The Legend of Dragoon was one of the last projects I worked on as a producer in Japan Studio and by far the biggest team I managed hands-on. We started the project in 1996 with only a handful of people, hired one by one as we were building up teams for Ape Escape, The Legend of Dragoon, and Ico simultaneously. During the peak of the game’s development, we had well over 100 people working internally in the studio on The Legend of Dragoon — for a PSone game! We had roughly 10 artists dedicated just to drawing concept art for this gigantic RPG. As the game contained lots of pre-rendered maps and full-motion videos, we were forced to spread the content over four CDs, which was the maximum number of discs that the fattest PSone game case could hold.
It took nearly three years to build the team and develop the game, which was released in December 1999 in Japan and June 2000 in the US. As I moved from Japan to the US in March 2000, I was able to personally handle the game’s release in both Japan and the US. Following the game’s launch in Japan, we learned from players that certain parts of the game were too difficult. The team re-balanced the gameplay for the release outside of Japan, so the US version was the complete version of the game that we were all proud of.
I still occasionally hear from fans of The Legend of Dragoon, and many want to know if there is a sequel. LOD2 was put into preproduction after I left the Japan Studio, but was eventually cancelled for some unknown reason, and the team members moved on to different projects. Some people still work in the Japan Studio, so we talk about the memories of developing LOD when we see each other at company functions.
It’s great to see the game being prepared for release as a PSone Classic on PSN, which means that fans can revisit the world whenever they want. Maybe it’ll make a new fans, too. Long live LOD!
My brain just had an orgasm and it came from my eyes . joking aside this is like the berst thing ever to come to ps1 classics ive been waiting forever for this now i can take it to go to boot my god this is awesome
Now if only we can get Konami to do something with Suikoden 2…
Very excited about this one though! Much thanks, Sony!
I what to play it on my Vita! Any news on that? I hope the delay is because Sony is working on a really great graphics enhancement mode for the emulator.
I love my Vita to death, but If Sony only allows us to play PS One games through the Playstation Suite, having to purchase the games again, a lot of people will be mad, including me. That is a nintendo move, Sony is better then that, I would think.
I have almost the entire PS One Classics library on my PSN. Please support who support you!
WOW!, supremely awesome, now if I could ask for 3 more PSone Classics… well i be happy… first and best is SILENT BOMBER, then it be Jackie Chan’s Stuntmaster, Ninja shadow of darkness, and if it aint tooooooo much trouble… throw in Nightmare of creature, each one for 5.99 and i will buy them all ^_^
Those who have never play this game. Get Ready to be blown away this game is way ahead of it’s time. Those who rely on reviews..REALLY??? PLAY IT DAMMIT AND SHUT UP IN AWE OF IT’S AWESOMENESS. Those who bought the Vita too early and couldn’t wait for PS1 support. Don’t blame us for you impulse shopping and poor desicions. This game needs no sequel. Those of us whe exprienced it’s greatness I own 2 copies of the four disc set long story and I’m gonna buy it again because it’s just that EPIC!!!! Thank you SOny this game couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve complained and mentioned this game in almost every update post I’ve been on. And I will finally shut my mouth and thank you guys for making my year with this great release. LONG LIVE SONY!!!! MAY THE GAMING GODS BE WITH YOU!!!
I still own my original copy, time to sell it for the digital :p
This is a tear jerking announcement. LOL! I LOVE THIS GAME! However, why can’t I play this game on my Vita? Why? I will be getting the game for the PS3 and that is fine and all but I want this on the gorgeous OLED. I want every game on the gorgeous OLED! LOL! Thanks for this one Mr. Yoshida and Sony games division. Please Mr. Yoshida is there a Vita update coming right before this release for PS1 classics. It just means more money for Sony and your Partners.
*cry* i never thought id see the day. i had the game back when it was on psone but the last disc didnt work and i couldnt find a copy of the game anywhere. now i can FINALLY finish the story
HELL YES I was waiting for this day to come, I can’t wait to play this game again and again lol.
man, this is one of my all time favorite rpgs of all time.
We’re LONG overdue for this game to come to PSN in the US. Afterall it was better received critically and financially here. Here’s hoping download sales are strong and we could eventually get a sequel or some type of spirtiual successor at least.
