Is The Legend of Dragoon an overlooked classic, or just a flop? And do you have any memories of it? Gain early access to my videos by supporting me at www.patreon.com/xygorgaming OR through RUclips membership by clicking the JOIN button above!
Well, the mechanics of pressing button to add attacks as an addition has the same basic idea started in Super Mario RPG, only way more challenging. I love the OST, miss some characters that die on the plot and the architectural quality and creativity using pre rendered graphics. An unique title that should have a sequel, but unfortunately it wasn't possible.
Well for people who have never played the game, they can put up or shut up on trying to "review" it lol just go try it for yourself, it's re-released on the PSN store.
Had a friend back in college who thought that the graphics in The Legend of Dragoon were utter trash, just like Gran Turismo. So I told him to play the two games on his PS2 with the PS1 Smooth setting set to "On". He changed his mind on both games almost immediately.
If you don't know, there's a project that's porting LoD to PC and includes high resolution backgrounds and more to make it more easy to access and more approachable. "Legend of Dragoon Severed Chains" is the name. Worth looking into for sure!
I still play this today on a jailbroken ps3! So far on disc 2 😅 way to go forsure! And to anyone who doesn't know you can turn on fast transformation in the settings! Also if you collect 10k you buy an item called "ultimate wargod" its expensive but you can do perfect additions and they count towards unlocking the secret 1s!
I really want a port of Skies, with some upscaling and re tuned settings like random battle frequency. An item to turn off random ship battles. And new wanted battles & additional discoveries for us that played it 100 times. I don’t have enough faith with modern Sega remaking it and forgetting/ignoring the original. Especially since the lady behind it, and phantasy Star passed away. Let’s just get a port so it’s not lost to history and rom dumps
This still remains one of my favorite JRPGs on the PS1 and in general. It's what got me into JRPGS. It definitely has its flaws but I have a lot of nostalgia for it. Spent so many hours playing it as a kid. Finished it about 3 times now. Hope it does get a remake or remaster in future.
I see LOD I click! Proud to be part of the cult following that overrates this underrated classic! One of my all time favorite games despite some notable flaws. Good job dude!
I have heavy nostalgia glasses for this game. A proper remake while keeping the the combat system and providing a real translation would be amazing. This game was 100% ahead of its time while also only able to be made during the time it was. Utterly fantastic while having several large issues that could be easily addressed. So glad to see more videos on it.
real. rewatching the lavitz die and lavitz ghost cutscenes are amazing. the body language and emotion of the in game rendered cutscenes are amazing. plus they even animate their faces. LoD and FF8 are both my favorite of the time, only thing I hated were the random encounters, and how the party doesn't heal automatically after battles.
I think out of anything, The Legend of Dragoon left the most significant impact on my imagination as a kid. In fact, I think it was the first RPG I ever saw, and it was the coolest thing ever to me. I remember running around my yard with a stick, a large, shiny marble, and "armor" made out of construction paper, pretending I was Dart, defending a fortress (tree) from Sandoran soldiers. I've loved fantasy and RPGs ever since. The soundtrack and atmosphere is forever ingrained in my mind.
Yeah, exactly the same! My favorite game and JRPG ever. One really correct word to describe it would be "Epic". Because The Legend of Dragoon has a lot of that Epic "vibe" that you also can get out of something like Lord of the Rings and such.
I hated the item limitation as a kid. Only 32, and you have so many types to choose from. Now I really appreciate it. Forces you to think more strategically. You're not guaranteed to have a ton of potions hanging out that you forgot about like in a FF title. I also found despite having fewer of them, I used the items in LOD far more often than in any FF title.
Yup, same here! Maybe 32 is a bit too much, maybe 50 would have been a bit nicer, but still, it's really nice when you replay it and fully understand the strategic ramifications behind all of Legend of Dragoon's gameplay choices.
The japanese version had a 64 item limit if you got an item by playing a minigame on one of those portable console memory cards. Except these memory cards weren't released outside japan. Forgot what they were called. Ps Mini or something ? The mini game is about dabas (the weird guy in Lohan) looking for treasure and also adds gold to your savefile. Explains why dabas is in the game in the first place and the stupid prices of legend casque/armor of legend.
Legend of Dragoon was one of the first jrpgs I played. Absolutely loved it, but weirdly, wasn't big on the combat system. I liked the story (evil empire but with twists and it goes beyond that in ways I liked), and I absolutely adored the music, especially the opening.
My absolute favorite game of all time. Despite knowing enough to write a better guide than the "Official Prima" guide, still learn some new little detail every time I play through it. Even after 20 plus runs.
I would love to see a complete remake of this game where additions actually did what they're supposed to do, by providing small additional damage to the regular attack. Also getting rid of the item limit, making magic viable outside of boss battles, speeding up the battle system and completely retranslating the entire game. I know many people love this game, but it needs ALOT of help. Love ya Xygor!
