This feels like an overall improvement over the original with tighter controls, branching paths (not to be confused with branching stages), better visuals and just better balance.

I still have no idea what's going on in the story besides good dragon shoot down bad dragon, but the world has such a cool otherworldly design that I didn't really care. This also features much cooler setpieces than the first game.

The shooting is easier on the hands to fire rapid shots which my thumb is grateful for. Shooting things down is much more satisfying with better feedback and good visuals.

My only complaints are similar to the first where it is really short for an on-rails shooter. At least there is more replayability here with branching paths in levels. My other issue is the fact that the dodge button is tied to hitting the movement pad twice, which is not convenient and screw the flow gameplay up, as opposed to pressing a single button to dodge (seriously there are so many unused buttons here).

This is a very good on-rails shooter with some great atmosphere and music. Worth a play for rail shooter fans. I look forward to delving further into this world as an RPG with Panzer Dragoon Saga.

Zwei is a massive upgrade from the original Panzer Dragoon in just about every way. On a mechanical level it's not even close, everything feels snappier and more effective, the addition of a rechargeable screen nuke grants a little bit of leeway and while the split routes are esoteric enough to require some real experimentation to figure out, they're at least a neat idea in theory. What I must presume was Zwei's big selling point was the ability to evolve your dragon between stages, and I have to say I love how it was handled. He starts as a flightless creature you just ride on the ground, and the first stage and a half are played that way... until you reach a chasm, and fall down it, only for him to take flight and carry you into the first sky stage, as triumphant music swells up. Super cool way to introduce the concept. After that, the evolution has quite a bit less fanfare: if you play well, your guy digivolves and gets a bit stronger, with the only real difference besides statistics being that you'll get the best ending (read: somehow the most cryptic one) if you evolve him to his full power. Still, if nothing it's neat to see the various designs.

There's a bit more focus on storytelling in Zwei compared to the first Panzer Dragoon, which was extremely grandiose in its atmosphere, but devoid of dialogue. While it's nice to have just a little bit more insight into the world, Jean only really speaks in the first half of the game, and usually doesn't have too much to say. Still, it doesn't do any harm, the levels themselves are just as majestic as the original's, and quite a bit more elaborate in appearance. Special mention goes to some of the bosses, which manage to feel impressively dynamic, and are overall fairly effective setpieces, and to the soundtrack, which goes for a more esoteric and less orchestral feel compared to the original, and lands just as well.

What a fun game. Don't even need to begin on how much of an improvement it is upon the last game. Not only do you have the ability to rotate your view (Haven't played the first game since last year so bare with me on that part), but also the game runs much more smoother and has more detail to take in. Which makes it all the more funnier as this one's a prequel.

Can't believe I was not arsed to beat it as it is as short as its predecessor. But at the time though I was busy so I'd let it slide. Regardless, definitely much more replayable, and do remember when playing Saga, to check back on this game because you unlock something special ;)