Ive noticed some people posting in other topics that they thought the style of Orta was different to that of the othe PDs(in terms of the PD universe, not gameplay). I must say I thought Orta fitted right in with the previous story, infact a bit TOO much(I was dissapointed at the return of the Empire almost exactly as before, I felt it detracted from Edge’s acheivements a bit). The only thing I thought was out of place was the Seeker’s imprisonment of Orta, I struggle to see any circumstances under which they would keep her captive but I suppose Smilebit want to keep the mystery.
What were your opinions on Orta’s universe? Do you think it gelled with the other games?
I’m glad to see the Empire return to a position of great strength. Human beings have always had little control over past events in the Panzer world and their growing power is set to change all that. The Empire will eventually destabalize into something that represents the interests of all the people on the continent and perhaps become a thorn in the sides of certain individuals. However, Abadd seemed to perceive the Empire as if it was powerless…
As for Orta, I suspect the truth behind her impisonment is more sinister than we can imagine. The Seekers obviously wanted to used her/it for their own ends. Ends that have yet to take a perceptible shape. Maybe they had good reason to lock her up but we just don’t know it yet.
And to think, the Azel/Edge love plot device in Panzer Dragoon Saga sparked all this.
Id like to see a weak, separated humanity in PD. We are constantly told by the story that the humans live in fear of the genetically created monsters however we dont often see people in trouble in the games. Id like to see some “search and rescue” style missions in future games.
Far too much colour. Too animeish creature design and movement.Creature design didnt fit in at all. Look at the Episode 2 boss. just what the fuck is that? Its nothing from the Panzer universe thats for sure. The plot wasn’t really explained as well as previous Panzers either… despite it being a good story. The speed of the game was too quick. You went from place to place really quickly. Even in Zwei you got the feeling Lundi stopped sometimes. also the menus and text and everything were different which didnt help. the music just sucked complete ass, and I disliked the idea of green people =/ And baldor riders… the animals are meant to be wild
Orta style fit perfectly in with previous games IMO. Creature design isn’t more animeish than previous already were. Heck, there are several mutated creatures what are modifications of previous desgins. In general, designs are based on myriapods, marine mollusks, ammonite, plants, etc. like former iterations. Panzer Dragoon series have always been very colourful. Check again PDS’ dragon designs, Yokota’s PDS artworks or PD and PDZ artworks. Because of Saturn’s hardware limitations, the team had to tone down that richness. Mukaiyama state that in a very old interview. I had been very dissapointed if, developing for very superior hardware, they hadn’t changed the color palette to suit that richness of PD designers.
The plot was explained perfectly IF you know the story of previous games , PDS story especially. Much more touching, interesting and developing plot than PD and PD Zwei overall. The story’s pace is good IMO. Complaint: It’s a bit “fan oriented” story overall.
I really like Kobayashi and Minobe compositions. Anu Orta Veniya is as good as Sona mi areru ec Sancitu. The fallen ground, gigantic fleet, imperial city and ancient weapon are wonderful tracks too. My only complaint is the soundtrack is TOO short. They reuse some themes like gigantic fleet or ancient weapon I or II. I understand they do that in PDS but in Orta…
Baldors and wormriders relation is explained in the encyclopaedia.
I think some panzer fans wanted a carbon copy of former games and that’s wrong IMO. Every panzer game have its own style and has pushed the hardware to new standard. Smilebit know it and has continued that legacy.
I guess the problem about Orta is that the panzer dragoon serie was designed to run on a “low polygons system”…they really managed to achieve something, to create a look and feel full of artistry, despite the hardware limitation. In fact, the hardware limitation became a “part” of the panzer dragoon identity…
Si I guess that’s why it’s so strange to see a panzer running on the most powerful system…
The previous shooters stories were tiny, but yet fascinating, almost hypnotic, with a unique storytelling style…recently, only ICO managed to achive the same thing…Orta is nothing like that…Orta is closer to the final fantasy strorytelling to me.
I hope Orta will become a “better game” (it’s not bad neither) when it will be part of something “bigger”, not just a “stand alone” in terms of identity and art direction…
To me, the worst idea in this game is to have Orta as the main character…she would have been a better supporting character, like Azel…
raaah, I wish I could write in french!!!
[quote=“mickachu”]I guess the problem about Orta is that the panzer dragoon serie was designed to run on a “low polygons system”…they really managed to achieve something, to create a look and feel full of artistry, despite the hardware limitation. In fact, the hardware limitation became a “part” of the panzer dragoon identity…
Si I guess that’s why it’s so strange to see a panzer running on the most powerful system…
The previous shooters stories were tiny, but yet fascinating, almost hypnotic, with a unique storytelling style…recently, only ICO managed to achive the same thing…Orta is nothing like that…Orta is closer to the final fantasy strorytelling to me.
I hope Orta will become a “better game” (it’s not bad neither) when it will be part of something “bigger”, not just a “stand alone” in terms of identity and art direction…
To me, the worst idea in this game is to have Orta as the main character…she would have been a better supporting character, like Azel…
raaah, I wish I could write in french!!![/quote]
Just thought i would say that ICO is the probably the best game i have ever played.