It was my fav jrpg on the ps1. After watching modern reviews, even a streamer that recently replayed it, I agree it's not that great as I saw it back then, but hell do I still love it
My buddy always liked this game. I've always been a final fantasy guy. I watched him play it, but never got into it. Watching your video makes it interesting. I enjoy how you look at the game from a developers view. Cool video
I believe that The Legend of Dragoon is a master-piece which was only limited in how it was produced due to the hardware used at the time of it's development. If Sony has any love remaining for the game, then they will hire a development team who can remake this wonderful game in the Modern HD glory that it truly deserves for this era of RPG enthusiasts ~
I loved the game. I don't have any way back when memories of it, it was recommended to me a couple of years ago. I didn't think I could get the addition system (and I sorta didn't, I was using the equipment that does it for me at the end) but I was still able to progress through the entire game with the abilities that I had. I love the soundtrack too.
i love this game. its very flawed and all over the place at times but it has soul and some kind of magic to it. the soundtrack is gorgeous, the story and lore are interessting and the charakters are likeable. its simple, compared with a final fantasy game at that time, but like i said. it has soul and i love it.
First and foremost, this is one of the best and most intriguing RPGs, I have ever had the pleasure of playing. That being said the game is also quite difficult, but the addition system is simple and surprisingly fun. You can't just tune out and turn auto battle on, you're encouraged to pay attention and time your attacks carefully, which feels rewarding. Also dragoons! I think people try too hard to criticize and compare this game to FF7, which is disappointing considering how vastly different it is. And the music is absolutely God tier! I also subscribed!
Had the old tech demo for LoD, that's what really hooked me into the game. Got it on PS1 when it first came out, and now again after they re-released it on the PSN store. Most played game on my PS4. Shoot the second most played is Okagi, and third is Star Ocean till the end of time. Playstation era Final Fantasy games come dead last on my list. I only played them because my wife wanted me to try them, and I really only like 9, because it FEELS like an old school Final Fantasy game to me.
One of the my favorite classic JRPGs. I always enjoyed that the combat forces you to be more engaged and learn timing. Searching around for the hidden stardust before having the internet and no strategy guide was fun. I really miss these old style RPGs, warts and all. There was a more methodical pace to these where you really took your time with everything and weren’t speeding through a checklist of quest markers. I love FF7 Rebirth as much as the next person, but there’s something to be said for the unhurried feel of these older experiences.
I used to think this game deserved a tv mini series to capture the lore. But now I'm thinking the modern Netflix episode model would fit it with each of the four discs being its own season, plus a couple seasons for the Dragon Campaign at the start.
One of my favorite PS1 games. I really enjoy the additions in the combat system, the story was cool and the music was really good in this game. A legend of dragoon remaster/remake would be amazing!
Heads up for those who don't know about it yet. There is a PC port called Severed Chains. While it's still a bit buggy in a few ways, it's playable. I have it setup on my PC, and I must say that aside from some visual oddities, it's a work in progress that deserves the support. Know ahead of time however that you must have all 4 discs backed up on your system before you can use it; as of course it is not legal to have the separate roms from another source unless you already have the physical game. (even then you're technically supposed to back it up from those copies...) Anyways. What this is, is a reverse engineered engine of the same Assembly code that runs the game normally on the PS1. But they've made some enhancements, modifications, additions, etc. It's legal to own and use, since it's been properly reverse engineered. But as with proper legal use with a PS1, you must have the game discs properly as well. So while it might still be a work in progress, as I said before, and worthy of support; be aware of what is required before trying to use it. IS it worth going through the trouble? If you can, sure. I now have a copy of Legend of Dragoon that should work on any PC I put it on without having to worry about legalities, and over time it will look better in every regards than the emulators. Work better too. It's a win/win all around, provided some patience is applied.
Played it for the first time about 2 years ago and finished it. Still looks great today the pre rendered environments and chosen camera angles give it a cinematic flair that I really enjoyed from many RPGs of that era. Id always heard of it as a FF killer and tbh I think that comparison does it no favours because its not imo. FF games were at their peak in this era and this does not compare however it is still a great RPG and well worth playing and better than many modern RPGs I have played. I personally found the later maps a bit tedious to navigate with their constant moving platforms but thats a minor gripe.
TBH? Legend of Dragoon is one of the PSX rpg's that I'd say are absolute must plays. The soundtrack is phenomenal, combat is exhilarating and the story gets damn complex with plot points being sometimes millennia in the making. NVM the plot twists and tragedies uncovered. The world you start out in has history, and its full weight is pitted against the heroes. I also like the variety of enemies, some are a bit weird... but mostly even mooks are well done. I do think it's better to point out a few things you failed to mention: -Dragoon forms also gain levels on use, giving increased use time, mp and the ability to summon their respective dragon. -Boss battles often have unusual mechanics, call em unique gimmicks if you will, that force you to really pay attention. Be that rolling bombs, blocking dragoon forms or hiding in a cave structure to name just a few. -I'm not a big fan of the item limit, especially since you can do some enemy/boss attacks via limited items. -There's a wealth of recurring bosses. Not 1-on-1 repeats either at that. -So many sidequests. You can get the big guy his dragoon form through sidequesting. And learn more about the original dragoons and the war they fought. And many more things besides. -A pity you left one of the best CGI cutscenes out of this video. I mean... LoD has a major plot point delivered as a ghost ship, neh?
