DESCRIPTION

One of Sega's more successful series on the 32-bit Saturn swoops onto the Xbox with the release of Panzer Dragoon Orta. Orta is a teenage girl who becomes a target of unspeakable evil after being rescued by a dragon while locked away in a tower prison. Cast in the role of the mysterious Orta, players take the reigns of her dragon mount through a series of 13 branching levels taking place along the planet's surface. The dragon has the power to fire magical blasts of energy at various threats in the air and on the ground, all of which are looking to recapture Orta.

As in the first two games in the series, the shooting action is set on rails, meaning players are automatically guided along pre-defined paths. Players can steer their dragon within the boundaries of the path, and can speed up or slow down to avoid projectiles or environmental hazards such as spikes and collapsing structures. Multiple routes can also be taken after triggering certain events within the backgrounds or shooting at specific targets. Enemy units in front and in back of the dragon are viewable on an overhead radar display, and players also possess a special attack meter that increases with every kill.

Once the meter is filled, players can trigger a Berzerker attack to eliminate everything on the screen. In addition to special attacks, players will be able to use some strategy in their war against the force known only as the Empire. A total of three dragon types can be flown, each possessing distinct abilities. The glide wing dragon, for example, cannot lock onto targets like the other two mounts, but it's faster and more agile. The base wing dragon offers a balanced mix of abilities, while the heavy wing dragon offers the most punch with its powerful lock-on missiles. A drawback is its lack of speed and maneuverability.

Panzer Dragoon Orta is a game designed to be revisited multiple times in order for players to improve upon their overall rating awarded at the end of each stage. A special "Pandora's Box" options screen offers a variety of unlockable secrets to earn by flying through previous levels and destroying more targets — all while minimizing the damage received from enemy units. Among the hidden features waiting to be discovered are over 15 sub-missions playable with different characters and vehicles, movies, artwork, and even an emulated version of the original Panzer Dragoon on the Saturn. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide