New "Panzer Dragoon" to be Published by Microsoft

[Nz17]

The new game, developed for the Kinect by Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi, will be called Crimson Dragon and be published by Microsoft Game Studios. It will feature both an on-rails single-player mode and a new three-player online co-op mode. Crimson Dragon will be a downloadable title for Xbox Live and released this year, 2012, in North America. And based on screenshots and gameplay impressions, it is Panzer Dragon in all but name (likely because SEGA owns that name). The controls sound right out of Rez 2... er, I mean, Child Of Eden.

Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/z-6351086

Original article:


There hasn't been much news about Project Draco lately, an Xbox 360 title developed for the Kinect by Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi. That all changed last week with a playable version of the game--now titled Crimson Dragon--unveiled at Microsoft's Xbox 360 10th anniversary celebration.
The first of many official screens from the game formerly known as Project Draco.

According to a report on Famitsu, Crimson Dragon is due out on Xbox Live Arcade this year. Just like the Panzer Dragoon series, the game is an on-rails shooter where players control the onscreen dragon by using their body movement tracked by the Kinect motion sensor.

Gamers attack onscreen enemies by using their left and right hands. The right hand is for lock-on and homing shots, while the left hand is for single hard-hitting shots that use up the dragon's spirit gauge.

The game also features the option to customise dragons. Players feed their mounts different sorts of meat to boost their attributes and give them new skills. The title also features three-player co-op over Xbox Live, using players' dragons from the single-player campaign.

Crimson Dragon was announced under its previous name at Tokyo Game Show 2010.

[RCM]

Shitty title, but it's half the reason I purchased a Kinect.

I was reasonably confident M$ and third party devs would have released appealing software for the little wundercam by now, but it just hasn't happened. I like Child of Eden a lot and this should be cool too, but I wish devs would release interesting stuff for Kinect before its potential is totally wasted and resources are shifted to the next generation.

Anyway, I'm excited about this.

[Wraith Storm]

I am glad they released some new info. I was starting to think this project was dead.

That being said, this game will make me buy a Kinect. I can't wait. I am a HUGE Panzer Dragoon fan. Even though there may not be a connection to the PD world or timeline, I know Yukio Futatsugi will make sure it plays just as well.

By far the best news for me is that he got Saori Kobyashi back to do the music. I have been keeping my fingers crossed for this since Draco was announced. She scored both Panzer Dragoon Saga and Orta, two phenomenal soundtracks and I will buy the OST for this the second it goes on sale.

[j_factor]

Why is this for Kinect? :/ The controls sound like more of an annoyance than anything that would add to the game.

[Bojay1997]

Why is this for Kinect? :/ The controls sound like more of an annoyance than anything that would add to the game.

Sounds a lot like Child of Eden and that game did really benefit from Kinect controls.

[Oldskool]

OOooooh glad I finally sprung for a 360. I'm surely going to get this one.

[Duke.Togo]

I love Panzer Dragoon, so this is a no brainer. It will be nice to give the Kinect a workout.

[kupomogli]

Microsoft accidently posted the demo for Crimson Dragon on XBL but pulled it back down. Here's a video of it. This game would benefit more through the use of traditional control methods plus motion controls such as the Move or Wiimote. Or even if they had an optional control scheme for the Kinect that your hand would be used to shoot but you could use a 360 analog to move the dragon. Moving your upper body at an angle to move the dragon around isn't something I want to be doing to play a video game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5ifO72YsjZU#!

[Greg2600]

Graphics are terrific.

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't know about the Kinect from first-hand experience, but I've read that there's lag from the design, which I don't think is really good for a game like this (or for any game, actually).

[IHatedSega]

Im not a fan of Wii or Kinect style game controls. Its good the series is back though. The Kinect though is going to be used to monitor people, so I cant support this.

[kedawa]

This isn't Panzer Dragoon.

[PDorr3]

The demo looks fantastic from a graphical standpoint, but I still am saddened by the fact that it is Kinect only. I played the game at PAX (I forget if it was Prime or East...one of the two) it was one of the first games I jumped on during press hour as I was dieing to try it....I came away severely disappointed.

Having to lean all over the place to move the dragon QUICKLY grows tiresome and is certainly not the ideal way I would want to play a PD style game. When I asked about traditional controller support, I was told the game would strictly be Kinect only :(

I have nothing against the Kinect, but I can't help but see a lost opportunity when I think about the potential this game could have had if it were released with a traditional control scheme (or at least as an option). Being the PD fan I am though I may still re-buy my Kinect to give this game another try....that and finally be able to play the Gunstringer.

[Greg2600]

Kinect-only is foolish. How freaking difficult is it to add controller support?

[hbkprm]

i might shell out the cash for a kinect to play that and steel batalion

[The 1 2 P]

i might shell out the cash for a kinect to play that and steel batalion

Based on my demo experience and certain reviews Steel Battalion is pretty bad. I had forgotten all about this Panzer Dragoon spiritual successor game. I will eventually pick it up. Maybe they will throw in free versions of the three Saturn games the way Ninja Gaiden did back on the Xbox as unlockables.