Legend of dragoon is still, to this day my favourite game of all time. The minute it came out on Ps+ i grabbed it and 100% it. And you know what i’ll start it again today!
I love this game. Ive gone through it more times than i can remember. I would love to see a full remake or sequel after all these years. I would be curious to see what they could do with it in todays technology.
Only played this game for the first time two years ago but I easily was in love with the game. Its not perfect but overall. The game is great. Underrated. Really like the characters and world building. Wish they make a new game and improve and tweak the gameplay, which I loved. Plan to replay the game again since I had so much fun.
Legend of Dragoon will always hold a special place for me I played other JRPGs but Legend of Dragoon was the first story that I got into I wrote Legend of Dragoon fanfiction while I was still in kindergarten, it was one of the first video games I remember watching and helping my mother play. Legend of Dragoon shaped my writing for better or for worse people say too this day I write like I'm trapped in a badly translated anime with archaic words. The worst part for me is I know the Legend of Dragoon too well. I tend to skip over things just to progress I don’t think I have fun playing so much as I have strategic goals I meet for each point of the game. That's why I'm always surprised when I learn something new about this amazing classic.
Some things to note/clarify: I liked the video, so +1 from me. Your consumable items are limited to 32, but in the Japanese version; if you play an external game that name is escaping me at the moment, you can increase it to 64. Your armor and weapons bag is unlimited if I remember correctly. The dragoon transformation animation can be reduced to about 3-4 seconds in the menu, but all magic attacks including dragoon magic cannot. Your main party splits the experience gained after each battle while your standby party members gain 50% of that. So, if you gain 100 experience from a fight, your main people get 33 each while your standby get 16. This can be used to your advantage if you wish to level up specific characters by killing off 2 people in your party. With the same experience, your one party member that is alive will gain all 100 experience, while all standby members gain 50. It's tedious, but definitely doable. With the max level being 60, it's not too bad. Most people finish the game late 30's to early 40's.
I remember when my brother saw that in 1998 at Kmart we went to go buy at me and my three brothers we brought it home start to play eight we got to the third disc I had a aunt that came over from Colombia and her daughter which is my cousin wanted to play we said no because we just got this game no more than a week ago we were now to go eat at a restaurant she still at home and when we came back she got mad because we wouldn’t let her play the game because she can’t understand English I speak English she ended up scratching the 4 cd so we could never finish the game that year I remember that game being so cool at that time
I'm about to finish this one for the first time. I owned it but never played it. Didn't grind too much, so i'm finding it kinda hard on the final steps. Still, one of the best games on the PS1.
Love this Game. Haven't played it in Forever but I beat 3 or 4 times. The Characters were likeable even if somewhat Cliche, Combat is unique, the Dragoon Transformations are awesome and the music is great.
I can't decide if I should play this next or finish some games who I didn't play for some time. But I kinda wanted to play it since the ritual chants we did to summon Ixion in FFXIV, not sleeping for more than 2 days straight isn't very good.
To this day, the flashback showing the sacrifice of the first dragoons is the best fmv in the ps1 (along with the chrono cross opening) it wasn't a final fantasy killer but DAMM it's a cult classicfor a reason!
I absolutely love this game. It's one of my favorites of all time. Of course it has its flaws. Graphics aside, the mechanics were fairly unique for the time, and the transformations were a treat to watch. The lore is very interesting too, as you literally learn about how life on the planet actually came to be. The world felt very well thought-out. The music was good, though it didn't always fit the situation. I was actually okay with the experience yield in this game, as it made the pacing perfectly fine, even for a casual player. Grinding wasn't needed at all, only some moderate skill with additions. Maybe increase gold drops to make getting some of those end game armors easier, yet place the shop for them much further so someone couldn't just grind out the money (I've done this) as soon as they become available and make the game far easier than it already is. This would have been the perfect blueprint for a "Final Fantasy killer." With a bit more polish, this great game could have become truly legendary. Nerf the guard command, change the item limits, tweak the transformations so they can be useful, or maybe even required for some boss fights. For one that likes to grind additions, like me, the Dragoon forms end up becoming obsolete for the most part. Speed the combat up, at least the magic and transformations anyway, and maybe make the additions a bit more complex rather than just two buttons, or have some interact with different enemies in different ways like Squall's limit in FF8 for example. And maybe change the element system a little so the PCs and enemies aren't always weak to their opposing element. Though definitely keep the weakness while the party are in Dragoon form. I just thought it felt a little odd that the party was always weak to certain attacks even though there was no lore based reason for it while in base form. I would also like to see an increase in MP, and find ways to use it while in base form as well. Maybe for some special physical AoE attacks that don't require timing based inputs in exchange for lower damage. Just an idea. And since enemies (namely bosses) like to use combo based attacks as well, give the player an opportunity to counter, similar to how the enemy can interrupt your additions (could use MP for it.) All the ground work is here for a truly legendary game. It's such a shame we never got a sequel that could have built on the solid foundation this game laid.
