A Legend of Dragoon Remake?
Before last month’s GDC, Playstation Insider posted a list of rumours regarding Sony’s upcoming announcements. One of these claimed that a remake of The Legend of Dragoon was under development pending a Japanese release later this year. Thankfully, Sony made no mention of the game at GDC, although if this remake is underway then there’s still plenty of time for an announcement to come.
Considering that Sony have lost exclusivity for upcoming Final Fantasy games, an exclusive PS3 JRPG would fill the gap left by Square-Enix’s withdrawal. This gives the rumour some degree of credibility, as a Japanese release later this year would create direct competition with Final Fantasy XIII. Whilst this makes sense from a business perspective, choosing to remake The Legend of Dragoon puzzles me.
When the game was first released for the Playstation it failed to make an impact with JRPG fans. Established RPG players who had gained experience from series such as Breath of Fire, Phantasy Star and the early Final Fantasies showed little interest in a new IP. Even less interest came from more casual gamers, whose RPG experience was limited to Final Fantasy VII and VIII. The result of this was a game with an undeservingly small fan base, which has barely grown even after the explosion of internet gaming sites.
This lack of popularity wasn’t helped by negativity from both the gaming media and internet users of the time. The predominant view was that The Legend of Dragoon was simply trying to imitate Final Fantasy. Rarely were unique elements of the game taken into consideration and when they were it was in order to criticise its slightly untraditional approach.
One of the most common attacks focussed on the battle system. Unlike traditional RPGs where an attack command would result in immediate action, the Legend of Dragoon employed the use of quick time events to allow the user to perform Additions. This allowed for more powerful attacks and the collection of SP for Dragoon transformation later in the game. The complaint from most gamers was that too much accuracy was required to successfully complete an addition. For me, the battle system is a refreshing change from just issuing an attack command, giving the player direct involvement with the game’s combat.
Along with the battle system, the story of the game came under fire. Whilst the main storyline does begin with the JRPG cliché of the hero setting out on a mission to rescue the heroine, it quickly transforms itself by the halfway point of Disc One. By the end of the game the plot has developed into a unique and interesting story with over 10,000 years of history and a fair number of plot twists. Unfortunately, most people give up before they can become fully engaged with the story due to its traditional beginnings.
If we are to see a remake of The Legend of Dragoon I doubt that Sony would keep the individuality of the original game to help appeal to a wider audience. The most obvious change would be to overhaul the battle system. Given that quick time events are becoming evermore unpopular and did little to add to the game’s appeal ten years ago, it would be foolish for Sony to include them in a remake. To disregard the main mechanic of the battle system though would be ignorant of what differentiates the game from other JRPGs. Also, with the increasing popularity of real-time battles it’s probable that the turn-based system of the original game will be lost, again to help drawn in cotemporary RPG audiences.
I can see alterations being made to characters and story elements as well, simply to maintain the standards of ‘˜modern’ RPGs. Whilst the original game did have some generic character types and clichéd elements, I worry that these would be exaggerated to appeal to today’s perceived RPG-playing audience. On the other hand, Sony could surprise us and recreate the characters in a way unfamiliar to RPG fans. In either event, character changes would detrimentally affect the plot, but Sony has been known to do it before. Medievil: Resurrection (a 2005 PSP remake of the original Medievil for the Playstation) featured drastic story changes. Sony replaced the dark tone of the original game with desperate attempts at humour, destroying the feel of the original. With the Legend of Dragoon lasting for around 80 hours (excluding a few side quests) the game centred on story. If changes were made here then it would bring into question why Sony would choose a remake and not a new franchise.
To remake a generally unpopular and unsuccessful game seems a highly questionable decision. If Sony are trying to compete with the upcoming Final Fantasy, surely they would be better off creating something new than allowing this rumour to become reality.
This was seriously one of my favorite games for the PSX
I would very much love to see this one remade. It hasn’t really aged that well, and so few people played it that honestly it could do very well. So many RPG’s lately have tried something new and failed, missing out on that great formula so many seemed to have down in the PSX era.
That’s the problem, right there: Execution. Sly 3 has quick-time events, but never are they really irritating – they’re woven in as a vital gameplay element. And really, is a fighting game much more than very fast quick-time events done from memory, and strung together for maximum damage? The combat system in Legend of Dragoon sounds awesome if it can be done right.
OMG, i was searching for info on LoD rmk, and i find this text saying people didn’t like the game system?? oww these people nowadays really pisses me off. LoD is a really greeeeeeat game and has an amazing plot (and a big storyline), and not to mention FF battle system of action-> atack button, it’s not really bad but it can be boring after some time, while LoD has a quite new (at least in the time it was released) battle system, that makes the user interact more with the battle and see those really coooool animations of the NOT STANDARD ONE SLASH ATACK (i loved to do it and hear the voices XD). Well its a really nice game and i dont know why people didn’t like it, and looking at the games today i feel sad (FFXII system is really boring (WHY YOU HAVE TO DRAW AND UNDRAW THE WEAPON ALL THE TIME ?????(WHY THE ANIMATIONS ARE SO BORING ??????))). Thumbs up to the idea of remaking LoD or at least a good sequel (without the stupid real-time FFXII system).
