet. It seems whoever made this artwork was trying to get people to decipher their message. On Twitter, Simon Gibbs accepted the challenge to decipher the alphabet and published the details and a partial translation to the community in this tweet. In a further discussion via DM on Twitter, we then exchanged our findings to complete the translation of the entire message. This is what it reads (be advised that it spoils a major plot twist in Panzer Dragoon Saga, so don’t read it or the next paragraph if that’s a concern to you):

Rumor or truth? …is it really what matters? Everything you’re searching for is already within you. Base your happiness on factors that can’t be controlled. And your life will be filled with unmet expectations. Or… are you asking yourself the right questions? Why do you wish to believe when you can’t believe what you see? What does this contradiction means (sic) to yourself? Nothing really. Why? Because you forgot that you were the Divine Visitor. That without you, Edge wouldn’t have found the Light. That without you , you wouldn’t have given humans control over their own destiny. Realize that everything you’re searching for outside of you is already within you. That you have, Divine One, the free will over your choices and beliefs…

The start of the text seems to allude to whether or not the leaks are genuine, and then asks if that question really matters. What follows is a philosophical message, which also references the ending of Panzer Dragoon Saga and the role of the Divine Visitor (which in a major plot twist and 4th wall breaking moment turned out to be you, the player). That said, I must admit the meaning of the message is lost on me. Simon also learned that the message underneath the “Author” section suggests the author’s name is one of Loki’s sons (Fenrir, Hel, or Jormungandr).

Lastly, the page with the Dragon Crests art also has the title “Book of Genesis”, which of course seemed like a reference to Panzer Dragoon Saga’s Book of Genesis. And sure enough, it turns out the text in the artwork originates from the book. All this seems to paint the image of a fan trying to generate interest for a remake. But regardless of how this develops, the quality of the art is without a doubt excellent.

Published by Solo Wing April 28, 2020 10:45pm in News

According to a report from Strefa Inwestorów, Forever Entertainment achieved more than a 150% increase in revenues and about three times the increase in all profits for Q1 2020, compared to the results from Q1 2019.

According to a Polish language financial report from Strefa Inwestorów, Forever Entertainment has experienced impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2019. According to a DeepL translation:

Published Q1 results confirm that 2020 will be a breakthrough year for Forever Entertainment. The growth of revenues and profits in Q1 2020 was achieved primarily thanks to a 200% y/y increase in revenues from product sales to PLN 5.9mn. In addition, maintaining organizational costs translated into even higher profit growth dynamics, to the highest levels in the history of the company. March 26th saw the premiere of Panzer Dragoon: Remake, and its sale has a positive impact on the company’s revenues and results throughout 2020.

It goes on to say:

FE SA achieved over 150% increase in revenues and about 3 times increase in all profits for the first quarter of 2020 compared to the results for the first quarter of 2019.

The CEO of Forever Entertainment, Zbigniew Dębicki, is quoted to have said the following about Panzer Dragoon: Remake:

The premiere of Panzer Dragoon: Remake for the Nintendo Switch console and the related profits exceeded all our expectations. It has confirmed that the decision to implement this title and enter the remake segment is a hit. We are still working on improving it and introducing it to sales on other platforms. Panzer Dragoon: Remake will therefore work for us and positively influence the company’s results for many months to come.

As reported previously, sales revenue of Panzer Dragoon: Remake already more than doubled the game’s development costs. It’s nice to see that Panzer Dragoon: Remake continues to positively affect the financial position of Forever Entertainment.

Published by Draikin April 26, 2020 12:00am in News

If you'd like to let SEGA know how much you like the Panzer Dragoon (or other SEGA) games, and what you'd like to see from them in the future, you can now submit your messages to SEGA directly on their 60th anniversary website!

Want to let SEGA know how much you like their games (be it Panzer Dragoon or other titles)? Now’s the perfect time to make your voice heard, as SEGA is now asking fans to share their thoughts with them on their 60th anniversary website! The messages will be displayed on their website starting June 3rd. SEGA will also be sending a gift to a lucky 60 people who leave a message. The website has this to say in regards to what kind of messages SEGA are expecting:

The message submissions page has been established in commemoration of SEGA’s 60th anniversary. Whether it’s words of encouragement, or reminiscences about your favorite titles and other experiences with SEGA etc., please use the form provided to send a message up to 280 characters. Your message will be displayed on the site in due course. Furthermore, 60 posters chosen at random will receive exclusive limited edition commemorative gifts!