I remember the first time I tried it I rage quit because I couldn’t get the timing down as far as QuickTime events.. Kinda scary because I’m generally quite good at them when it comes to other titles.. But about a month or two I gave it another chance on ps5 and I tried to persevere.. While I still couldn’t get a lot of the timing down pat I was finding it very hard to stop playing.. It really is something special and it gives the classic FF some stiff competition imo
There was a boss I couldn't beat and you can't level grind so I never got to finish it. At least that's how I remember it. There was a reason I couldn't progress anyways. I dug what I played tho.
At the time I actually thinking they were trying to 'imitate' FF, and it wasn't good, but I did not know how things worked and I was just a square fan boy, thinking they could do no wrong and no one other could do great games, very limited mindset. This game is good, and opened my eyes and never judge judge by the Logo
I loved the game but it had a lot of issues compared to other JRPGs. For example, only boss battles really mattered when it came to getting experience and leveling up. If they ever did remake it, I would hope that they would fix some of those issues while maintaining the charm of game's story and characters.
Wow, this PS1 game is looking really great. After watching your rewiew i think i should find there everything i'm expecting from good jRPG. I will gladly try to play this game someday.
I have never played an RPG since that has made me feel as cool as doing Additions in LOD and that makes me sad that no other developer I know of has just stolen the idea.
Is The Legend of Dragoon an overlooked classic, or just a flop? And do you have any memories of it?
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Well, the mechanics of pressing button to add attacks as an addition has the same basic idea started in Super Mario RPG, only way more challenging. I love the OST, miss some characters that die on the plot and the architectural quality and creativity using pre rendered graphics. An unique title that should have a sequel, but unfortunately it wasn't possible.
Well for people who have never played the game, they can put up or shut up on trying to "review" it lol just go try it for yourself, it's re-released on the PSN store.
Had a friend back in college who thought that the graphics in The Legend of Dragoon were utter trash, just like Gran Turismo. So I told him to play the two games on his PS2 with the PS1 Smooth setting set to "On". He changed his mind on both games almost immediately.
If you don't know, there's a project that's porting LoD to PC and includes high resolution backgrounds and more to make it more easy to access and more approachable. "Legend of Dragoon Severed Chains" is the name. Worth looking into for sure!
I still play this today on a jailbroken ps3! So far on disc 2 😅 way to go forsure! And to anyone who doesn't know you can turn on fast transformation in the settings! Also if you collect 10k you buy an item called "ultimate wargod" its expensive but you can do perfect additions and they count towards unlocking the secret 1s!
Legend of Dragoon, Skies of Arcadia, and Xenogears.
These three RPGs deserve so much more love, and most definitely a remaster.
For sure!
Really hoping Sega's recent revival announcements means good things for Skies. And Sony needs to get a LoD remaster out yesterday
100% agree. Especially with skies of arcadia
I really want a port of Skies, with some upscaling and re tuned settings like random battle frequency. An item to turn off random ship battles. And new wanted battles & additional discoveries for us that played it 100 times.
I don’t have enough faith with modern Sega remaking it and forgetting/ignoring the original. Especially since the lady behind it, and phantasy Star passed away. Let’s just get a port so it’s not lost to history and rom dumps
captain betty sausage agrees
Those four discs blew my mind back in the day. The OST is very stylish and unique.
Agreed on the soundtrack!
We went from how many bits to how many discs.
These pre rendered backrounds are a thing of beauty 😭
They really are! Definitely some of the best on the system. Maybe the very best.
This still remains one of my favorite JRPGs on the PS1 and in general. It's what got me into JRPGS. It definitely has its flaws but I have a lot of nostalgia for it. Spent so many hours playing it as a kid. Finished it about 3 times now. Hope it does get a remake or remaster in future.
Thanks for leaving your thoughts on it. It definitely stood out in that time. Glad you had good experiences with it!
I see LOD I click!
Proud to be part of the cult following that overrates this underrated classic! One of my all time favorite games despite some notable flaws. Good job dude!
Thanks man, glad you liked this one! I knew you were a fan, and know a ton about this game, so hearing this praise makes my day!
I have heavy nostalgia glasses for this game. A proper remake while keeping the the combat system and providing a real translation would be amazing. This game was 100% ahead of its time while also only able to be made during the time it was. Utterly fantastic while having several large issues that could be easily addressed. So glad to see more videos on it.
Hopefully the remake/remaster will happen!
real. rewatching the lavitz die and lavitz ghost cutscenes are amazing. the body language and emotion of the in game rendered cutscenes are amazing. plus they even animate their faces.
LoD and FF8 are both my favorite of the time,
only thing I hated were the random encounters, and how the party doesn't heal automatically after battles.
I think out of anything, The Legend of Dragoon left the most significant impact on my imagination as a kid. In fact, I think it was the first RPG I ever saw, and it was the coolest thing ever to me. I remember running around my yard with a stick, a large, shiny marble, and "armor" made out of construction paper, pretending I was Dart, defending a fortress (tree) from Sandoran soldiers. I've loved fantasy and RPGs ever since. The soundtrack and atmosphere is forever ingrained in my mind.
Thanks for all of your thoughts about it! Soundtrack was definitely unique!
Yeah, exactly the same! My favorite game and JRPG ever. One really correct word to describe it would be "Epic". Because The Legend of Dragoon has a lot of that Epic "vibe" that you also can get out of something like Lord of the Rings and such.
This is my favorite game of all time, right behind Mass Effect
That's pretty high praise!
I hated the item limitation as a kid. Only 32, and you have so many types to choose from.
Now I really appreciate it. Forces you to think more strategically. You're not guaranteed to have a ton of potions hanging out that you forgot about like in a FF title.
I also found despite having fewer of them, I used the items in LOD far more often than in any FF title.
Yup, same here! Maybe 32 is a bit too much, maybe 50 would have been a bit nicer, but still, it's really nice when you replay it and fully understand the strategic ramifications behind all of Legend of Dragoon's gameplay choices.
The japanese version had a 64 item limit if you got an item by playing a minigame on one of those portable console memory cards. Except these memory cards weren't released outside japan. Forgot what they were called. Ps Mini or something ? The mini game is about dabas (the weird guy in Lohan) looking for treasure and also adds gold to your savefile. Explains why dabas is in the game in the first place and the stupid prices of legend casque/armor of legend.
Legend of Dragoon was one of the first jrpgs I played. Absolutely loved it, but weirdly, wasn't big on the combat system. I liked the story (evil empire but with twists and it goes beyond that in ways I liked), and I absolutely adored the music, especially the opening.
Thanks for your feedback on it!
I am a person that will endlessly praise this game, I will also add it was my first jrpg and I enjoyed it greatly. I play it usually once a year
Currently playing this on my Miyoo mini plus 😅
I LOVED this game back then and one of my all time favorite GAMES.
It seems to have made a good impression on a lot of people!
My absolute favorite game of all time. Despite knowing enough to write a better guide than the "Official Prima" guide, still learn some new little detail every time I play through it. Even after 20 plus runs.
Excellent, glad you have such good memories of it!
One of my favorites which deserves a remaster imo! The Additions really kept you engaged during combat!
This was always my favorite RPG
It really is a great one, isn't it?
@@Xygor it’s where I took my name tag from.
One of my favorite jrpg's, period. Nice review! I wish we could get a remake where the characters look like the cover art.
Thanks, glad you liked it, maybe we will get a remake!
This game deserve a remake for the PS5 even the Dragon Campaign prequel would be great.
Maybe it will someday!
The music is so good in this game!!! Along with the story!
I would love to see a complete remake of this game where additions actually did what they're supposed to do, by providing small additional damage to the regular attack. Also getting rid of the item limit, making magic viable outside of boss battles, speeding up the battle system and completely retranslating the entire game. I know many people love this game, but it needs ALOT of help. Love ya Xygor!
Thanks for the feedback on it!
It was my fav jrpg on the ps1. After watching modern reviews, even a streamer that recently replayed it, I agree it's not that great as I saw it back then, but hell do I still love it
That's really high praise!
I loooooved this game as a young teen! So many happy memories. The final song I still have on Spotify, such an epic
Used to play a demo of this at a store when I was a kid.
Right on!
My buddy always liked this game. I've always been a final fantasy guy. I watched him play it, but never got into it. Watching your video makes it interesting. I enjoy how you look at the game from a developers view. Cool video
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the thoughts!
There has been a fan made PC port released for this game unnder the name Severed Chains, definitely take a look!
Interesting, didn't know about this.
I believe that The Legend of Dragoon is a master-piece which was only limited in how it was produced due to the hardware used at the time of it's development.
If Sony has any love remaining for the game, then they will hire a development team who can remake this wonderful game in the Modern HD glory that it truly deserves for this era of RPG enthusiasts ~
True, hopefully this will happen at some point!
I loved the game. I don't have any way back when memories of it, it was recommended to me a couple of years ago. I didn't think I could get the addition system (and I sorta didn't, I was using the equipment that does it for me at the end) but I was still able to progress through the entire game with the abilities that I had. I love the soundtrack too.
i love this game. its very flawed and all over the place at times but it has soul and some kind of magic to it. the soundtrack is gorgeous, the story and lore are interessting and the charakters are likeable. its simple, compared with a final fantasy game at that time, but like i said. it has soul and i love it.
Thanks for your thoughts! I agree with your assessment.
Disc 2 and 3 were my favorite parts. The towns and cities were gorgeous!
Classic for sure! I still need to finish that one.... Got softlocked about 130 hours into it
Wow, that sucks, and that's a lot of time to put into it!
I enjoyed this game on the PS1 and PS3. I heard a group is working on bringing it to the PC (you need original discs).
A few others have said the same, maybe I should check it out.
The Dragoon spells also level up the more times you use them. Love this game
Great feature!
where did you hear that from?
One Of my favorite RPGS from my childhood, and one of the games i probably have replayed more than others
Thanks for sharing your memories, it was a special one!
First and foremost, this is one of the best and most intriguing RPGs, I have ever had the pleasure of playing. That being said the game is also quite difficult, but the addition system is simple and surprisingly fun. You can't just tune out and turn auto battle on, you're encouraged to pay attention and time your attacks carefully, which feels rewarding. Also dragoons!
I think people try too hard to criticize and compare this game to FF7, which is disappointing considering how vastly different it is. And the music is absolutely God tier!
I also subscribed!
One of if not my most favored childhood game
Had the old tech demo for LoD, that's what really hooked me into the game. Got it on PS1 when it first came out, and now again after they re-released it on the PSN store. Most played game on my PS4. Shoot the second most played is Okagi, and third is Star Ocean till the end of time. Playstation era Final Fantasy games come dead last on my list. I only played them because my wife wanted me to try them, and I really only like 9, because it FEELS like an old school Final Fantasy game to me.
Glad you've been able to enjoy it all these years later!
The Legend, The Masterpiece, The Best Game Ever!
Wow, that's pretty high praise!
@@Xygor It's my favorite JRPG and game ever. I've beaten it eleven times! I loved it ever since i first played it as a twelve years old.
One of the my favorite classic JRPGs. I always enjoyed that the combat forces you to be more engaged and learn timing. Searching around for the hidden stardust before having the internet and no strategy guide was fun. I really miss these old style RPGs, warts and all. There was a more methodical pace to these where you really took your time with everything and weren’t speeding through a checklist of quest markers. I love FF7 Rebirth as much as the next person, but there’s something to be said for the unhurried feel of these older experiences.
I used to think this game deserved a tv mini series to capture the lore. But now I'm thinking the modern Netflix episode model would fit it with each of the four discs being its own season, plus a couple seasons for the Dragon Campaign at the start.
This game needs a remake
Yes it does! Maybe someday.
What a nice video. Chill, informative, made me want to play this.
Glad you enjoyed!
One of my favorite PS1 games. I really enjoy the additions in the combat system, the story was cool and the music was really good in this game. A legend of dragoon remaster/remake would be amazing!
Thanks for your thoughts, there were definitely a lot of cool things about it.
Loved the combat that this game had! You had to not only choose your skills but you also had to master the skills themselves. I would love a LoD 2.
This is by far one of my favorites and I still have this game!
It sure is a classic!
I would love to see reviews for Mystic Ark and Linda Cube Again since it just got a translation. A couple of the most surreal JRPGs ever made.
Heads up for those who don't know about it yet. There is a PC port called Severed Chains. While it's still a bit buggy in a few ways, it's playable. I have it setup on my PC, and I must say that aside from some visual oddities, it's a work in progress that deserves the support. Know ahead of time however that you must have all 4 discs backed up on your system before you can use it; as of course it is not legal to have the separate roms from another source unless you already have the physical game. (even then you're technically supposed to back it up from those copies...)
Anyways. What this is, is a reverse engineered engine of the same Assembly code that runs the game normally on the PS1. But they've made some enhancements, modifications, additions, etc. It's legal to own and use, since it's been properly reverse engineered. But as with proper legal use with a PS1, you must have the game discs properly as well.
So while it might still be a work in progress, as I said before, and worthy of support; be aware of what is required before trying to use it.
IS it worth going through the trouble? If you can, sure. I now have a copy of Legend of Dragoon that should work on any PC I put it on without having to worry about legalities, and over time it will look better in every regards than the emulators. Work better too. It's a win/win all around, provided some patience is applied.
Didn't know about Severed Chains, thanks for letting me know.
Played it for the first time about 2 years ago and finished it. Still looks great today the pre rendered environments and chosen camera angles give it a cinematic flair that I really enjoyed from many RPGs of that era. Id always heard of it as a FF killer and tbh I think that comparison does it no favours because its not imo. FF games were at their peak in this era and this does not compare however it is still a great RPG and well worth playing and better than many modern RPGs I have played. I personally found the later maps a bit tedious to navigate with their constant moving platforms but thats a minor gripe.
TBH? Legend of Dragoon is one of the PSX rpg's that I'd say are absolute must plays. The soundtrack is phenomenal, combat is exhilarating and the story gets damn complex with plot points being sometimes millennia in the making. NVM the plot twists and tragedies uncovered. The world you start out in has history, and its full weight is pitted against the heroes. I also like the variety of enemies, some are a bit weird... but mostly even mooks are well done.
I do think it's better to point out a few things you failed to mention:
-Dragoon forms also gain levels on use, giving increased use time, mp and the ability to summon their respective dragon.
-Boss battles often have unusual mechanics, call em unique gimmicks if you will, that force you to really pay attention. Be that rolling bombs, blocking dragoon forms or hiding in a cave structure to name just a few.
-I'm not a big fan of the item limit, especially since you can do some enemy/boss attacks via limited items.
-There's a wealth of recurring bosses. Not 1-on-1 repeats either at that.