I, too, would buy a remake or sequel to LoD if it came out. It was a great game, in my opinion. I actually had it for four years and didn’t really play past the first boss battle until I found this explanation of the game’s plot online. It was so interesting and original, I just had to play the rest of the game. It was great! The combat system’s really unique, and it just feels so satisfying when you complete a really complex addition sequence, especially demon’s dance or hard blade with rose. I don’t know why this game didn’t gain more popularity. It truly is a great game, and more people would see that if they didn’t keep comparing it to FF7. Wake up already! They’re two different games, with completely different storylines and gameplay. people really need to stop comparing the two games and just appreciate LoD for what it is: a masterpiece.
… it took me years to pass this game (5) actually. the disc broke on the fight with drake. I only just got a new copy i love it so much. The scene in one of the first citys makes me laugh everytime (the girl that offers to babysit if dart and sharna …)
honestly I agree Will,but also at the same time don’t. I would love to see a remake but like Will say’s there’s a chance that it might be dramatically altered and if it were. I could see not only myself but hundreds of other people who feel the same way about the game as I do, getting pissed off at how the game mechanics were just torn out and how the game is not even romotely the same, probably what’s even worse than that is people going around saying “well that’s a cool game right?” like after it’s been changed, and of coarse your going to be pisst off and say NO IT WASN’T Lol well at least would anyways. I don’t like it when classics are changed. but like again Will said, I believe they would change it a pretty good amount. and I know nothing about the JRPG Market like Will probably does so I can’t even remotely argue that of what he says. well actually I would either settle for a remake or a sequal. both would be amazing really. but I could see people catching on to it if they just made it the same. but still again I don’t know much about peoples tastes now n’ days I’am just going off of what I expect and like about games and thinking there has to be someone out there like me. but ahh yeah thank you will I think it’s awesome you pointed out that the game involved you in it’s battle sysytem unlike so many other games out there, I thought the same thing for so long and I’am glad you pointed it out in good detail. nice work
im more then all for a remake of lod. i can truly say that would let me die happy.
personally though I thought that LOD was done perfectly especially for it’s first ever appearance. to be honest I think it’s one of the best RPG Mechanics out there. can it be upgraded? yeah I think it could, to be honest. I’ve always thought that a game like LOD and Grandia 2 Combined could make for an really interesting gameplay element. actually I think it’d be pretty epic especially with today’s graphics.
@Brandon “RavenSanâ€: yeah mine too the story was amazing… i think sony should look at “Atlantica Online” which is a turn based mmorpg and do that with LOD
The Legend of Dragoon was and still is a great game. It introduced a truly innovative battle system, had random + touch-based encounters, included VA ( a little cheesy sometimes), and harbored beautiful FMV + backgrounds. And, the story remained complex without drifting into the territory of convolusion.
But, like with most RPGs, it didn’t have “Final Fantasy” in the title which = Thoughtlessly spamming the “X” button in battles, Hours of Pointless FMV, or Vague Plotpoints. So, it wasn’t given a proper chance. Personally, I’ve played 6 of the 13 (mainline) FF titles that are available and I don’t see what the “big deal” is. More often than not, the FMV is intrusive and the plot twists are plain silly. I.E. Ultimecia’s appearance in FF 8. The FF series also has been behind the times in some console areas.
VA wasn’t introduced until FF 10 (2001)
Random Battles weren’t done away with until FF 12 (2006)
Midi wasn’t fully done away with until FF 10 (2001)
Chocobos, Summons, Cura, Ultima Weapon, etc. Don’t FF fans ever tire of seeing the same aspects over and over again? I thought Final Fantasy 7 was okay, but I don’t understand the people who say they played through the game 15+ times and still beg for a PS3/PS4 Remake. Don’t they want to see what else is out there? Life is short.
I adore The Legend of Dragoon and don’t wish for a Remake. In my mind, it has aged well. It has a couple of problems with the translation and the cheesy VA that I mentioned earlier, but I had tons of fun with its gameplay + Medieval Setting + Plot. I do NOT see the comparisons to Final Fantasy 7 at all. Countless RPG, before 1997, have handled love stories, spiky-haired heroes, and god-like beings.
Look at Final Fantasy 13 (2009) and its “Break System” for battles. Xenosaga II for the PS2 (2004) utilized this type of system first, but I don’t hear any complaints about stolen ideas and such. I swear, if SquareEnix copied The Legend of Dragoon’s Additions Set-up and pasted a Final Fantasy title over it, fans would probably be calling it the “Best thing ever!!!”
Plus, First-Person Shooters seem to be all the rage now. Or, Western developed RPG with the bald space marines and guns are given priority over Japanese RPG. I don’t think a Remake would fare well in the current climate.
http://www.petitiononline.com/tlod/petition.html
sign this petition if you want this game to be remade…
I love TLOD, i still play it to this day.
even my mum (not a gamer) enjoyed it and played the whole disc 1.
I would want a upgrade, same story and all. just new mechanics and graphics, no random encounters would be nice – FF XII style.