Interestingly, when leaving a message you’re asked to select one out of 60 possible images to include. These mostly represent some of the many SEGA games that have been released over the years, although unfortunately none of the images are directly related to Panzer Dragoon (despite the release of Panzer Dragoon: Remake and the upcoming Zwei Remake and VR game). Nonetheless, you’re bound to find something among the images that you like (such as the Sega Saturn one). You can also upload your own image along with your message.

You can find the entry form here, but you may want to have a look at the terms of use first to see what content you’re allowed to send.

Published by Solo Wing April 23, 2020 10:45pm in News

As confirmed by Forever Entertainment, the v1.3 patch for Panzer Dragoon: Remake is on the way and will include a 60fps performance mode, reduced input lag, a new reticle, Episode 0, gyro controls, and more.

The developers of Panzer Dragoon: Remake have been hard at work on a new v1.3 patch based in part on fan feedback. This patch is currently in testing; due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is currently no release date for the v1.3 patch. Patches are validated by Nintendo Japan.

In a recent French language interview with co-producer Benjamin Anseaume, the contents of the next patch for Panzer Dragoon: Remake were revealed. These aren’t the complete patch notes, but we’ve confirmed with Monika Ginter from Forever Entertainment that the v1.3 patch will contain these enhancements. Note, Monika has clarified and added a few details from the original list which I’ve included here; although this isn’t a comprehensive list, it covers the main points:

• HD Rumble
• Performance Mode (60FPS)
• Input lag will be reduced and rotation improved
• Gyro controls will be added
• Sound effects have been reworked
• Multiple buttons to fire and lock-on (attack using A and B)
• An auto lock system will be available as an option
• Episode 0 has been added
• New gameplay options
• New cheat codes
• Options accessible from Pause menu
• Dragon animation has been reworked
• Game language is based on the system language at first launch
• The secret menu called Pandora’s Box is now accessible once the game is beaten (regardless of difficulty).
• A cheat code for Pandora’s Box can be entered at the main menu.
• Not only will lock-on be fixed, but there is also a new reticle.

This will be the second patch for Panzer Dragoon: Remake. The previous patch was version 1.2, but due to an oversight this was left as version 1.0 on the game’s title screen.

It’s great to see the developers of Panzer Dragoon: Remake have responded to our feedback and we’re looking forward to trying the patch. Improvements to the controls and responsiveness were highly requested by fans. It’s also great to see that “Shadow Mode” (now apparently renamed to “Pandora’s Box” to match the original games) will be more accessible. According to Monika Ginter, the Pandora’s Box changes were apparently made because many reviewers didn’t play the game thoroughly enough to be aware of its existence. This is a shame, as the Panzer Dragoon shooters contain a fair amount of replay value due to Pandora’s Box.

We’ll have more news about the v1.3 patch when Forever Entertainment post their official release notes.

Published by Solo Wing April 17, 2020 4:41am in News

The four mainline Panzer Dragoon original soundtracks are now available on music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Line Music, Amazon Music, and AWA!

Previously, the original soundtracks for Panzer Dragoon, Panzer Dragoon II Zwei, Panzer Dragoon Saga, and Panzer Dragoon Orta were released on digital music stores such as iTunes. As reported by SEGA Sound Terminal, now these soundtracks have been released on music streaming services.

The soundtracks can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Line Music, Amazon Music, and AWA. Saori Kobayashi’s “Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga (20th Anniversary Arrangement)” is also available on streaming services.

This is great news for people who prefer to stream their music via these services rather than purchasing albums. It exposes these fantastic soundtracks to a wider audience.

Published by Solo Wing April 13, 2020 3:00am in News

Is there a Panzer Dragoon Saga remake called "Azel Resurrection" in the works? I don't believe so, but it's nice to imagine!

You may have heard that a Panzer Dragoon Saga remake is in the works. Called Azel Resurrection, this was supposedly revealed by a 4Chan user’s friend at Sega, and would consist of the following:

• A reimagining of Panzer Dragoon Saga, like Final Fantasy VII Remake.
• Will keep the same combat system, but will improve controls, camera, and UI.
• Some fights will be huge, like the battle against the Guardian Dragon.
• In addition to being able to move sideways around enemies, you’ll also be able to move on top and under them.
• Dragon bosses will have weak points hidden under their armour. Edge will need to crack open the armour to reveal those weak points.
• No release date has been decided yet.

The following concept art pictures were also “leaked”:

I particularly like the Valiant Wing Agility Class model; it’s one of my favourite dragon forms from Panzer Dragoon Saga. Edit: the fourth image wasn’t included in this 4chan topic but was provided by windyhouse on the Forever Entertainment Discord server and was apparently shared earlier by Carl Beaumier from a deleted 4chan topic.

The Panzer Dragoon series has a long history of fake entries. These images could simply be an continuation of that tradition. Keep in the mind that although Panzer Dragoon: Remake appears to be selling well, a Panzer Dragoon Saga remake would be a much more complex and expensive undertaking. Not to mention that, with the already announced Panzer Dragoon II Zwei: Remake and Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record, the lineup of future entries to the series would be starting to look crowded if a third developer were involved. To give a comparison, the much more popular Resident Evil series is being remade one game at a time.

The way that the features of this remake are being framed sounds very much like the extension of what we already have. For example, reusing the old battle system and extending it with the ability to move over and under enemies has long been a fan favourite idea for a Panzer Dragoon Saga remake or sequel.

Nostalgic fans tend to be conservative about what they want from a remake, extending old systems rather than reinventing fundamentals. Whereas if an actual remake was green-lit, the developers would likely look at how the concept of Panzer Dragoon Saga could be updated for a modern audience (as the developers of the Final Fantasy and Resident Evil remakes have done) if the significant money that a Panzer Dragoon Saga remake would require was to be invested (compared to the smaller rail shooter remakes). For better or worse, Panzer Dragoon Saga is very much a product of the 90s and would require some significant gameplay changes to make it accessible to modern gamers. Panzer Dragoon Saga’s original audience was never large enough to warrant a remake targeted solely at millennial nostalgia.

As much as we might like the sound of Azel Resurrection, it’s likely that this is fake news.

Published by Draikin April 5, 2020 8:09pm in News

While the exact number of copies sold isn't known, revenue for Panzer Dragoon: Remake already exceeded the game's production costs by more than a double within its first weekend.

According to a report from Forever Entertainment (thanks Saturn Memories for pointing this out) and Reuters (thanks DhessGamer), the combined revenue from digital and physical sales of Panzer Dragoon: Remake in its first weekend have already doubled the game’s development costs. In addition it’s noted that, combined with the prepayments from partners (not disclosed which ones), revenue from the game has in fact already exceeded the costs of game production by over 300%. This matches earlier remarks from the company’s CEO that the game’s development costs had already been recouped before it was even released. Due to contractual obligations, the exact sales numbers will apparently not be communicated. The report concludes by stating that the game will be released on additional platforms in the coming months. We already know that at least two of those platforms are Google Stadia and PC (via Steam/GOG).

With all that said, we’ve also been told that we shouldn’t take these reports as “official” announcements in the sense that they have not been communicated by the game (or Forever Entertainment)’s official channels. Nonetheless, and while we don’t know what their sales estimates were, it would appear that the remake is already a success for Forever Entertainment. The fact that the game is set to receive additional patches based on feedback from fans also bodes well for its release on other platforms.

Published by Solo Wing April 2, 2020 4:37pm in News

The first patch for Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available. Looking forward to hearing that new Saori Kobayashi soundtrack!

Panzer Dragoon: Remake for Nintendo Switch has been updated with its first patch. The official Twitter channel for Panzer Dragoon: Remake has reported what’s new:

• Additional OST by Saori Kobayashi
• Main SFX rework
• Fix for statistics and save data
• Updates for cutscenes
• New indicators when the enemy is immune to attacks
• HP adjustments for balancing the gameplay

I’m really looking forward to hearing the new soundtrack by Saori Kobayashi, so I will be downloading this shortly.

This patch is for the Nintendo Switch version of the game (which is currently the only version).