-So many sidequests. You can get the big guy his dragoon form through sidequesting. And learn more about the original dragoons and the war they fought. And many more things besides.
-A pity you left one of the best CGI cutscenes out of this video. I mean... LoD has a major plot point delivered as a ghost ship, neh?
Thanks for all your thoughts, you put a lot into this post!
Great review loved the cuts here great job
A prequel game to this showing that 11,000 years old feud's origin was a serious missed opportunity with Dart's ancestor being the protagonist.
This is the best ps1 jrpg for me, an underrated masterpiece.
That’s pretty high praise!
one of the best games ever!
Why do you think so?
The most popular Toys R Us PS1 demo for some reason. JRPGs were that huge in the 90s.
Legend of dragoon is still, to this day my favourite game of all time. The minute it came out on Ps+ i grabbed it and 100% it. And you know what i’ll start it again today!
Glad you like it! It's worth revisiting for sure.
I love this game. Ive gone through it more times than i can remember. I would love to see a full remake or sequel after all these years. I would be curious to see what they could do with it in todays technology.
Right on, maybe it will happen someday!
Only played this game for the first time two years ago but I easily was in love with the game. Its not perfect but overall. The game is great. Underrated. Really like the characters and world building. Wish they make a new game and improve and tweak the gameplay, which I loved. Plan to replay the game again since I had so much fun.
Didnt this have 4 discs, it was crazy!
Yes it did!
@@Xygor Dart is still the king!
Legend of Dragoon is amazing and one of my top RPGs for the PS1. I think the soundtrack really does a lot for the game.
Legend of Dragoon will always hold a special place for me I played other JRPGs but Legend of Dragoon was the first story that I got into I wrote Legend of Dragoon fanfiction while I was still in kindergarten, it was one of the first video games I remember watching and helping my mother play. Legend of Dragoon shaped my writing for better or for worse people say too this day I write like I'm trapped in a badly translated anime with archaic words. The worst part for me is I know the Legend of Dragoon too well. I tend to skip over things just to progress I don’t think I have fun playing so much as I have strategic goals I meet for each point of the game. That's why I'm always surprised when I learn something new about this amazing classic.
Some things to note/clarify:
I liked the video, so +1 from me.
Your consumable items are limited to 32, but in the Japanese version; if you play an external game that name is escaping me at the moment, you can increase it to 64. Your armor and weapons bag is unlimited if I remember correctly.
The dragoon transformation animation can be reduced to about 3-4 seconds in the menu, but all magic attacks including dragoon magic cannot.
Your main party splits the experience gained after each battle while your standby party members gain 50% of that. So, if you gain 100 experience from a fight, your main people get 33 each while your standby get 16. This can be used to your advantage if you wish to level up specific characters by killing off 2 people in your party. With the same experience, your one party member that is alive will gain all 100 experience, while all standby members gain 50. It's tedious, but definitely doable. With the max level being 60, it's not too bad. Most people finish the game late 30's to early 40's.
Number 2 on my remake wishlist right behind Parasite Eve. I enjoyed LoD a ton when it launched
This title has been sitting on my bookshelf for years waiting to be played but the backlog never ends.
I know that feeling!
In my childhood this is my favorite game
one of the most fun turns rpgs i ever played as well....too bad never got a sequel
The game caught me by surprise back when and I consider it to be among the best hands down.
That's pretty high praise!
I wish they would port this so I can finally play it. Been hearing about it for years
Maybe someday!
So many good memories playing this game!
Great to hear that! What was your favorite?
I remember when my brother saw that in 1998 at Kmart we went to go buy at me and my three brothers we brought it home start to play eight we got to the third disc I had a aunt that came over from Colombia and her daughter which is my cousin wanted to play we said no because we just got this game no more than a week ago we were now to go eat at a restaurant she still at home and when we came back she got mad because we wouldn’t let her play the game because she can’t understand English I speak English she ended up scratching the 4 cd so we could never finish the game that year I remember that game being so cool at that time
I still have my copy of this game one of my all-time favorites I even had the action figures as a kid
THERE WERE ACTION FIGURES?! 🤯
Lavitz and Dart the definition of bromance.
Great review as always!
Thank you! Are you a fan of this one?
I'm about to finish this one for the first time. I owned it but never played it. Didn't grind too much, so i'm finding it kinda hard on the final steps. Still, one of the best games on the PS1.
Legend of Dragoon was the only rpg I could get into back in the day 🤘🏻 and I loved it.
Glad you had good memories of it!
I wish it would have continued the story had more to do. And now it's iconic and darn I wish I would have kept it the game
It's a fun one!
This game was so good as a kid I was amazed
Love this Game. Haven't played it in Forever but I beat 3 or 4 times. The Characters were likeable even if somewhat Cliche, Combat is unique, the Dragoon Transformations are awesome and the music is great.
Glad you have good memories from it, so you didn't get sick of the dragoon transformation length? Maybe I'm the only one.
@@Xygor Nuh I got hyped, like I was watching Power Rangers and they transformed 😁
I'm waiting for a complete story of this game
Love your videos man!
Glad to hear that, please subscribe!
