We came up with sixteen questions for Forever Entertainment about Panzer Dragoon: Remake and you'll find the answers here in our latest interview with Monika Ginter and Kamila Dębicka from the PR Team!
Following on from our first interview with Benjamin Anseaume, the following questions were prepared for Forever Entertainment by Panzer Dragoon Legacy and members of our community. Thanks to Monika “BluNectarine” Ginter and Kamila Dębicka from Forever Entertainment’s PR Team for taking the time to answer our questions! This is not an exclusive interview; you are free to send your own questions to pr@forever-entertainment.com.
Note, the questions were sent to Forever Entertainment before the Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 patch and Google Stadia version were released.
1) With Panzer Dragoon: Remake now out on the Nintendo Switch, what are your thoughts about the game’s reception from both critics and fans?
The launch of the Panzer Dragoon: Remake game was a great success for us! The amount of feedback we received from both the community and critiques helped us build the confidence that the game, even though it’s 25 years old, truly has a chance to shine among other modern franchises.
2) How well did you expect Panzer Dragoon: Remake to perform financially, and now that the game has been released, have these expectations been met?
Fully.
3) The upcoming Panzer Dragoon: Remake v1.3 patch has an impressive amount of changes based in part on the feedback from the community. Were some of these features originally planned to be included at launch and held back due to deadlines?
The great amount of features included in v1.3 were added after the players’ suggestions, and we’re more than happy we could work on an update based on their feedback. Some of the features, like Gyro or HD rumble, were planned before the release, but needed more time for development, as they were considered extras.
4) We understand that Panzer Dragoon: Remake will be released on Windows PC and Google Stadia at an unspecified point in the future. Will these versions of the game include all of the patches from the Nintendo Switch version at launch and have you found it easier to focus on just one platform initially?
The upcoming releases on different platforms will of course include the features from the Nintendo Switch version! Thanks to being able to develop and update the game on only one platform at the time, we can provide new patches faster and more frequently.
5) The Witcher III features cross save functionality between the Switch and PC versions of the game. Have you considered adding similar functionality for players who buy Panzer Dragoon: Remake on both platforms (for example, the ability to synchronise game stats)?
This feature has not been considered yet, but it might be possible in the future.
6) We have seen many comments on forums and social media from Panzer Dragoon fans asking for PlayStation and Xbox versions of Panzer Dragoon: Remake. While we understand that PlayStation/Xbox versions haven’t been confirmed, is there a message that you can give to the hopeful?
Hope dies last ;) We can’t comment on this matter for now.
7) Panzer Dragoon: Remake was slated to be released in Winter but it was delayed. Can you shed some light on why the game was delayed?
The game was delayed a little bit so we could feature the premiere on Nintendo Direct Mini.
8) Ahead of the release of Panzer Dragoon: Remake, there wasn’t much in the way of news regarding the game’s launch. Then we received the surprise release on Nintendo Switch. Can we expect a similar launch for the Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake or will there be more communication with players before the release?
We believe the communication is here - you can always chat with us live on our Discord or visit our official social media profiles :) We can’t comment on Panzer Dragoon Zwei: Remake premiere yet.
9) How long was Panzer Dragoon: Remake in production (until launch), and now that the game is out on Nintendo Switch, how much longer do you intend to continue supporting the game with updates?
Panzer Dragoon: Remake was in production for around 18 months. The game will receive life-long support, as we greatly care about the franchise and its community.
10) Unlike in the original version of Panzer Dragoon, it is possible to experience the full game on Easy Mode in the remake. Is diversity among the player base and inclusion of players of different skill levels something you are concerned about?
Games in the past were way less accessible, but it was a part of their charm. We decided to simplify some of the aspects (mentioned full game in the Easy Mode). At the same time, we tried to leave a hint of nostalgia, when we added features such as cheat codes or Pandora’s Box unlocking after beating the game - for those who wanted a little “blast from the past” :)
11) There are a number of configurable options in Panzer Dragoon: Remake, for example, the ability to choose between the Yoshitaka Azuma and Saori Kobayashi soundtracks. How do you decide which features should be configurable and what should remain an unchangable part of your vision for the remake?
We had in mind that the game should leave as much freedom of choice for the player as possible. We chose those features, which in our opinion, are the most important and make the most sense in the remake.
12) We’re excited to hear more about the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake. Do you intend to create a close 1:1 remake in terms of gameplay, level design, and story, similar to the first remake, or is this an opportunity to revise these aspects of the game?
The success of the Panzer Dragoon: Remake showed us, that we should keep the gameplay almost 1:1 with the original, adding only the modern graphics – this has been emphasized by the majority of the players, and their opinion is the key point of the remake’s development.
13) The Saturn Panzer Dragoon games have a distinct earthly colour palette that is also present in official artwork associated with those games. Can you talk about the decision to go with a brighter colour palette for the remake?
The current color palette is a part of our artistic choice, thoroughly picked and discussed with every party involved in the remake’s creation.
14) We hope that you are all staying safe. What challenges has the COVID-19 situation brought to your working environment and has remote work been a good fit for your organisation?
We’re all trying to stay reasonable during this time. The safety of our teams is the most important thing there can be. Working completely remotely is something new for us, but despite its difficulties, we still manage to bring you new updates :)
15) It was nice to see the Panzer Dragoon fan base acknowledged in the credits of Panzer Dragoon: Remake. How did the community influence the development of Panzer Dragoon: Remake and what can we can do to help with the upcoming Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake?
The feedback from players is a tremendous help! Of course, there is no way to include every suggestion, as we receive tons of it daily - and the opinions can vary very much in the same topics.
16) Lastly, there’s a question that fans have been asking for a long time: who was the Sky Rider who dies in the introduction to Panzer Dragoon? He’s been speculated to be a human, drone, and a descendant of the Ancients. What’s your angle on this fan favourite question?
That’s a tricky question! We like to think that the Sky Rider is one of the last Ancients. But of course – that’s only a thought! ;)
Thank you very much for answering these questions for the readers of Panzer Dragoon Legacy.
Thank you too! :)