The Legend of Dragoon
from: Square Enix
Price: $12.50
Prices subject to change.Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Product Description:
A four-disc RPG epic, The Legend of Dragoon is set in a time of swords, magic, and dragons. Ten thousand years prior, the Dragon War pitted Dragoons--humans with the power to control dragons--against Enslavers, magicians who sought to enslave the humans. Now Dart, a young warrior, is on a quest to find the demon that killed his parents. The Legend of Dragoon features prerendered, 3-D backgrounds and detailed, polygonal figures. Several nonplaying characters and many full-motion video scenes take you through the complex story. The game's turn-based battle engine allows you to increase the strength of an attack through repeated button taps and shows the percentage increase you've created. A timing feature in the battle modes allows you to add devastating combinations to your attacks. The Spirit Points you accumulate during your quest can be used to unlock a special power, known as the Dragon attack.
Editorial Review:
Talk about going out with a bang! Sony Computer Entertainment releasedits four-disc The Legend of Dragoon for the PlayStation only monthsbefore the release of that console's successor, the PlayStation2. This veryabsorbing role-playing game, with hours upon hours of story and inventivegameplay, might just be the last great title for the glorious PSX.
The copious story begins with Dart, a vengeful young man with spiky hair and redarmor who embarks on a desperate rescue mission to break his childhoodsweetheart out of a castle prison. The two join forces with a knight who istrying to end a war that's destroying the region. Dart soon learns that he is aDragoon--a human who's privy to the spiritual power of dragons. Like all RPGheroes, Dart is up against impossible odds, but his newfound Dragoon magic andbattle skills go a long way toward making the bet even money.
And that's just the beginning. Grab a spare memory card and a comfy chair and beprepared to spend at least 20 hours getting through the first disk (there arethree others just like it in the double-wide case). It's hard to sustain aplayer through this kind of time span, but The Legend of Dragoon takeschances and wins. For example, its battle system is turn based, so you canactually use some strategy, but it also features special "additions," orfighting combos that unfold if you match the X button to that addition's timing.When handling three players' additions, each with unique sequences, it can bequite challenging. You can increase the potency of the elemental magic up to 160percent by quickly tapping X during your cast. Also, the perspectives oftenchange between battles--players will direct the action from behind the heroes,behind the villains, looking down from above, and off to the side.
There are a couple downsides to the game. First, the stylized transitions intoand out of battle mode, while initially cool, quickly becomeexhausting--especially when running the gauntlet through lesser foes in the wilderness orlower ramparts of a castle. The game's story is built such that you're watchingthe sometimes goofy dialog as a spectator rather than participating in it. Thereare a few occasions when the game will prompt you to choose from two differentresponses, but often either response will bring about the same conclusion. Thattightly controlled narrative, however, often works in the player's favor bykeeping the game flowing instead of the wandering common in other RPGs, whereplayers waste time looking to each townsperson for direction.
Overall, the game's wonderfully illustrated sets, light exploration and problemsolving, and a handful of jaw-dropping full-motion video scenes make TheLegend of Dragoon fun to play and hard to put down. --Porter Hall
Pros:
A four-disc RPG epic, The Legend of Dragoon is set in a time of swords, magic, and dragons. Ten thousand years prior, the Dragon War pitted Dragoons--humans with the power to control dragons--against Enslavers, magicians who sought to enslave the humans. Now Dart, a young warrior, is on a quest to find the demon that killed his parents. The Legend of Dragoon features prerendered, 3-D backgrounds and detailed, polygonal figures. Several nonplaying characters and many full-motion video scenes take you through the complex story. The game's turn-based battle engine allows you to increase the strength of an attack through repeated button taps and shows the percentage increase you've created. A timing feature in the battle modes allows you to add devastating combinations to your attacks. The Spirit Points you accumulate during your quest can be used to unlock a special power, known as the Dragon attack.
Editorial Review:
Talk about going out with a bang! Sony Computer Entertainment releasedits four-disc The Legend of Dragoon for the PlayStation only monthsbefore the release of that console's successor, the PlayStation2. This veryabsorbing role-playing game, with hours upon hours of story and inventivegameplay, might just be the last great title for the glorious PSX.
The copious story begins with Dart, a vengeful young man with spiky hair and redarmor who embarks on a desperate rescue mission to break his childhoodsweetheart out of a castle prison. The two join forces with a knight who istrying to end a war that's destroying the region. Dart soon learns that he is aDragoon--a human who's privy to the spiritual power of dragons. Like all RPGheroes, Dart is up against impossible odds, but his newfound Dragoon magic andbattle skills go a long way toward making the bet even money.
And that's just the beginning. Grab a spare memory card and a comfy chair and beprepared to spend at least 20 hours getting through the first disk (there arethree others just like it in the double-wide case). It's hard to sustain aplayer through this kind of time span, but The Legend of Dragoon takeschances and wins. For example, its battle system is turn based, so you canactually use some strategy, but it also features special "additions," orfighting combos that unfold if you match the X button to that addition's timing.When handling three players' additions, each with unique sequences, it can bequite challenging. You can increase the potency of the elemental magic up to 160percent by quickly tapping X during your cast. Also, the perspectives oftenchange between battles--players will direct the action from behind the heroes,behind the villains, looking down from above, and off to the side.
There are a couple downsides to the game. First, the stylized transitions intoand out of battle mode, while initially cool, quickly becomeexhausting--especially when running the gauntlet through lesser foes in the wilderness orlower ramparts of a castle. The game's story is built such that you're watchingthe sometimes goofy dialog as a spectator rather than participating in it. Thereare a few occasions when the game will prompt you to choose from two differentresponses, but often either response will bring about the same conclusion. Thattightly controlled narrative, however, often works in the player's favor bykeeping the game flowing instead of the wandering common in other RPGs, whereplayers waste time looking to each townsperson for direction.
Overall, the game's wonderfully illustrated sets, light exploration and problemsolving, and a handful of jaw-dropping full-motion video scenes make TheLegend of Dragoon fun to play and hard to put down. --Porter Hall
Pros:
- Hours upon hours of story and gameplay
- Turn-based battle made more exciting by combo-attack-style "additions"
- Many different monsters, spells, weapons, and items
- Very linear gameplay offers no chance to affect outcome
- Stylish pre- and postbattle sequences quickly grow tiresome
Features:
- 3 years in the making with a development team of over 100 members
- Transform into Dragoons and unleash extraordinary powers
- Incredibly diverse characters wield unique weapons and Dragoon attacks powered by the elements
- Totally unique and innovative tactical combat "Additionals" System
- Discover the truth about the Black Monster
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- not too shabby
Though touted as the final fantasy killer (why must all new hyped products be the (blank) killer?) this game falls well short of that. However don't let that stop you from playing it if you are a fan of japanese rpgs. The many flaws this game has can be overlooked since the battle system is generally engaging, fresh compared to other rpgs, overall good graphics, and a good way to pass the time in between more hyped games.
Some of the flaws include kinda weak graphics regarding the characters ... Read More
Rating: 
- Best old school game in a new gen era!
Legend of Dragoon is by far a great RPG game even in the world of next gen. The game is somewhat of a turn based style game with great magic. You get to turn into powerful creatures called Dragoons that can wield great magic and devastating attacks. The game is 4 disks long, but overall it feels somewhat short. I give it 5 out of 5!
Rating: - How can you NOT love this?
This was the game that got me interested in RPGs. I had seen or played a little of FF 7 and 8, and didn't care much (though I have since gone back and now dig both of them). Then, when this came out, I took a chance and bought it. I was immediately hooked! I played this game every minute I could (losing plenty of sleep) until the end. And when it was over, I wanted more. I remember being nearly moved to tears while watching the conclusion, wrap-up, and credits. Since then, I've re-played LOD numerous ... Read More
Rating: - Sony did a wonderful job.....
This game will always and unfortunately be compared to square's final fantasy VII. Sony unfortunately brought that upon themselves with the main character looking similar to Cloud and Lloyd having silver hair like Sephiroth. Despite all that Sony put out an excellent game that noone should miss.
Story: The story starts 10,000 years before Dart and company and brings along many twists and takes you along an epic journey. There are evil emperors and dragons to fight and control as you progress ... Read More
Rating: - Great game, not sure if its compatible with the newer ps2's though.
Sometimes the game will freeze after a boss fight. It is a greatest hits version though, and I think it might not be completely compatible with the newer slim ps2's.
- not too shabbyThough touted as the final fantasy killer (why must all new hyped products be the (blank) killer?) this game falls well short of that. However don't let that stop you from playing it if you are a fan of japanese rpgs. The many flaws this game has can be overlooked since the battle system is generally engaging, fresh compared to other rpgs, overall good graphics, and a good way to pass the time in between more hyped games.
Some of the flaws include kinda weak graphics regarding the characters ... Read More
- Best old school game in a new gen era!Legend of Dragoon is by far a great RPG game even in the world of next gen. The game is somewhat of a turn based style game with great magic. You get to turn into powerful creatures called Dragoons that can wield great magic and devastating attacks. The game is 4 disks long, but overall it feels somewhat short. I give it 5 out of 5!
- How can you NOT love this?This was the game that got me interested in RPGs. I had seen or played a little of FF 7 and 8, and didn't care much (though I have since gone back and now dig both of them). Then, when this came out, I took a chance and bought it. I was immediately hooked! I played this game every minute I could (losing plenty of sleep) until the end. And when it was over, I wanted more. I remember being nearly moved to tears while watching the conclusion, wrap-up, and credits. Since then, I've re-played LOD numerous ... Read More
- Sony did a wonderful job.....This game will always and unfortunately be compared to square's final fantasy VII. Sony unfortunately brought that upon themselves with the main character looking similar to Cloud and Lloyd having silver hair like Sephiroth. Despite all that Sony put out an excellent game that noone should miss.
Story: The story starts 10,000 years before Dart and company and brings along many twists and takes you along an epic journey. There are evil emperors and dragons to fight and control as you progress ... Read More
- Great game, not sure if its compatible with the newer ps2's though.Sometimes the game will freeze after a boss fight. It is a greatest hits version though, and I think it might not be completely compatible with the newer slim ps2's.
