Genre: RPG
Developer: Team Andromeda
Publisher: Sega

The frightening, genetically mutated world of bio monsters and mythical creatures featured in the the proper Panzer Dragoon series is portrayed fully and beautifully in Saga. A combination of high-polygon, themeful scenes and lengthy FMV sequences of stunning detail, Saga stands toe-to-toe with any game on any 32-bit era platform.

Saori Kobayashi and Mariko Nanba deliver an epic soundtrack of soaring orchestral work heavily mixed with thumping techno tones. Panzer Dragoon has always set itself apart by being different, and the soundtrack helps to that end. Voice acting in the cut-scenes is also worth note; I don't speak Japanese, but the acting certainly sounds first-rate-- full of intonation and expressiveness, memorable in and of itself.

Like most RPGs, Saga puts the player through cycles of town, field, dungeon, and battle. But the manner in which Saga delivers these cycles each is one of a kind. The battle engine in particular is one of the best I have seen in an RPG-- battles are a matter of pure skill and strategy, but remain fast-paced and absorbing.

I have heard some say that Saga is one of the top five RPGs of all time; that may be a bit of an overstatement, but Saga's spellbinding battles, fun dungeons, memorable story, phenomenal FMV sequences, and top-drawer soundtrack make for one of the best games of the 32-bit generation.