@kat:
I agree with you completely. You are a freaking genius XD
I ESPECIALLY agree with you here: I swear, if SquareEnix copied The Legend of Dragoon’s Additions Set-up and pasted a Final Fantasy title over it, fans would probably be calling it the “Best thing ever!!!†”
Because it wasn’t Final Fantasy, people just didn’t care.
Definately need a remake because the world and places you explore in that game can look almost real now, but the main thing they need to keep in mind is to keep the same soundtrack , the music sets the mood, and one thing that can never be remade from that game is the music because sound quality is the same as it was back then, just wasn’t in 5.1.
Aside from that, LOD was the best RPG I ever played to date. The only thing that makes some RPG’s better is the graphics. If you liked this game, try Magna Carta 2, most amazing RPG game I have played since LOD, the battle system is too much fun.
i’m all for a remake of this game, i’ve been playing it a lot lately because i’m trying to actually write it into a book (for personal reasons, not necessarily for publication of said book) and i’ve even gotten my younger 13 yr old brother into it. just earlier today we were talking about how awesome it would be if this game could be remade for ps3 or one of the newer systems, the only thing i ever had a problem with in this game was graphics and sometimes dialogue, it just seems a little like the characters are new to the english language xD and also, the animals in the game :s it always confused me because no one ever gives a name to them, you just assume that they’re like.. horses? idk. but i digress. the point is i would love this rumour to very soon become fact.
I would absolutely love to see a remake of this game. LoD was the first ever RPG I’ve played, and ever since, I have been in love with the genre of games. Addmitedly, at first, I wasn’t too interested in it, mainly because I couldn’t figure out the beginning sequence. But once I played through to where Dart finally gets the Red Eye Dragoon Spirit in Hoax, I was hooked. Some changes would probably be advised, such as easier leveling for characters and maybe extra added side quests. Over all, LoD was an AMAZING game. A remake would be highly appreciated, and if it’s made for the PS3, I would freakin’ buy one just for that game. I still play it to this day, and hardly ever get bored. The only problem I see with it’s popularity is that the beginning is a little slow, which almost caused me to lose interest before even getting halfway through the first disc. After having played and beaten it, personally, I’d say don’t change anything. But that’s only from having played and knowing what’s to come. I’m not a gaming expert or anything, but I would seriously love to see a remake of this game. And soon, too.
The battle system wasn’t that great? Shadow Hearts has a very similar battle system and it is extremely popular. It even takes the accurate timing with using an item. I found the battle system addicting. I still play LoD, though I only have disc 3 cause some crack-head stole the other three discs. This was the very fisrt RPG I ever played. If there is a remake, I will get it immeadiately! I’ve loved this game ever since it came out when I was 8.
I personally loved LoD. I’m not a huge RPG fan, but LoD was different. I want actually do something, not just choose a command and watch like so many of the games today. While the battle system wasn’t perfect, I really enjoyed being able to affect the outcome of the battle rather than just waiting to see if random chance would let me win. Whether they remake it or not, I’d at least like to see the original available for download!
I hate to think that the storyline will be altered. I can live if the fighting system is changed to something similar to FF13 or Lost Odyssey, but the storyline is what kept me going back. It was one of the longest games I ever played (not counting Chrono Cross or Pokemon) and the storyline was beautifully woven that kept you guessing, while set in a totally alien world. I loved it. If they change much of the characters, it will be sad to have Shanna loose her soft and innocent character or Libitz loose his hero-go-forth attitude or even Rose’s I-know-everything-and-so-mysterious airs, it would be disappointing. However, if they perfect it and stay true to the game as a whole, it would be nice. And–heck–I really only want better graphics and the freedom to get a new copy of the game!!!!
Also… There were side quests???
@Russ: I totally agree with the “choose a command and watch” part. I’m playing FF13 and rapidly hitting the A button the whole time I’m watching the fight.
I thought this game was perfect.
The music was very memorableand calming, like chrono cross.
The battle system was very engaging and rewarding.
The story blew me away at the end of the 3rd disk, almost pooped my pants in shock.
The only thing this game needs is an HD refresh and the ability to switch characters during battle, to make it easier to complete your list of additions to the max by the end of the game.
Remember…this game took 3 years to make and it was not because of the detail in graphics.
People who don’t like this game, obviously did not play the game through. Plus they actually thought about cowards who hate challenging timed battle sequences. You can buy a ring the lets you automatically complete additions without having to do the timed attacks.
I think they won’t remake it because they did not get enough credit for how much time and effort they put into making it.
All we have now is FF13 and the only thing good about that game is the graphics, absolutely crappy non-memorable music,
overly complex story thats boring and non-interesting, and a battle system where you have to constantly heal and attack, with a lack of customization to weapons or character development.
If your looking for a good RPG these days, that would compare to this game a little bit,”Magna Carta 2″ Excellent game.
and I agree with what Russ said above
If sony tries to change anything on the remake of this game i will personally bitch to them for 30 years of my life or more until it goes back to the original battle style and story line of the original ps1 game. They can change the graphics, but i would still like the original cinematics in there though.
Also iwould like the original sound track and battle animations in there too, ilove this game, great story line and countless hours of gameplay.