As for Panzer Dragoon Orta i don’t mind the new artistic approach they have taken. I sort of like the newer colorful world. We do get to see some of the drab brown colored lands we are used to in what episode 3 (where the catharp is the boss). My only complaint with the game is i don’t think it plays as well as PDZ. Panzer Dragoon Zwei is just m favorite of the shooting Panzers. (Possibly the best game in the series too :))
I dont think they seem to want to become the new empire when we see them in Iva’s sub scenario…
Also do we know for a fact that Gash is not their leader anymore?* (I’ve only played through the game once, not really enough to grasp all the things in it…)*
About the Art style, I do prefer the old games, it’s not just the color like someone mentioned, I find the creature AND ship designs of previous games to be far more interesting and awe inspiring. What’s with that claw boss, it looked so ridiculous for a panzer game, it should have been a boss in skies of arcadia or something instead…
As for Lagi’s designs… well I DO like the new design…but I like the old ones MUCH MUCH more… nuff said. (the change being explained by the story has nothin to do with what design they opted for in the end)
Also the designs in the credits and manuals etc of the previous games used a palette similar to the in game graphics, there were no limitations there so why did they do that? Maybe cos thats how panzer was really conceived*(sp)…
Also, the previous games had a natural evolution of the art style with each sequel(or prequel)*, Orta seems to just CHANGE the style rather than evolve it, it doesn’t look to have gone the way it should in order to fully retain the old games’ charm as well as introduce new elements…
I’m not gonna go more in depth as it would be about the third time we discuss this so I’ll stop now…
[quote=“GehnTheBerserker”]It would be impossible for Gash still to be the Seekers leader cause I doubt he would trap Azel and Edge’s child in a prison…
…or would he?[/quote]
By the way he treated Azel, the answer is a resounding yes.
I don’t think so. Sure, the team archieved something really big but PDS is a perfect example why Panzer world needed badly a very superior hardware of. Check the artworks and the in-game graphic. TA managed hardware limitation very well and archieve something “close” to the artworks but there were so much details lost in the transition… Panzer designs will always be ahead of the existing tecnology.
Orta is nothing like final final fantasy. PDS was a benchmark in videogames narrative. PD and PD Zwei’s story uses way more tipical aproximation and there isn’t any likeable and interesting character aside Lagi or SkyRider. The sctructure and final goal is the same: destroy the tower. PDS’ story was really what gave unity and more depth to the previous. Futhermore, the team found some new ways more mature and cinematographic in order to tell the story and the story itself was much more touching, human and intimate. Orta inherit that direction IMO.
Man, I know how you feel…
I think PDO much better than PDZ. Morphing and gliding are the key. They adds so much variety and depth to Panzer gameplay shooting mechanics. There are much more game possibilities and shooter gameplay style in PDO. PDZ was too easy and shorter. It’s more experience than videogame. Something similar happens to Rez.
I suppose you forgot Lundi? Or is he not likable? I really enjoyed PDZ and the way the narration was done by using the words of the main character.
Just because they now have prettier graphics and lots of dialogue in Orta it doesn’t mean it’s a more “mature” way of storytelling…in fact it’s propably the other way around as everyone does it like that… PDZ was unique and worked tons better than a lot of games that use more “proper” cut scenes, including Orta.
[quote=“Nightwalker”]
I think PDO much better than PDZ. Morphing and gliding are the key. They adds so much variety and depth to Panzer gameplay shooting mechanics. There are much more game possibilities and shooter gameplay style in PDO. PDZ was too easy and shorter. It’s more experience than videogame. Something similar happens to Rez.[/quote]
Again, more doesn’t mean better. I’d go for a game that makes me feel like it’s an “experience” rather one that doesn’t if I had to pick between two.
Level design matters too, no matter how many times I had played the game it just never got boring to glide through the levels. I played through Orta once and I felt just about “full” of the game… I’m sure that if I owned it, sometime would have to pass between playing sessions for me to be willing to play through it again.
The controls also felt a bit more restricting in PDZ, Orta gives you more of an illusion of freedom the way the dragon sways around but ultimately I prefer the way PDZ did it in that aspect as well…
Then come the enemy patterns, in my opinion PDZ had that better as well… Orta failed especially in the Empire’s crafts patterns, this has been discussed again also so I’ll leave it at that.
The only thing I really believe Orta made better is the ability to circle the bosses. But even that could have been used better and more and due to PDZ creators’ creativity the boss battles in it are more fun than Orta’s again in my opinion…
I guess Orta is a mere game when it should have been a true new chapter in the PD Experience, and as far as games are concerned I’d rather play other well made shooters (Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun etc) if it wasn’t for Orta having a few PD elements that have retained a bit of an authentic feel, thus making me nostalgic…
I really like the Morphing elements in Panzer Dragoon Orta. I think it adds a bit of strategy to the game and everyone can play in a way that suits thier liking best. Also with the morphing the boss battles became very similar to how they are in Panzer Dragoon Saga. In fact i often wondered during some of the boss battles if i really wasn’t playing Saga However PDO is just missing something that i reall can’t put my finger on and describe. I just feel PDZ is a better game. All the Panzer games are good, but of the Shooters PDZ is the best followed by Orta (as far as the shooting aspect is concerned).
And Rez, what a great game and a great experience. And if games aren’t about having a fun and cool experience then what are they for?
However PDO is just missing something that i reall can’t put my finger on and describe. I just feel PDZ is a better game. All the Panzer games are good, but of the Shooters PDZ is the best followed by Orta (as far as the shooting aspect is concerned).