Legend of Dragoon
	Genre: RPG Developer: Sony Imagesoft
Publisher Region Released Sony Imagesoft NA 06/14/2000

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User Review

Review by wolfqueen001
June 04, 2010

To anyone complaining about Legend of Dragoon’s “stereotypical” plot, I’d kindly request that they stop and think for a moment. Any clichés the game does have belong to JRPGs everywhere. I’d also ask whether they hadn’t slept through the game’s entirety because LoD has the deepest and most shocking plot I’ve ever seen in any RPG of that era. Indeed, the story weaves such a twisting and multi-faceted tale that it could serve as its own epic literature.

It begins with protagonist Dart returning to his adoptive home after a five year long search for the amorphous Black Monster that had destroyed his childhood village and rendered him an orphan. There he discovers all is not well. After a run-in with a massive, flightless, insectoid dragon from which he barely escapes, he learns that an enemy nation has razed the town, captured his long-time friend Shana and taken her to the most notorious prison on the continent. Thus he mounts a daring raid on said prison to get her back, earning the trust of a captured knight in the process.

The success of the mission naturally means the group becomes involved in the bitter civil war between the kingdom of Serdio and imperial Sandora, which they’ve been fighting until now. But the game doesn’t content itself with just that. What starts as a journey to rescue an old friend and end a war quickly turns into something much larger. The tale takes the trio through four diverse regions, each with its own culture and history, leading to a series of interweaving events that adds further dimension to the ever-expanding plot. The small trio becomes a band of seven as friends old and new decide to accompany them. Over time, all learn of and acquire the mystical power of the dragoon, or dragon knight, capable of flight and devastating magic. Betrayal shatters trust as those thought loyal to the group’s cause show their true colors. Former enemies join forces for various reasons. And a conspiracy involving ten thousand years of detailed history soon complicates what at first seems a “simple” matter of politics and anomalous events. (Dragoons and dragons had long since been thought extinct.)

Through it all, the player doesn’t know much more than the characters themselves do. As events both tragic and joyous occur, you’ll sense their emotions and express shock as new plot twists throw everything you once believed in completely opposite directions. When enemy forces capture King Albert of Serdio, his faithful vassal Lavitz rashly attempts to rush after him, only to be knocked out by a fellow party member. The sense of urgency is palpable; you’ll easily understand why the man acted the way he did, perhaps even sensing his loss of self-control. The connection you develop with each of the characters enables you to feel exactly as they do. Not even the occasionally rough translation interferes with the raw emotion that somehow manages to clearly express itself regardless of the situation. You’ll laugh at old-timer Haschel and naïve Meru’s goofy antics. You’ll hope and pray for the best when things turn grim. You may even weep during the most tragic moments where you’ll be left questioning what happens next.

Further conveying the mood is the beautiful and remarkably appropriate soundtrack. A soothing, sleepy melody accompanies tender moments, such as those between Dart and Shana. Moments of heroism are met with determined tempo that seems to channel the characters’ vigor and willpower. Times of tragedy produce a slow-paced and deeply moving sorrowful song that flows through everyone listening. Even the ambient music belonging to towns and the world map is acutely appropriate for the setting. Small port cities like Lidiera exude a sense of relaxation and warmth while the commercial town of Lohan carries pseudo-Arabian tunes to match its desert-like appearance.

In case the elaborate plot and fantastic storytelling weren’t convincing enough, the game went to extra lengths to ensure interest of one sort or another. Should story fail, the innovative battle system more than makes up for it. Almost everything about fighting is interactive, from using magical items to initiating individual attacks. Each character specializes in a particular weapon, and every character (save one) has a number of techniques, termed additions, that require precision timing to execute fully. Properly completed, additions add great strength to the character’s base attack, making what would have otherwise been a weak offense into something potent and effective. It is, to me, the first, and perhaps only, instance in which a JRPG actually requires the player to pay attention during the player’s attack phase.

The unique system doesn’t end there, however. Tossing magical items requires rapid button mashing to enhance their power. And, while not as difficult or even unique as the additions themselves, it’s still better than selecting an item from the menu and watching. Even dragoon forms require attentiveness as the physical attacks also require precise timing to pull off perfectly. About the only thing that isn’t interactive is powerful dragoon magic, but mana and the number of turns the party can stay in that form strongly limit that ability.

Since acquiring the game almost ten years ago, I’ve probably played through it a dozen times. Despite memorizing the plot and everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, I’m still just as enthralled as I was then. I may no longer be confused or surprised when certain catastrophic and unbelievable events occur, but the initial impact of experiencing it all proved strong enough to keep me coming back. That alone should prove how powerful the game’s premise and presentation are. If an old veteran such as myself will forever vaunt its greatness, despite its age, then hopefully anyone new must surely appreciate it. That is, if they can see it for what it’s worth.

Rating: 10/10

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