Legend of the Dragoon was one of those those games that stuck to the classic RPG style in a time when experimenting with new things was the trend. This lead some criticize parts of it, while others just enjoyed a good RPG. Now, 21 years after its release, the game is an underrated classic from the original PlayStation that many have forgotten. While it's a challenging game by to today's standards, it's still a golden oldie whose sequel never got a chance.
In 2012, the game's Executive Producer, Shuhei Yoshida, revealed there was a sequel in the works at one point, but development was shut down for unknown reasons that still remain a mystery. Regardless, Legend of Dragoon has fans, and with classics like Resident Evil and Final Fantasy making comebacks, it's time for Sony to dust off this IP and get a remake going -- or finally release the long-awaited sequel.
Legend of the Dragoon originally released on December 2, 1999. It was a four-disc saga of an epic journey to save the world -- and that was one of the reasons some critics weren't interested. At the time, many were tired of the traditional RPG storyline and turn-based gameplay. 3D gaming technology was still up-and-coming, and this was an era when many developers were trying new things and breaking free of 16-bit traditions. But despite the fact that many gamers were looking for newer gameplay experiences, many still fell in love with this classic-style RPG.
Most reviews for Legend of the Dragoon were positive, and it was even nominated for a D.I.C.E. Award in the Console RPG category. Despite the jokes many now make about PS1 era graphics, the game looked incredible for its time. Its cutscenes in particular were impressive, with animations on par with PlayStation 3 quality that still stand the test of time.
The gameplay had an interactive component, requiring the player to perform timed hits for most attacks, which kept combat interesting outside of general strategy. However, the concept of the Dragoons themselves were the game's biggest draw. Each came with their own strengths and abilities, as well as having good stories -- should you choose to follow those side stories.
Even now, Legend of the Dragoon is still a fun RPG to play if you don't mind a bit of difficulty. A remaster could really step it up by fixing issues and adjusting gameplay for modern standards. There is even the potential to add extra content, such as more character building and bonding. Most of all, it would be nice to see Sony finally get that long-lost sequel rolling. It's cancellation has never made much since considering the original game did pretty well.
Over the years, there have been rumors about a remaster or sequel coming -- but that's all they've ever amounted to. The closest we've gotten to a Legend of Dragoon revival came two years ago, when developer Bluepoint Games hinted towards the game being a future project. This wouldn't be the first time Bluepoint remade a Sony game, as the studio has the Shadow of the Colossus remake and the God of War Collection under its belt. For now, fans can only hope Sony will let the Dragoons rise again someday.
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