Reposting this from Discord:
Did anyone else enjoy Dune: Part Two? The world was a big influence on Panzer Dragoon. From VG247’s The Big Panzer Dragoon Interview:
YF: Dune was a pretty big influence. For example, if you look at the desert levels there are sand worms. And that’s all very much pulling from Dune, I think. There is a character in
Dune, Count Hakone? Possibly, I’m not sure what his English name is, but the image we drew on for the emperor relied on him a lot.
Futatsugi is referring to this guy: