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Anyone remember The Legend of Dragoon for PS1? Did anyone actually like it?
Posted on 7/18/22 at 7:39 am
Posted on 7/18/22 at 7:39 am
So I was taking a stroll down memory lane the other day, and suddenly remembered this game. I hadn't given it a passing thought since the day I beat it and tucked the case into my PS game collection.
My only recollection of the game was that it was a well-intentioned attempt by Sony to make an epic RPG that had some awesome potential based on a good concept. But the execution was so terrible that the bright spots couldn't overcome its major shortcomings. I've beaten dozens of RPGs and this game was the only one I remember slogging through out of sense of obligation (I paid $40 of my hard-earned allowance, dammit!) rather than fun.
I had totally forgotten what the actual plot was, so I googled it recently, expecting to see reviews describing it as a game with good visuals and some innovative concepts, but an overall ho-hum experience.
So much to my surprise, I am met with raving fan reviews with some even going as far as to tout it as the greatest PS1 RPG ever made.
Now I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. There's no way this game was that good. I loved RPGs, and I remember wanting to love this game too, but it was just...woof. The music was bland. The pacing was snail-like. The characters were forgettable. I distinctly remember the battles dragging on interminably.
Did anyone actually love this game? And why? What am I missing here?
My only recollection of the game was that it was a well-intentioned attempt by Sony to make an epic RPG that had some awesome potential based on a good concept. But the execution was so terrible that the bright spots couldn't overcome its major shortcomings. I've beaten dozens of RPGs and this game was the only one I remember slogging through out of sense of obligation (I paid $40 of my hard-earned allowance, dammit!) rather than fun.
I had totally forgotten what the actual plot was, so I googled it recently, expecting to see reviews describing it as a game with good visuals and some innovative concepts, but an overall ho-hum experience.
So much to my surprise, I am met with raving fan reviews with some even going as far as to tout it as the greatest PS1 RPG ever made.
Now I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. There's no way this game was that good. I loved RPGs, and I remember wanting to love this game too, but it was just...woof. The music was bland. The pacing was snail-like. The characters were forgettable. I distinctly remember the battles dragging on interminably.
Did anyone actually love this game? And why? What am I missing here?
This post was edited on 7/18/22 at 7:44 am
9
Posted on 7/18/22 at 7:45 am to UGATiger26
I haven’t played it since I was a kid but it’s widely considered one of the most underrated rpgs of all time and many here along with myself have been begging for a remaster. I never beat it but I remember it being one of the only rpgs I loved that wasn’t final fantasy at the time.
Posted on 7/18/22 at 8:18 am to cfish140
quote:
but it’s widely considered one of the most underrated rpgs of all time
But my big question is...why? Why "underrated" and not simply "underwhelming?"
I understand if people have fond memories of it due to nostalgia. For me, I'd been well-versed in the world of RPGs by the time I played this game, so maybe it's the comparative nature of my critique.
I tried to be fair, and watch some YT vids to make sure I was remembering my criticism accurately, and...yep, I sure was.
Like I said, I think this game had a lot of potential and the sentai-like Dragoon concept could've been one of the coolest and most memorable RPG dynamics I'd ever experienced. But the execution was just so damn bad that it overwhelms the positives.
Posted on 7/18/22 at 12:31 pm to UGATiger26
This is all from memory with a replay maybe 9-10 years ago so take it FWIW
I very much enjoyed it. The combat was interesting enough with the additions system that you had to be at least a little invested with the timing. I enjoyed most of the characters and though Dart isn't an especially strong protagonist some of the supporting chars were very memorable IMO. I thought the music was good. I'm a sucker for dragons and dragon knight / dragoon motifs. Decently challenging super bosses. I thought the story was very strong in the first 1/2 to 3/4 though I agree that it kinda fades out in the last act or so.
Is it my favorite PS1 era RPG? No, that debate is Xenogears vs FF7. But is it worth a playthrough and am I a big fan? Absolutely
I very much enjoyed it. The combat was interesting enough with the additions system that you had to be at least a little invested with the timing. I enjoyed most of the characters and though Dart isn't an especially strong protagonist some of the supporting chars were very memorable IMO. I thought the music was good. I'm a sucker for dragons and dragon knight / dragoon motifs. Decently challenging super bosses. I thought the story was very strong in the first 1/2 to 3/4 though I agree that it kinda fades out in the last act or so.
Is it my favorite PS1 era RPG? No, that debate is Xenogears vs FF7. But is it worth a playthrough and am I a big fan? Absolutely
This post was edited on 7/18/22 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 7/18/22 at 2:48 pm to UGATiger26
I bought it in the 6th grade when it came out, so I don't have the most clear recollection, but I still have the disc (and I think i bought the digital version on my PS3). I’ll have to go back and give it a try.
I remember really enjoying it, but I’m not sure I would put it into the same category as FF7/8/9 for me. Would be really cool to see a remake of this game though, as the concept is really cool. Maybe that can tweak the story / characters a bit to make it more compelling?
I remember really enjoying it, but I’m not sure I would put it into the same category as FF7/8/9 for me. Would be really cool to see a remake of this game though, as the concept is really cool. Maybe that can tweak the story / characters a bit to make it more compelling?
Posted on 7/18/22 at 10:20 pm to UGATiger26
I liked it back in the day. I have a feeling it wouldn’t hold up very well if I tried playing it again.
I enjoyed the battle system because it was engaging. You had additions and defend to heal. I don’t remember there being any dedicated white mage healer type characters. I do remember some boss fights taking awhile and I think that was due to the healing mechanics.
I don’t think I ever finished it for whatever reason. Also I remember the cutscenes being pretty badass to 13 year old me and I was a sucker for that back then.
Yes I’ve heard there’s a dedicated fan community for the game but no way do I think it’s the best rpg ever made. Not sure where those thoughts come from
I enjoyed the battle system because it was engaging. You had additions and defend to heal. I don’t remember there being any dedicated white mage healer type characters. I do remember some boss fights taking awhile and I think that was due to the healing mechanics.
I don’t think I ever finished it for whatever reason. Also I remember the cutscenes being pretty badass to 13 year old me and I was a sucker for that back then.
Yes I’ve heard there’s a dedicated fan community for the game but no way do I think it’s the best rpg ever made. Not sure where those thoughts come from
Posted on 7/19/22 at 7:10 am to cfish140
OK, so I'm getting the sense that, while people may remember it fondly as a piece of RPG nostalgia, it simply was not a compelling or exciting game in the grand scheme of things.
Of the four people who responded in this thread, two admitted to never actually finishing it. IMO, that's pretty telling for an RPG, especially one that some people prop up as one the greatest ever made.
quote:
I never beat it
quote:
I don’t think I ever finished it for whatever reason.
Of the four people who responded in this thread, two admitted to never actually finishing it. IMO, that's pretty telling for an RPG, especially one that some people prop up as one the greatest ever made.
Posted on 7/19/22 at 11:51 am to UGATiger26
I loved it. I wish they'd do a 4K remaster at a minimum. A sequel would be glorious.
I not only finished it, I bought a dedicated game card to keep my save right before the big Coliseum cinematic.
ETA - It appears that the scene was called Rose's Memories, and someone recreated it in HD.
I not only finished it, I bought a dedicated game card to keep my save right before the big Coliseum cinematic.
ETA - It appears that the scene was called Rose's Memories, and someone recreated it in HD.
This post was edited on 7/19/22 at 11:56 am
Posted on 7/19/22 at 2:36 pm to UGATiger26
i remember playing it and liking it at the time. i cant say much more than that really. too long ago and wasnt memorable enough to stick.
Posted on 7/19/22 at 3:53 pm to caro81
The rhythm-based combat system was a mofo
Posted on 7/19/22 at 4:17 pm to VoxDawg
9 year old me sucked so bad at it 
I remember it being pretty rare that I ever actually timed it right. The main thing I remember about the game
SPOILERS
is the shocking main character death of Lavitz at the end of the 1st disc. Also remember it being pretty grindy. Wish they would put it on the ps store so I can revisit it
I remember it being pretty rare that I ever actually timed it right. The main thing I remember about the game SPOILERS
is the shocking main character death of Lavitz at the end of the 1st disc. Also remember it being pretty grindy. Wish they would put it on the ps store so I can revisit it
Posted on 7/20/22 at 7:36 am to cfish140
I'm pretty sure I bought it on the PS3. Between that and my SOTN save file, it's the only real reason the machine is still plugged up.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 5:58 pm to UGATiger26
I remember loving the game but never beat it. I’d certainly like an opportunity now that I’m older.
I also need to play xenogears. It’s my wife’s favorite game of all time and she’s been on me about it.
I also need to play xenogears. It’s my wife’s favorite game of all time and she’s been on me about it.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 6:08 pm to Blitzed
Go play it then. Xenogears is that good.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 10:02 pm to UGATiger26
I just couldn't get into it for some reason when it originally came out. There were so many other JRPGs around that time I cared about more.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 7:26 am to MetroAtlantaGatorFan
quote:
I just couldn't get into it for some reason when it originally came out.
The learning curve was brutal. I was 25 when it came out, and still had a helluva time with it.
I believe I collected all the Stardust, but if you didn't check all the boxes, barrels, etc. you were bound to miss a couple. I believe after certain world events, you might never be able to go back to those areas, locking you out for good on those couple of Stardust.
IIRC, Lunar: Silver Star Story had a similar mechanic with the pictures of the NPCs that you could get.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 10:40 am to Blitzed
quote:
I remember loving the game but never beat it.
OK, here we go again. Someone who "loved" the game, but apparently not enough to care about finishing it. Maybe it's just my opinion, but that doesn't compute. Especially for RPG's which tell a chronological story with a beginning, middle, and end. How could you "love" a story that you never even cared to finish?
I'm not flaming you. I'm just genuinely curious as to why this game arouses so much passion in people despite the fact that it apparently wasn't compelling enough of a game/story to bother finishing.
What about the game was beloved? Specifically. If someone asked me why I loved FFVI, I could specifically point to Kefka as a perfectly evil and unforgettable villain. I could point to the epic nature of the apocalyptic event at the mid-point of the story. I could point to a plethora of specific tracks that I loved (like the boss theme and Atma's theme) rather than just saying "it had a great soundtrack."
This post was edited on 7/21/22 at 10:43 am
Posted on 7/21/22 at 1:59 pm to VoxDawg
quote:
The learning curve was brutal. I was 25 when it came out, and still had a helluva time with it.
I believe I collected all the Stardust, but if you didn't check all the boxes, barrels, etc. you were bound to miss a couple. I believe after certain world events, you might never be able to go back to those areas, locking you out for good on those couple of Stardust.
IIRC, Lunar: Silver Star Story had a similar mechanic with the pictures of the NPCs that you could get.
I don't remember it being too hard or anything but it came out around the same time as Vagrant Story and Chrono Cross. And I was working 40 hours a week during the summer when school was out so I just didn't have the time or patience I guess.
This post was edited on 7/21/22 at 2:00 pm
Posted on 7/21/22 at 2:03 pm to UGATiger26
quote:
OK, here we go again. Someone who "loved" the game, but apparently not enough to care about finishing it. Maybe it's just my opinion, but that doesn't compute. Especially for RPG's which tell a chronological story with a beginning, middle, and end. How could you "love" a story that you never even cared to finish? I'm not flaming you. I'm just genuinely curious as to why this game arouses so much passion in people despite the fact that it apparently wasn't compelling enough of a game/story to bother finishing.
Sure I’ll gladly answer.
I was 10-11 years old and I actually used to play outside a lot. I had friends who played outside also.
Video games were for the rain or weekend nights. I didn’t beat a lot of games that I liked because it just wasn’t a major priority for me at that age.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 2:21 pm to Blitzed
All this and a myriad other reasons not mentioned.
I don’t agree with people who say it’s the best rpg ever necessarily but I’m not gonna diarrhea shite all over someone’s parade that does agree
I don’t agree with people who say it’s the best rpg ever necessarily but I’m not gonna diarrhea shite all over someone’s parade that does agree
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