My sister named her first daughter Meru after the charcter in this game.
Wow, bet she loved the game!
I can't decide if I should play this next or finish some games who I didn't play for some time. But I kinda wanted to play it since the ritual chants we did to summon Ixion in FFXIV, not sleeping for more than 2 days straight isn't very good.
To this day, the flashback showing the sacrifice of the first dragoons is the best fmv in the ps1 (along with the chrono cross opening) it wasn't a final fantasy killer but DAMM it's a cult classicfor a reason!
A game developer company needs to pick up this game for a remaster and a part 2.
Maybe someday!
This was a great game is deserving of a remaster or remake
True!
It's such an underrated classic, Volcano! xD
Lots agree! Thanks for your input.
I absolutely loved this game
I absolutely love this game. It's one of my favorites of all time. Of course it has its flaws. Graphics aside, the mechanics were fairly unique for the time, and the transformations were a treat to watch. The lore is very interesting too, as you literally learn about how life on the planet actually came to be. The world felt very well thought-out. The music was good, though it didn't always fit the situation. I was actually okay with the experience yield in this game, as it made the pacing perfectly fine, even for a casual player. Grinding wasn't needed at all, only some moderate skill with additions. Maybe increase gold drops to make getting some of those end game armors easier, yet place the shop for them much further so someone couldn't just grind out the money (I've done this) as soon as they become available and make the game far easier than it already is.
This would have been the perfect blueprint for a "Final Fantasy killer." With a bit more polish, this great game could have become truly legendary. Nerf the guard command, change the item limits, tweak the transformations so they can be useful, or maybe even required for some boss fights. For one that likes to grind additions, like me, the Dragoon forms end up becoming obsolete for the most part. Speed the combat up, at least the magic and transformations anyway, and maybe make the additions a bit more complex rather than just two buttons, or have some interact with different enemies in different ways like Squall's limit in FF8 for example. And maybe change the element system a little so the PCs and enemies aren't always weak to their opposing element. Though definitely keep the weakness while the party are in Dragoon form. I just thought it felt a little odd that the party was always weak to certain attacks even though there was no lore based reason for it while in base form. I would also like to see an increase in MP, and find ways to use it while in base form as well. Maybe for some special physical AoE attacks that don't require timing based inputs in exchange for lower damage. Just an idea. And since enemies (namely bosses) like to use combo based attacks as well, give the player an opportunity to counter, similar to how the enemy can interrupt your additions (could use MP for it.)
All the ground work is here for a truly legendary game. It's such a shame we never got a sequel that could have built on the solid foundation this game laid.
Glad you like it so much! Thanks for this huge barrage of thoughts!
@@Xygor You're welcome! And thank you for the video!
I fucking LOVE this game. first time i played it was on a demo disc. i feel in love instantly
Glad you like it so much! There were definitely a lot of memorable aspects to it.
@@Xygor oh there definitely was. It's number 2 of my top 3 RPGs. 1st is final fantasy 7. 3rd is mario RPG.
I remember the first time I tried it I rage quit because I couldn’t get the timing down as far as QuickTime events.. Kinda scary because I’m generally quite good at them when it comes to other titles.. But about a month or two I gave it another chance on ps5 and I tried to persevere.. While I still couldn’t get a lot of the timing down pat I was finding it very hard to stop playing.. It really is something special and it gives the classic FF some stiff competition imo
There was a boss I couldn't beat and you can't level grind so I never got to finish it. At least that's how I remember it. There was a reason I couldn't progress anyways. I dug what I played tho.
At the time I actually thinking they were trying to 'imitate' FF, and it wasn't good, but I did not know how things worked and I was just a square fan boy, thinking they could do no wrong and no one other could do great games, very limited mindset. This game is good, and opened my eyes and never judge judge by the Logo
Maybe it’s just nostalgia but I fucking love this game
Glad to hear that!
Thank you for the response! I would love a recap vid of this game if you get a chance!
It would be amazing to be able to play it on my iphone
Maybe someday!
I loved the game but it had a lot of issues compared to other JRPGs. For example, only boss battles really mattered when it came to getting experience and leveling up. If they ever did remake it, I would hope that they would fix some of those issues while maintaining the charm of game's story and characters.
True, thanks for the reminder!
Wow, this PS1 game is looking really great. After watching your rewiew i think i should find there everything i'm expecting from good jRPG. I will gladly try to play this game someday.
Hope you enjoy it!
my friend would talk this game up so much and i never played it :(
Seems amazing. I never picked it up because I thought it was a rip off of Final Fantasy.
Give it a try now and see what you think!
I have never played an RPG since that has made me feel as cool as doing Additions in LOD and that makes me sad that no other developer I know of has just stolen the idea.
A flawed game, but I adored the world aesthetic back in the day. I still think about some of the backgrounds today.
If I remember correctly, this game could detect a modchip and it wouldn't boot up. So I never got around to playing it, haha
Interesting, didn't realize that.
The soundtrack was amazing. I loved this game it was an amazing story. The ending was crazy 😂 but I've played this game a few times.