And coming soon apparently…
Remember that game? You know, that Xbox Live Arcade Kinect shooter that looks like Panzer Dragoon being made by many of the guys from Panzer Dragoon. It looked to be one of if not the most impressive Kinect game to date, until of course it was delayed indefinitely just before its June 13, 2012 release date.
Well, do not fear my rail shooter fans. The game’s creator, who also happens to be the creator of Panzer Dragoon no less, Yukio Futatsugi, has confirmed that the project is not dead. In fact, it’s alive and well, and due to come out soon, according to Eurogamer.
How soon you ask? Well…he doesn’t say. What he does say is it’s not far off completion at all, and that Microsoft will announce it when it’s ready.
The article elaborates on the team making it, Grounding Inc., who consist of many veterans from Panzer Dragoon, such as Futatsugi’s former boss, Tomohiro Kondo being the lead game designer this time, and how it all evokes a sense of nostalgia for everyone involved.
While you may think that the link between the two games is clear and simple, it wasn’t initially Futatsugi’s intention for that to happen. Futatsugi had totally different ideas to pitch to Microsoft for a Kinect game, but it was Microsoft who wanted a rail shooter in the same vein as Panzer Dragoon. Futatsugi soon learned why. “…I realized that a rail shooter is perfect for Kinect. Kinect can’t handle too much movement — you can’t move totally freely. Also, it’s better to keep the number of recognized movements simple so as not to confuse the Kinect system — and these things make a rail shooter the ideal choice.”
Finally, when asked about concerns on how original Panzer Dragoon fans will feel about this game, Futatsugi stated that we obviously wanted to make a better game, but also that Panzer Dragoon is Sega’s IP and hence a different game in many ways, such as dragon design concepts and environments. He just hopes to finish this game and get people to feel that people will view Crimson Dragon as a game that Panzer Dragoon would have been like if it had been made today.
I for one, echo that sentiment. Now I just gotta wait a little longer…right?
Crimson Dragon still lives – and is not far from completion [Eurogamer]
