+Expecting Brainchild Thank you! I wanted to show more of the game off, but I really didn't want to risk ruining it for anyone. Glad you enjoyed it regardless : )
Great discussion on a classic. While I agree chronological play would definitely benefit gamers looking into the Panzer franchise, if I could only choose one for a HD re-release it would be Panzer Saga. Ahead of its time as a JRPG and as a videogame in general. The voice acting. The dragon transformations. The world design. Everything.
+Alex Lemcovich Couldn't agree more there. Still the best voice acting I've heard in an original videogame, and it definitely preceded all the "active" battle JRPGs that have since been released. I'm glad it was on Saturn, but we both know this would be on a lot more "best of" lists had it been on PS, or N64.
+ProDaKah ! The interesting thing about PDS's critical reception is that it doesn't appear on many "best of" lists but when it does it's nearly always one of, if not the highest JRPG on the list. It pretty much always outranks FFVII and is only occasionally outranked by Chrono Trigger and FFVI. That suggests to me that, although very few people have played PDS, those who have (rightly) consider it to be one of the finest video games ever made.
For some reason, I typically prefer original versions of games over HD remakes/remasters. The look of these games is a major part of the charm. When I play a game from 1998, I want to escape back to and feel like its 1998 (if that makes any sense). Just my 2 cents. This is one of my very favorite games of all time.
Unfortunately there will never be an HD remaster from PDSaga. As much as Sega would want to do it, it id just impossible: The source code for the game has been lost for years. Completely lost. Any attempt to update the game forces to start it from scratch thus making a complete new game. HD remasters however are possible for the other PD games as their source code is still intact.
2:20 The issue was that it was made up of two rather weak graphics processors. That meant you needed to make two rather simple looking enviroments and then overlay them on top of each other. Making impressive visuals that way is possible but very difficult. You just don't have the data speed of the PS1 nor the sheer rendering capacity of the N64.
I don't see how they were weak. When used effectively, the Saturn could produce visuals that were simply not possible on the other systems of its time...at aspect ratios of a higher quality than the PS was capable of (see Virtua Fighter 2). Most of the misinformation that persists on the internet concerning the Saturn's capabilities is due to several factors. These include: the prevalence of lazy ports that did not optimize the games for the unique architecture, Sega's failure to properly assist 3rd parties with utilizing dev kits, and a general lack of ability or desire to "learn" the Saturn inside and out...the latter being a reflection of how its complexity worked against it. Multiple processors working in tandem is a given in today's PC world...but back then, your average programmer didn't know what to do with it. In comparison, the PS was designed deliberately to be easy and accessible to programmers, which made it easier to use its capabilities to the fullest. This led to the impression that the PS was more "powerful", which is not true. The evidence of this is in comparing games that were designed with Saturn in mind that were ported to PS (i.e. Dead or Alive, Grandia, etc). However, since far more games were ported from PS to Saturn, most have ignored, or not noticed, the drops in quality there.
+Saturn Memories ...true; but to be frank, it felt too appropriate to pass up. Besides, Star Wars isn't going ANYWHERE...at least in terms of the public radar, right? Thanks for watching; I hope I did this game justice, as it truly was ahead of its generation in so many ways.
so sad the code was lost! loving the new terra magika album from brave wave and wish we could get a remake even if it had to be done from scratch maybe a movement like shenmue to get it done via kickstarter? i have been enjoying crimson dragon and looking forward to scalebound
If you don't mind sharing, what did you not like about it? Also, can you still see it in the context of a fine work of art, objectively? Thanks for watching too; Saturn for life!
If im honest. Im a huge fan of the other games. Frantic arcade on rails shooting. I was pissed when i started playing this back on its release. I never completed it. Oddly i was playing it a few days ago after watching your review. I can see the game has a charm. Will see if i can complete it this time around. I will get back to you. :)
Thanks for being honest. That does make sense, honestly... it is rare for a game to take such a sharp turn from what was established in its prequels. You probably felt like many playing Zelda 2 for the first time :p
This game kicks Final Fantasy 7's ass, if it was released on the PS1 it would fly off the shelves.
Saga is my favourite game of all time. It's simply beautiful.
Really, really good analysis of what games this game so special. Subscribed!
+Expecting Brainchild Thank you! I wanted to show more of the game off, but I really didn't want to risk ruining it for anyone. Glad you enjoyed it regardless : )
Great discussion on a classic. While I agree chronological play would definitely benefit gamers looking into the Panzer franchise, if I could only choose one for a HD re-release it would be Panzer Saga. Ahead of its time as a JRPG and as a videogame in general. The voice acting. The dragon transformations. The world design. Everything.
