Legend of Dragoon Launches on PS4 and PS5

An Iconic PS1 RPG Returns

One of the most beloved PS1 classics is suddenly readily available for PS4 and PS5 players. The Legend of Dragoon, a first-party JRPG epic from Japan Studio of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has launched as part of the Classic Catalog for PS Plus Premium members and thankfully as a separate purchase for $9.99 USD and features improvements such as upscaled graphics, rewind, quick save, and video filters. Those who purchased The Legend of Dragoon via the PS3, PSP, or PS Vita stores can download the game for free provided they are using the same PlayStation account. 

Legend of Dragoon’s port to modern PS systems was announced through a PlayStation Blog post, resulting in the very vocal fanbase online shouting in celebration all over the internet. While it still seems that the absolute best way to play the game may come from the passionate fan scene, an official way to play that’s easy enough to find and affordable for most players is always appreciated. Fans are even making a remaster that upscales background images, textures, and character models.

When comparing the PS5 version of The Legend of Dragoon to the Vita version though, Joe noticed that the manual is not nearly as easy to find on the PS5 port. On Vita, getting access to the manual for many classics is simple but whether that’s included on modern classics varies from title to title. Joe also noticed the occasional flicker while playing so we may see a slight performance patch for this release later on. These details aside though, the PS5 port looks about as good as one might expect for a port of this nature.

Other PS1 classics announced alongside The Legend of Dragoon include Wild Arms 2 and Harvest Moon: Back to Nature. Destroy All Humans!, the PS4 port of the PS2 original, was also made available. 

For those new to The Legend of Dragoon, much about the game is traditional for RPGs of the era. Turn-based battles, spikey-haired heroes, and flashy attacks are all present but what makes it special is its unique setting, bass-fueled soundtrack, stunning visuals, and the general appeal of leading a group of transforming knights on a journey with deep character moments. Anyone into Power Rangers or Sailor Moon will find a lot of visual nods to Sentai media, creating a playable version of something like the Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog or Ronin Warriors. Of course, some of the most popular games of the PS1 were RPGs such as the monumentally important Final Fantasy series, so Legend of Dragoon was often marketed to those fans and had a similar shelf presence in stores. 

Granted, playing the game today highlights just how slow the game’s pacing can be and there are sections that require extensive grinding or weirdly specific backtracking such as getting a Dragoon Soul for a certain late-game character. The game’s plot is fairly predictable and hits a ton of fantasy tropes, yet the scenes, creatures, animations, and music somehow harmonize to create one of the most unforgettable games of the time. 

There might be hope for a remake or sequel yet and there have been several outcries from fans since the game’s release that appears to be constantly gaining traction. 

Personally, The Legend of Dragoon is one of my favorite games of all time, one that I keep in a similar regard as Final Fantasy IX which is objectively a much better game but I have always adored the visual style and characters of Legend of Dragoon. It was a game that I discussed extensively with friends at school and I’ll never forget finally beating it after marathoning the game’s final boss. Funnily enough, my first online username ever was Lavitz105 which I used to play Neopets, Runescape, and Adventure Quest. That username carried me through most of my life and I always have the best conversations with Legend of Dragoon fans. One of my best college friends was discovered after seeing him wear a Kingdom Hearts shirt, resulting in us chatting about RPGs, and we both quickly asked about The Legend of Dragoon, both delighted to find another fan of a classic. 

It’s a title that I think deserves a full remake or a big-budget sequel from Sony; considering just how lucrative remakes are in today’s market, the time might be perfect for a remake. That said, expanding this game’s rich fantasy setting through a sequel would be fantastic and I would love to see a new generation of dragoons. 

For fans of classic RPGs, The Legend of Dragoon is absolutely worth experiencing but go into it knowing that it is a product of its time. Also, the game really picks up several hours once dragoon souls are unlocked. 

Learn more about Legend of Dragoon through the official PlayStation listing.

Update 2/27/2023 - A patch has been released for The Legend of Dragoon that fixes critical issues with the game soft locking while using certain attacks. Thank you to Stephanie DeCleene, writer at VGKAMI and LoD reporter, for sharing the news and testing the latest patch.