In the ensuing battle with the beast, a strange artifact is uncovered. The story opens with a monster appearing in the ruin Edge is helping to protect. You control Edge, a young mercenary in the hire of the Empire to protect one of the ancient ruins from the monsters and thieves that roam the world. The story is one of numerous twists and turns that keep you wondering and enthralled to the very end. Characters no longer act like plastic toys that walk, but like real people. The biggest improvement in the FMV is the excellent array of facial expressions on the characters. The cinemas are top of the line and are by far the best ever seen on the Saturn.

The Japanese voice actors do a wonderful job and breathe real life into the hero, Edge, and the supporting cast. Not only does this create an even greater sense of playing a game in an entirely different world, but also saves us from the usually awful English dubbing from American voice actors with no understanding of the characters or the emotions involved.

Thankfully, Sega decided to simply subtitle the original Japanese dialogue. The game spans 4 CD’s with many high-quality CG FMV cut scenes, and incredible voice acting. They’ve wrapped up their trilogy and answered all of the questions left in mystery from the first two chapters in an incredible game that really defines the term, “cinematic RPG”. But Team Andromeda has done it, and done it with style.

I’m sure many had doubts as to whether a straight up 3D shooter could actually translate to an RPG. Team Andromeda’s latest Panzer Dragoon game is the finale of its trilogy on the Saturn and is, of all things, a role playing game. Is this what it feels like to form a bond?”

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