+Alex Lemcovich Couldn't agree more there. Still the best voice acting I've heard in an original videogame, and it definitely preceded all the "active" battle JRPGs that have since been released. I'm glad it was on Saturn, but we both know this would be on a lot more "best of" lists had it been on PS, or N64.
+ProDaKah ! The interesting thing about PDS's critical reception is that it doesn't appear on many "best of" lists but when it does it's nearly always one of, if not the highest JRPG on the list. It pretty much always outranks FFVII and is only occasionally outranked by Chrono Trigger and FFVI. That suggests to me that, although very few people have played PDS, those who have (rightly) consider it to be one of the finest video games ever made.
definitely not on n64. that system couldn't even handle this game.
For some reason, I typically prefer original versions of games over HD remakes/remasters. The look of these games is a major part of the charm. When I play a game from 1998, I want to escape back to and feel like its 1998 (if that makes any sense). Just my 2 cents.
This is one of my very favorite games of all time.
Unfortunately there will never be an HD remaster from PDSaga. As much as Sega would want to do it, it id just impossible: The source code for the game has been lost for years. Completely lost. Any attempt to update the game forces to start it from scratch thus making a complete new game. HD remasters however are possible for the other PD games as their source code is still intact.
2:20
The issue was that it was made up of two rather weak graphics processors. That meant you needed to make two rather simple looking enviroments and then overlay them on top of each other. Making impressive visuals that way is possible but very difficult.
You just don't have the data speed of the PS1 nor the sheer rendering capacity of the N64.
I don't see how they were weak. When used effectively, the Saturn could produce visuals that were simply not possible on the other systems of its time...at aspect ratios of a higher quality than the PS was capable of (see Virtua Fighter 2).
Most of the misinformation that persists on the internet concerning the Saturn's capabilities is due to several factors. These include: the prevalence of lazy ports that did not optimize the games for the unique architecture, Sega's failure to properly assist 3rd parties with utilizing dev kits, and a general lack of ability or desire to "learn" the Saturn inside and out...the latter being a reflection of how its complexity worked against it. Multiple processors working in tandem is a given in today's PC world...but back then, your average programmer didn't know what to do with it.
In comparison, the PS was designed deliberately to be easy and accessible to programmers, which made it easier to use its capabilities to the fullest. This led to the impression that the PS was more "powerful", which is not true. The evidence of this is in comparing games that were designed with Saturn in mind that were ported to PS (i.e. Dead or Alive, Grandia, etc). However, since far more games were ported from PS to Saturn, most have ignored, or not noticed, the drops in quality there.
The Force Awakens comparison is going to date the review a bit, but otherwise, solid stuff!
+Saturn Memories ...true; but to be frank, it felt too appropriate to pass up. Besides, Star Wars isn't going ANYWHERE...at least in terms of the public radar, right? Thanks for watching; I hope I did this game justice, as it truly was ahead of its generation in so many ways.
Fingers crossed for Scalebound to announce dragon riding. That game could be the successor to the Panzer series...
Cancelled oof
can you do a game masterpieces on skies of Arcadia please ?
+BiliahtheSEGAgamer Thanks for the suggestion! While the plan was to cover something non-Sega next time, I'm not about to say no to Arcadia ; )
so sad the code was lost! loving the new terra magika album from brave wave and wish we could get a remake even if it had to be done from scratch maybe a movement like shenmue to get it done via kickstarter? i have been enjoying crimson dragon and looking forward to scalebound
Go watch a let's play. You are never gonna get to play this yourself.
I was not a fan of this game. But regardless i gave you a thumbs up for bringing light the saturn :)
If you don't mind sharing, what did you not like about it? Also, can you still see it in the context of a fine work of art, objectively? Thanks for watching too; Saturn for life!
If im honest. Im a huge fan of the other games. Frantic arcade on rails shooting.
I was pissed when i started playing this back on its release. I never completed it. Oddly i was playing it a few days ago after watching your review. I can see the game has a charm. Will see if i can complete it this time around.
I will get back to you. :)
Thanks for being honest. That does make sense, honestly... it is rare for a game to take such a sharp turn from what was established in its prequels. You probably felt like many playing Zelda 2 for the first time :p
+ProDaKah ! I think so. :) your voice is shooting . looking forward to seeing more games !
Thanks! No promises but I'm hoping to have at least one more of these in less than 2 months.