[kedawa]

Based on my demo experience and certain reviews Steel Battalion is pretty bad. I had forgotten all about this Panzer Dragoon spiritual successor game. I will eventually pick it up. Maybe they will throw in free versions of the three Saturn games the way Ninja Gaiden did back on the Xbox as unlockables.

Please tell me you're joking. Why would Sega give them the rights to use actual Panzer Dragoon games?

[The 1 2 P]

I thought Sega was making this but it only says the creator of Panzer Dragoon is making the game in that link. But if Sega were involved(I'm not sure since it only says Microsoft is publishing it) then I wouldn't see why they couldn't do it. And if not they could just make them regular XBLA downloads.


EDIT: According to wiki Grounding Inc is developing this game. So now it's guaranteed no bonus games.

[Leo_A]

If Sega were involved, it would presumably have Panzer Dragoon somewhere in the title.

[The 1 2 P]

If Sega were involved, it would presumably have Panzer Dragoon somewhere in the title.

Not neccesarily. Konami published Hard Corps: Uprising a few years ago without adding the "Contra" title.

[Leo_A]

That's because it was an attempt to turn it into its own franchise.

[Ed Oscuro]

That's because it was an attempt to turn it into its own franchise.
I guess that cements my initial impression based on feedback - "and nothing of value was lost." I'd still like to try it sometime, but the better Contra is on WiiWare.

[Leo_A]

And the even better Contra was on the DS. :)

[Ed Oscuro]

And the even better Contra was on the DS. :)
Still not sure if that one really was up to Contra standards. In some ways yes, in other ways...ehh, those damn challenges. More work went into it than the old NES games for sure, but you notice little problems (and they stick in your imagination) when a game tries to do more.

Haven't played the WiiWare one (what a surprise) but it looked neat at least.

[IHatedSega]

This fully legitimizes my thoughts on Microsoft being the new Sega.

[Rob2600]

This fully legitimizes my thoughts on Microsoft being the new Sega.

Care to elaborate?

[The 1 2 P]

That's because it was an attempt to turn it into its own franchise.

Yeah I was aware of that and Activision attempted something similiar with Modern Warfare 2 until an informal survey made them change their mind and keep the COD moniker. But unless future Hard Corps games fundamentally changed their gameplay and art style they still would have been widely regarded as Contra games without the Contra title. I couldn't think of that many examples(other than Project Origin which eventually got cleared to add the F.E.A.R. name before it shipped) but sometimes publishers do release certain titles in a franchise without using the franchise's name.

[Leo_A]

Haven't played the WiiWare one (what a surprise) but it looked neat at least.

It's certainly well worth a download (As are the other Rebirth games), but I can't imagine you going away more impressed with it than Contra 4 when you do play it someday.


This fully legitimizes my thoughts on Microsoft being the new Sega.

You're a good ten years or so behind the times. Back then the original Xbox almost had the feel of the Dreamcast 2 at times with all the excellent Sega content being released at retail like Outrun 2, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and many others.

Now, what good classic Sega content we do get is usually digital and comes out on both the PS3 and 360 and only happens a handful of times a year. And it's usually a rerelease of existing content from years gone by when it does happen.

It's hard to imagine the Sega of 2013 ever putting serious work into something like a Outrun 3.


Yeah I was aware of that and Activision attempted something similiar with Modern Warfare 2 until an informal survey made them change their mind and keep the COD moniker. But unless future Hard Corps games fundamentally changed their gameplay and art style they still would have been widely regarded as Contra games without the Contra title.

My point though was that it lacked the Contra branding in an attempt to create a new and viable franchise for Konami via spinning it off on its own.

What would be accomplished here with Sega being involved in a Panzer Dragoon title without the Panzer Dragoon branding other than to cripple its small chance of being a sales success even further (After all, the last quality attempt that actually carried the branding for a franchise that has become a cult favorite didn't exactly set the sales charts on fire a few years back on the original Xbox)?

Now if they were to have a hit game called Panzer Dragoon: Crimson Dragon and it was successful and they decided to make a sequel without the Panzer Dragoon title, that's another thing entirely. Consumer's would be aware of the relationship and they'd hopefully have a second viable franchise out of the deal that go in its own direction.


I couldn't think of that many examples(other than Project Origin which eventually got cleared to add the F.E.A.R. name before it shipped) but sometimes publishers do release certain titles in a franchise without using the franchise's name.

That's because they changed publishers and didn't have the rights to the F.E.A.R. IP until late in development.

It does happen from time to time (Although like you, I can't think of anything off the top of my head), but usually it's still clear that the title belongs in a specific franchise and that isn't the case here. And it's much more common for a game to be shoehorned into an existing franchise during development to increase sales than it is for it to go the other way around, but I guess that's besides the point.

[PreZZ]

Has much as I like Panzer Dragoon, I really dont see myself going all dance central doing hoola hoops and waving my hands for more than 2 minutes... ill stick with my saturn, thank you.

[Greg2600]

It's hard to imagine the Sega of 2013 ever putting serious work into something like a Outrun 3.


Especially with Yu Suzuki out of the company.

[BydoEmpire]

I bought the original Xbox for Panzer Dragoon Orta (and got the Sega GT bundle). No interest in the new one, and no interest in buying a Kinect to play it.