Yes! Finally something awesome for the PSOne classic. Now for Brave Fencer Musashi, plz!!! And, Will it be free for playstation plus? XD
I will buy this as soon as I can play it on the Vita. That isn’t a complaint, it’s a promise.
Yay! I still remember playing this game, what a fantastic experience. I will be purchasing this for sure. Thanks Sony!
I can’t feaking wait. It is like a blessing from the Gods. I even kept my psp3000 model for good reason, and seeing as my Vita isn’t going to have PSOne support for a while, I can play it still no matter what. ^_^ Sooooooooooooo excited. This game is on par with FF6, FF7, Chrono Trigger, and Earthbound, one of the greatest of it’s and all time. Thank you for finally telling us some amazing news, now get Skype. Lol. Ahem, anywho, thank you. ^_^
I want a sequel!!!! So, I will buy this XD
THIS HAS MADE MY WEEK!!! this is my favorite game of all time and i cant wait to be able to play this much more easily in the future. I just hope there will be a vita update to play them in the future.
FFVII = LOD BOTH ARE MASTERPIECES!!! The best RPGs ever!!!
Meh…it was Sony’s attempt at making a FFVII killer and it failed. Boring battles, boring music, lackluster storyline, very repetitive gameplay.
Its basically FFVII with somehow worse graphics. Don’t even get me started on the awful main character Lloyd.
OMG OMG OMG!!! I have LITERALLY been waiting for this announcement since they first started putting PSClassics on psn!! Way to go, I’m pumped!
This is seriously awesome! I never did get to finish this game. I was broke a few years ago and had to sell off my copy to make some dough. This is one game that I will be putting all others on hold for. Thank you Mr. Yoshida! You are the man!
plz let we can play it on the vita
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THANK YOU.
THANK YOUUUUU!!!!
This is just AWESOME !!!!!!!!
First day purchase.
I hope we can save PSOne classics to our PS Vitas by then so I could play this on the go without the hassle of going through remote play. Either way, I’m (re)buying this day one. Woot Woot!!
Wow. This is awesome. Legend of Dragoon is easily one of the best RPGs that graced the original Playstation. To this day, I still have my original copy that I bought new in 2001. Nice to see a whole new group of gamers will finally get a chance to experience this masterpiece.
That being said, after looking through the first 20 or so comments, I’m in agreement with quite a few points they bring up. As I still own the original game, which I can quite easily play on my PS3, I currently have no reason to buy this. Since I got rid of my PSP in order to fully support my PS Vita (which I absolutely love, Pinball Arcade is fantastic!), I have no way to play this on-the-go. Yoshida-san, as soon as you can get PSOne Classics working with the PS Vita, I will buy this instantly. Let that be motivation to whatever team at Sony can make it happen. Thanks!
I guess I will go ahead and put this game on my PSP, but I have to say I’ve watched many YouTube gameplay vids of this game and I was not impressed, but so many people say that it is such a great game, I dunno. I’m going to give it a go, I hope that it’s as great as everyone is saying it is. =/
Now everyone can stop begging! I am so psyched, what an excellent RPG….will certainly bring back memories. Now, I hate to dilute such a good thing with more requests, but please add PSOne support to the Vita. It is the most requested feature as far as the Vita is concerned, along with Skype/Other Apps and more RPGs (and games in general..) It would be an amazing one-two whammy when coupled with the release of this bad boy. Pretty please??
::Sits and waits patiently::
Would buy…if my Vita would play it.
Please?
Although I love my classic games, it would be nice for some of them to get an hd upgrade.
Oh my… i have no words.
Please now sony. This is truly epic. Now where is the other cult followed game Ape Escape? Us english speaking users dont get the Ape Escape PSN classic but Japan Does. Please sony! It is hard to find a disk of that game now, and it would be EPIC if you could add it. Really how hard is it to add a rom to the store and be emulated? Please?
Please! APE ESCAPE FOR PSONE CLASSICS!!!
@Tre_Omega
This is true. Dont judge a game based on reviews, especially IGN who is very lacking on sources now.
The dreamcast was hated by many and people thought it was bad. However its a truly epic system, with so many things ahead of its time, the first game system with online play, etc. I love and still own my baby, the dreamcast.
i still have my four discs with the fat case, still this is great news, because we are a ver very little step further for the sequel!
