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Orta Rocks!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: December 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If you have ever played any of the previous Panzer games, then you are anxiously awaiting the release of Orta just as I am! From what I have seen of the game (I live in Japan, so I have seen the game already at the Toys R Us) it promises to be just as good, no, better than the previous 3 games! The reason I chose an Xbox over PS2 was for this game alone! If you ever come across an old Saturn console, then I seriously suggest you find and play the first three Panzer games before playing Orta. You will be glued to your tube for days!

Panzer dragoon orta

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: March 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

it is an awesome game worth of being in the top ten

Wow!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: May 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is why you should own an Xbox. This game is amazing and the graphics are flawless. There is a lot going on and I can't imagine ever getting bored playing this game.

This is a must own.

The potential was there, but...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: May 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Panzer ORTA is yet another game release from the "new" Sega, and like many of Sega's new releases, this game was hyped beyond belief before its release, but ultimately PDO turned out to be mediocre at best, much like Toejam & Earl III, JSRF, Gunvalykrie, etc.

The potential for this game to succeed was staggering. WIth the fine legacy left by the Sega Saturn trilogy and hot off the heals of the fantastic PD Saga, I expected PDO to turn out at least on par with what the Saturn versions had to offer. Instead, we get gameplay very reminscient of the early PD games, basically linear excursions through graphically impressive levels, with mind numbingly lengthy boss battles. The desire to replay the stages just isn't there and when they constantly throw boss battles that take up to 10 minutes to complete (I'm not exaggerating here..there's a timer counting down your boss battles), PDO just gets old and stale rather quickly.

Yeah, yeah...Sega threw in a host of challenges and unlockables in teh Pandora's Box including the full version of PD1, but I didn't buy an XBOX to play 8 year old Sega Saturn games I've already played to death.

THe story is rather bizarre and the mini-games you play in the Pandora's Box at first seem to have no connection whatsoever to the main game (it gets clearer as you go on), but the trial and error nature of these challenges will turn off MANy gamers. Instead of turning out to be an epic game on the XBOX..one that would be talked about for years like the Saturn games, PDO has basically become one of those games that only the hardcore players will flock to and has quickly fallen out of sight and has rarely been mentioned since.

IF this is what Sega has become today, then I'll be very wary of any new releases from them in the future!

A great challenge awaits you

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: January 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

THE GOOD:
Such an amazing game it makes me wish I had bought a Saturn. A vast and detailed game filled with some of the most fast paced action I've ever seen! 3 dragon forms with distinctive abilities and looks really add to the game, also as your dragon levels up in heavy and glide form it will look more and more cool. Not to mention the difficulty off this game, its been awhile since a game has caused me to curse uncontrolably because I can't seem to beat the final boss on "normal mode". So if you like a good challenge this is deffinetly a game for you. Also for those of us that missed out on previous panzer dragoon games the instruction manual will help fill you in, and once you unlock the pandora's box you'll have access to side quests and enough panzar dragoon information to choke a small animal!
THE BAD:
Well like I said the difficulty even on normal gives you a run for your money so if you don't want a challenge I guess you'll be pretty angry.

SUMMARY:
A great addition to the X-Box platform, if only Sega would consider continuing the NiGHTs into dreams saga........

Fast and VERY challenging

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 9
Date: March 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I hate to write a bad review, but the bad experience I've had with this game, and the fact that you have no recourse but to tell other people about it, makes this my only option. If I could slap up the folks who put this game out I would. They had so much going for them, and they blew it. If only they would have spent a few extra bucks to re-record the dialog in English, instead of sub-titling it...! (the game is originally from Japan.) Some times key information on how to defeat enemies is yelled at you, and with all the action onscreen, you can't afford to look away for a second to read instructions.

I just spent 2 hours of my life trying to defeat the third level boss. And after finally chipping his health down to 20% I got killed. You don't start off where you left off like many games, no, you have to start at the painstaking beginning! That's not quality game play, that's an excercise in futility.

Rent this one before you buy. It's very colorful and fast paced and if not for the difficulty it would be worth owning.

from the Demo

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: November 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

A simple yet fun game.
Having only played the OXM demo, I can't comment on the storyline or charactors at all. (sigh) However, from what I've seen and played, this is a very good game.
Based on a "rail" system, this game shines not in it's innovation, but it's mastery of a standing gameplay system. I haven't even heard of this games predecessors, so I'm going to compare the gameplay to Starfox. however, unlike many games of this type, Orta gives you more depth with a 360 degree area of fire. This means that you not only have to worry about enemies coming at you from the front, but from the sides and rear to.
The rail system that this game uses means that while this game can be labled as a Flight Sim, there is very little actual "flying" done. You only have a small area on the screen in which to maneuver your dragon, but the designers have taken this into account, and there is almost no need to worry about where you're exactly steering.
I'm glad to see that the developers of this game choose to perfect an existing system, rather than try to reinvent the game. The controls are simple, effective, and come very naturally. The weapons are balanced, so there is no single weapons spamming. The only possile downfall this game might have would be if SEGA drops the ball of plot and charator development. Assuming they don't, however, Orta stands as a very solid game that should be in any Xbox owner's inventory.

Mature/Thoughtful Storyline COMBINED with Superb Gameplay

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The official Amazon review is pretty much on target, so I'd only repeat most of the praise. However, both of the listed "cons" are arguably misplaced.

First, Sega/Smilebit followed the general direction of the series (the 4th game officially, this is also known as "Panzer Dragoon Vier") by using a unique concoction of Latin/Japanese for those living in the game world. It is part of what makes the game world special, and thus subtitling is a necessary and welcome part of the overall experience.

Secondly, this game is intended for gamers who enjoy fast=paced, skill-based games. It is a fully Xbox-powered update to old-school shooters, which require skill and concentration to beat...and then more skill and concentration to beat with >>competence<< on later playthroughs. As such, "easy" mode is perfectly weighted, despite being very challenging. On all settings, this game's essence IS challenge.

The game thus cannot be blanket recommended to everyone. It is not a simple, reliable Accord or popular sport-utility, but more of a Porsche, a Vette, or S2000...it may beat you up with a rough ride along the way but skilled gamers will get maximum satisfaction from it.

NOT FOR SISSYS

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

PDO was made by sega and the reaction from people is the same as one of their other games, Gunvalkyrie. The game is very hard and takes a while to master. Personaly i blew threw the story mode in an afternoon. It is short. The game is still fun because of the replay value. After i beat the game i played it again and again and again. Pandoras Box has lots of fun unlockables and if you are willing to put in the time then this game will be fun, trust me I have had the game for about a year and i still play it about twice a month.

A true masterpiece of gaming and the visual arts

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Even if this game had average graphics, I would still give it 5 stars. The gaming is just that good - perfectly balanced to give you an adrenaline rush without frustrating you in an annoying way.

However, the graphics are not average, the graphics are stupendous, breathtaking and any other superlative you can think of. Wow this game is beautiful. It would be fun to just sit and watch this kind of imagery - to interactively fly through is really giddy. Halo and Splinter Cell pale compared to Panzer Dragoon.

As far as longevity is concerned, I'm not sure who these reviewers are who claim they went through the game in 3 hours. Maybe they have superhuman gaming abiiities. I've been playing for 5 now, and have only completed 3 of the main stages. This fourth is much harder, and will certainly take a while. I'd be surprised if I finish the game in less than 20. After that, I will have all of the original Panzer Dragoon open to me, as well as the challenge of opening up more missions by getting high grades in the levels. So I, an above-average player, will be at this for many months to come.

All in all, you cannot do better than this game. Well worth double what it costs. By far my favourite game.

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