The original Panzer Dragoon was a technical showcase for the Sega Saturn 20 years as of this writing and kickstarted a series which developed a cult following to this day. One would think that a remake for such a revered title would be handled with care but unfortunately this version of the game is not really worthy of the series although it is playable. The graphics look like a cheap mobile game (especially the overblown lighting in open areas and very low resolution models everywhere), the arranged soundtrack is alright (but not better than the original which you can switch to) and the gameplay feel isn't as good as the original. The gameplay of the original might be relatively simple by today's standards but the game's presentation and feel came together to give it a presence and rhythm that this remake tries but fails to recreate. The remake keeps the level layouts mostly the same with some graphical changes that are mostly a miss, especially with the overbright lighting and low resolution reflections while not sufficiently filling out the levels to prevent them from feeling barren with an expanded field of view. It also adds some quality of life updates to the controls which end up making the game too easy so a bit of rebalancing would be welcome here. Some positives include the game adding a nice unlockable gallery that once again comes with the annoyance of having to re-enter a cheat code every time to see it so even there it has irritations attached. The remake does recreate all of the main cheat codes from the original so that's a nice touch. The game itself - once you get over how bad the graphics are and accept the gameplay feel isn't as good as the original - is serviceable and short, taking around an hour to get through. The achievements added provide some incentive to replay the game on other difficulty modes as do the secrets but that's still only a few hours in all so get the game on sale.
Viewfinder is a 3D indie puzzle adventure game with the unique mechanic of being able to remodel the environment using photographs. The game uses this hook very creatively in its varied puzzles and expands upon these mechanics inventively throughout the about 10 hours it takes to complete it if you want to get all achievements like me. There are also various collectibles and secrets scattered around if you like to explore, with several being very creative and fun to discover, including some easter eggs. The beautiful visuals and serene music create a relaxing feel when playing the game and it even has a cat-like creature you can pet if that wasn't enough. The story is simple but nice enough although it's very clearly the unique gameplay that is the star here. I wish they'd pushed the mechanics even further and made a more conclusive story as the ending is fine but it could have been better. The voice acting is hit and miss, with several of the main companions being over-acted but the supporting cast having more fitting voice acting but this is overall a minor quibble. Overall, the amazing puzzles built off the game's unique mechanic combined with the serene gameplay feel make this game a must-play, highly recommended!
Echo was made by a small but highly talented team and the end result rivals production values of many AAA games even 8 years after release. It is a sci-fi stealth action game with a unique mechanic where enemies cyclically learn your abilities. It is set in an astoundingly beautiful palace automatically rebuilding itself. The audio and visuals are amazing although I would have liked some more music (most of the soundtrack is atmospheric highlights). The game has a unique art style making use of intricate repeated patterns to generate different visuals and it accentuates the complex maze-like levels built by some sort of machine really well. The atmosphere of the game is outstanding, both in the few outside sections and the varied palace levels. The gameplay combines stealth with action well and because of the learning mechanic, the way you adapt your strategy influences the level enemies. This makes for an interesting gameplay loop involving constant decision making. The story is interesting, well-written and outstandingly voice-acted. It manages to paint the picture of a much bigger world with the equivalent of a few brush strokes. The game maintains a good pace and is about 10 hours long, more if you want to get all the collectibles (which can be a challenge given the intricate levels). Here is where some of the limitations of the game come in. Sometimes in service to the story the character movement is slowed down for dialogue to come through (a bit clunky) and some of the walking segments are a bit long (although very atmospheric). It would have been great to have the large universe hinted at in the story expanded upon and to see more work by this team. The game unfortunately didn't sell well enough and the developer shut down. They thankfully maintained availability of the game on digital storefronts so more people can discover this gem. Several of them went on to have big careers so it worked out but it would have been great to see more of this world.
Dreamfall is a sequel to The Longest Journey and both of these games were highly regarded at launch while still being excellent almost 20 years since. The game can be played without experiencing the first one since it mostly features new characters and many of the key events from the first one are vaguely referenced, but to truly make the most of it, playing the first one is still a must. This is because the game presents the low resolution visuals of the first game in beautiful full 3D and the returning characters are a joy to interact with when you meet them again. The changes to the world and locations are fascinating to experience as well. This sequel is set a decade after the first game and follows three characters, one being from the first game and two new ones. The main character in this game is clearly Zoë and she has the majority of the screen-time. She ends up getting involved in an epic plot affecting the twin worlds but this time involving the world of dreams and hidden machinations of characters from the first game. This game is extremely beautiful in everything from the art to the music, including varied locations, character designs and the ability to finally walk around them. The gameplay evolves the adventure game aspects of the first game and adds some mechanics like the ability to listen in on conversations from a distance using focus mode. It adds some clunky combat and stealth mechanics that have been widely derided and does feature occasional back-tracking but the strengths of its gameplay, expansive story and world far outweigh these issues. The music, voice acting and overall flow of the game are also excellent. Some actions can change some interactions in usually minor ways in this game, similar to TLJ. The outstanding story is much more serious and darker than in TLJ but it maintains the dreamy quality of the first game. It ends on massive cliffhangers but as Dreamfall Chapters is released, you can get the answers without worry.
The Longest Journey has an amply deserved reputation as one of the greatest adventure games ever made. Despite its age (almost 24 years old), the story, world and characters remain top notch as does its comedy and gameplay (almost no pixel-hunting for hotspots for example). Even the game's low resolution visuals can be greatly improved by running it via ScummVM and using the "TLJ HD" (https://tljhd.github.io/) and "HD characters" (https://www.moddb.com/mods/hd-characters) mods. TLJ is the story of April Ryan, an inhabitant of the 23rd Century Earth as she discovers her true powers and her destiny as she travels between this world of science (Stark) and Arcadia, a world where magic is commonplace. The story and lore of these worlds is fantastic and a joy to uncover as you solve puzzles, engage with quirky characters and enjoy the sights and sounds. The game doesn't fear tackling more mature themes such as drugs and abuse but does so without going overboard and it manages to preserve the dreamlike quality of its narrative and setting throughout. The cyberpunk dystopia of Stark is well contrasted with the fantasy epic lands of Arcadia and their intertwined fates are superbly explored. The worlds really feel massive with lots of little touches and the excellent voice acting brings everything together marvelously. You get to meet a variety of races and explore the world and your own place in it over a lengthy adventure (about 25 hours) and the ending packs a punch with unexpected twists and turns. As the game has some responses which can result in different outcomes (including different cut-scenes), there is some replayability (one of the first adventure games to do this as far as I know), even though the changes don't affect the ending. This is a journey well worth undertaking. Its sequel, Dreamfall, is also excellent and the third and so far final game in the series, Dreamfall Chapters, has a solid ending despite being a massive drop in overall gameplay and story.