This game is literally Legendary.
It’s one, if not the best game ever made on any console ever.
I remember playing it years ago and it was epic!
Honestly can’t wait to get it, I will force my friends to buy this one.
Yes, force them, DMC style, they’ll thank me later…
As for PSVITA, Sony said that both YouTube and Skype Apps were coming to Vita.
So, for thoses people who are impatient to getting theses Apps (Spoiled Brats).
You’ll need to learn a new skill that’s called Patience.
If you don’t know what it means or how to get that skill…
Well you need to invest 30AP interest third column after learning Building, Processing and Life.
But that will only happen when you venture into Lost Toughts and defeat Impulsive Beast Nowminator but only when the winds are blowing East……. (Whatever…)
I had to wait 2 years to get Movies on the PS Store and 1 year for music unlimited. So just wait and it will come.
@ ccrogers15
Actually… Both Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis had limited online play through a 3rd party add on adapter called X band. Dreamcast was first console to offer online play out of the box. =)
I think the browser is decent for a device that doesn’t support Flash Player.
And if you complain about the browser, well, Sony did tell everyone that it would not support Flash Player.
Flash Player is made by Adobe And Microsoft is a major Stockholder of Adobe, not to mention that they bought Skype as well.
Huh, what’s that smell you ask?
That’s the stinking stench of Greed.
By the way, for thoses who don’t know why Life was in the pre-requirements of my previous post is because you need to get one in order to have Patience. It’s under the spiritual category. Unless you sold it to the Greed Demon…. Then you’re screwed.
lol… CommandingTiger you are too funny. :D
FINNALLLYYYYY!!!! Can’t wait to play this game again, such a favorite <3
Even though that the majority of the bloggers on here asked for this to be released on the PSN, I still see quite a few complainers/whinners.
“So I can only guess, but this will be a 9.99 dollar game. I will pass until a sale.”
The actual discs cost more than $10 and some of those wouldn’t even have to look remotely new, especially since they don’t make them anymore. Yet the digital version is basically a new copy for $10….sad.
“Not buying if Vita doesn’t gets PS1 support or til it gets support.”
PS1 support wasn’t a launch feature, nor was it advertised as one. They said a later patch so play it on your PS3/PSP.
People are never satisfied….
May 1st? Is it possible this might be a freebie for PS+ for May? Keeping fingers crossed!!!
I really loved that game, but I already own it with it’s 4 CDs. It would be nice if all Classics could get trophies and a graphical boost in HD (For the textures at least, like God of War collection). Then I’d buy them all without any problems. I already bought some Classics but only those that I did not have the disc anymore, like FFTactics and Castlevania SOTN, but the Best Classics in HD is an instant sell with me, and I’m sure that The Legend of Dragoon in HD would sell really well too. In fact, they could simply remake all those classics in today’s graphics and it would sell really well. Thanks to the fans, but also to all new gamers that never played the original! ^_^
YEEEEEESSS!!! I SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THAT GAME AS A KID!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!! is there an approximate price yet?
YES YES YES ………………………………………………………………
NUFF SAID
OMG :D
i actually saw a copy of this game the other day (too expensive), but now i can spend like what? 10 dollars for this amazing RPG?
This is awesome, alone, but I would have loved to see a HD Remake of this game. The story, and game-play, were an awesome experience. It was a game-changer for RPG’s, and it’s sad that this is only part I of the story. I would definitely kill a god to see part II in production.
Three Thumbs Up!!! Way up!!!
I have been pining for this, but like everybody said, probably not going to buy this till Vita supports PSOne games. I know Sony is listening, so I’m going to add to the noise.
One more noise: Legend of Legaia please? Pretty pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease?
Glad to see so many still show their love for the game!. I’m still hopeful for a sequel or prequel(One during the dragon campaign).
Let’s all buy this and maybe Sony will give a look and create a sequel. :)
I never gave up on my hopes that Sony will bring us LOD as PSone Classics one day since it was released on japanese PSN. After so much wait and patience, we’ve at last being rewardaded. LOD was one of the finest RPG games made in all Playstation and Sony’s history. I can’t say how much glad I am to have the opportunity to play this again, but I wanna say thank you very much for making this possible!!