There has been no release date confirmed for the PC version, however the planned release date on Steam has been updated from “This Winter” to “Coming Soon”. The GOG listing also says “Coming soon”.

Note: The Japanese version of the patch has been delayed by a few days.

Published by Draikin March 30, 2020 9:20pm in News

With the game now available digitally on the Nintendo Switch, how well was Panzer Dragoon: Remake received? We made an overview of some of the reviews from critics and fans, and the response from Forever Entertainment to fan feedback.

After the surprise launch of Panzer Dragoon: Remake on the Nintendo Switch digitally last week, reviews of the game are still a bit scarce, with Metacritic only having the bare minimum of 4 critic reviews available (at the time of writing) to give the game an average critic score of 61%, with user reviews averaging a much more favorable 8.3/10. On our own Twitter poll, the majority of the fans who voted think the remake is a good game, but one in need of patches. Below you can find a non-exhaustive overview of links to recent reviews from critics and YouTubers.

Websites

• Destructoid: (6/10)
• Metro UK (6/10)
• Nintendolife (6/10)
• Forbes (8/10)

YouTube reviews

• GameXplain
• RGT 85
• Electric Playground Network (6.5/10)
• Sega Lord X
• Maximilian Dood (6.5/10)
• DreamcastGuy (7.5/10)

While generally praised for its graphical overhaul, most reviews point out problems with Panzer Dragoon: Remake’s controls, such as heavy input lag on the shoulder buttons and problems locking on to targets due to the game’s reticle not behaving the same as in the old game. The game’s $25 price tag also appears to be a topic for debate as the game doesn’t have much in the way of added content and features compared to the original game, aside from a photo mode that has been enthusiastically received by fans. However, Forever Entertainment has been quick to promise upcoming patches that will improve the game, based on fan feedback from the Panzer Dragoon community. Already confirmed to be in the works are patches that add the new soundtrack by Saori Kobayashi, gyro controls and fixes for the game’s controls.

The key takeaway is that while not perfect, Panzer Dragoon: Remake shows potential and Forever Entertainment’s willingness to accept feedback and take the criticism seriously is being well received by the fans. More importantly, it should also help improve the quality of the upcoming Zwei remake. Like many, we’re looking forward to the upcoming patches and the PC version of the game. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on the updates the game receives!

Published by Solo Wing March 28, 2020 7:03pm in News

Feedback for the developers of Panzer Dragoon: Remake is currently being collected in a Google spreadsheet. Adding to the sheet will help us see refinements to the game in future patches.

With Panzer Dragoon: Remake being out on the Switch for a couple of days now, many of you will be currently enjoying experiencing Panzer Dragoon reimagined.

Shelcoof, a fan of the series, is collecting feedback on behalf of Forever Entertainment. You can always provide feedback over on their #remake-feedback Discord channel. But for a more organised way of entering collecting the feedback, you can edit this Google Spreadsheet that Shelcoof has set up. Feedback will help Forever Entertainment and Megapixel Studio to determine what to improve in future game patches.

Published by Solo Wing March 26, 2020 7:27pm in News

Alongside the digital release of Panzer Dragoon: Remake, Limited Run Games and Forever Entertainment have also announced that pre-orders for the limited run physical edition will start tomorrow (the 27th of March)!

Limited Run Games will be taking pre-orders for the physical editions of Panzer Dragoon: Remake for Nintendo Switch, which is already available digitally. The pre-orders start tomorrow (the 27th of March) at 10am Eastern Time. Limited Run Games writes:

On a far, lone planet, you encounter two dragons awaken from the ancient times.

PanzerDragoonRemake, the visually-upgraded remade version of the classic Panzer Dragoon game, gets a Limited Run TOMORROW! Pre-orders open at 10am ET and will be up for four-weeks.

There will also be a classic edition that looks like an NTSC Sega Saturn game case. Pretty cool.

PanzerDragoonRemake also gets a Classic Edition reminiscent of its original home release!

Grab this Sega Saturn throwback during its four-week pre-order, starting TOMORROW at 10am ET.

Limited Run Games has confirmed that it will cost US$39.99 for the Standard Edition and US$59.99 for the Classic Edition. For comparison, the digital version is US$24.99.

Published by Solo Wing March 26, 2020 6:49pm in News

We have waited long and through many winters for this day, but at last the dragon has returned to the skies! Panzer Dragoon: Remake is now available on Nintendo Switch!

Panzer Dragoon: Remake has arrived! You can now purchase the game digitally from the Nintendo Store. It costs US$24.99, however in each country the price will vary; in my local currency, the game cost NZ$41.25. The PC and Stadia versions have yet to arrive.

There’s a new launch trailer to accompany the release:

Video Details for "Panzer Dragoon: Remake Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer"

Panzer Dragoon: Remake producer Benjamin Anseaume has also revealed that a patch is on the way:

A patch is on the way and will arrive soon, it improves some features of the game (especially the photo mode) and add the track selection between original and remade by Kobayashi-san. It will arrive in few days, please be patient and enjoy the game!

And to answer a question on Twitter, he also added that Gyro controls will be included in a future patch:

@level857 @ForeverEntert Glad you like it! Yes, we will add the gyro controls in a patch very soon - not the next one but soon after -. It’s an exclusive news for you ;)

After all this time, the dragon has finally taken flight again.

Published by Draikin March 25, 2020 5:17pm in News

As announced by Forever Entertainment and Brave Wave Music, Panzer Dragoon: Remake will, aside from the original soundtrack, also feature a rearranged soundtrack by none other than Saori Kobayashi!

The official Panzer Dragoon: Remake Twitter account, as well as Brave Wave Productions, have announced that Saori Kobayashi, composer for Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta, will also be working on the soundtrack for the Panzer Dragoon: Remake! In a short video posted with the tweet, Saori Kobayashi herself confirmed her involvement and explained that she’ll arrange the original game’s soundtrack by Yoshitaka Azuma “in a manner that respects Azuma’s original compositions while striving to meet the expectations of today’s gamers and the capabilities of modern consoles”. Note that this video was actually recorded at the start of the game’s development, so the comment about the game’s release should be seen in that context.

Video Details for "Saori Kobayashi Confirms She’ll Be Working on Panzer Dragoon: Remake's Soundtrack"

The music in the background is presumably a sample of the rearranged version of the memorable track of the game’s first episode, “Flight”. It sounds as good as you’d imagine, and we’re looking forward to hearing the entire soundtrack!

In a separate tweet, the game’s producer Benjamin Anseaume added that you’ll be able to switch between the original music and the new arranged soundtrack. This was something many fans had asked for so it’s great to see that they’ll have this option available. Alex Aniel, aka cvxfreak, also confirmed that he worked on the project as Saori Kobayashi’s Sound Producer.

Published by Solo Wing March 20, 2020 6:13pm in News

Winter is over, but the dragon will be in hibernation a little while longer. Forever Entertainment asks fans for patience as Panzer Dragoon: Remake will take a little while longer to be released.

Panzer Dragoon: Remake producer Benjamin Anseaume has tweeted an update on the game’s release:

#PanzerDragoon It’s 10 degrees and cloudy at @TA_Publishing HQ. C’mon guys, I think we can call this “Winter”! Let’s hope the weather will be better in the upcoming weeks! 🤞

Forever Entertainment also responded with the following:

We have the same situation 🙈😎 Still Winter… 😉

Finally, there was a tweet from the official Panzer Dragoon: Remake channel with something (slightly) more concrete:

For us, this year’s Winter is a bit longer 😉 Please be patient 😊

Panzer Dragoon: Remake was originally scheduled to be released in Winter 2019/2020 which is now over. We can take these tweets as confirmation that Panzer Dragoon: Remake has been delayed, but is still expected to arrive soon. We’ll have more news as it arrives.

Published by Solo Wing March 20, 2020 8:13am in News

There's a new podcast Interview with Panzer Dragoon: Remake producer Benjamin Anseaume, courtesy of RadioSEGA.

The SEGA Lounge is an interview based podcast focusing on SEGA games, game developers and community personalities. In the latest episode (106), the podcast interviews Benjamin Anseaume about the upcoming Panzer Dragoon: Remake.

Panzer Dragoon: Remake is still officially scheduled for “this Winter”. In the podcast, Benjamin said that they’ll reveal more about Panzer Dragoon II Zwei: Remake once the first remake is released.