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Ryuuki Denshou: Dragoon (or Dragoon: Legend of the Machine Dragon) is a splendid SRPG game originally made for PC-98 in 1996 by KSS and was mildly popular for a time, leading to an enhanced version for Japanese Windows (RD:D Plus), another sequel later (RD:D2), A Playstation remake in 1997 (based more on the content from RD:D Plus), another Windows sequel (RD:D3 - Twilight), RD:D novels, RD:D Drama CDs, and an OVA with three episodes (which was released in 1997, outside Japan in 1999). While the original PC-98 game and "RD:D Plus" were reviewed favorably, there were some complaints regarding the Playstation game (reading some Japanese Review sites, it averaged about a 6 out of 10) and the anime got less favorable reviews; based on what I've seen of the OVA, it didn't seem as appealing as the game (the characters look older than in the original, they added more perverse elements not in the original game, some events that take place are obviously different, etc.).

Being a blend of fantasy and science fiction, the story centers around a swordsman-in-training named Sadie (spelling varies) from the snow-covered village of Nooston and a mysterious female amnesiac named Miu (spelling also varies, some spell it Mew, others spell it Mieu, it's literally spelled "Myuu") who is being apprehended by the evil Garubado Empire. As Sadie goes off on a routine trip in the forest, he finds the amnesiac unconscious, being dragged along by two soldiers. While Sadie didn't understand why she was with them, he didn't trust the soldiers and listened in on their conversation until he was spotted. Sadie is attacked but defeats the two soldiers and rushes over to the unconscious girl who is weak and could die if she doesn't get out of the snow and rest. Sadie carries her to a wood cabin a little deeper in the woods (which Sadie's father built as a retreat during exhibitions and a refuge for sword training).

Sadie is worried as the girl cries out in her sleep, muttering the phrase "Dragoon", and decides to leave to find some things to make a stew to feed the girl. As he's cooking, she awakens and the two introduce themselves, but she regrets being incapable of telling him about herself and for burdening him. Sadie brushes it off and decides he wants to help her regain her memory and decides to leave home to do so, as he feels her destiny has more to do with just her memories and takes it as an opportunity to continue his training, and thus their journey begins. There are several major characters who each have a good degree of personality. For example, Sadie's "sister", Milly (spelled Miryi), is outspoken and rather rambunctious (and usually refers to herself in third-person), Miu is softspoken but kind and curious (not to mention polite; she uses more honorific expressions than other characters, but becomes very close to Sadie, where he suggests later to just call him "Sadie" and not "Sadie-san", as he considers her his partner), Rain D. Fairaldo is a prince who is typically cool and intelligent, but can be surprisingly immature at times and is often at odds with Milly (they have more of what one could see as lover's quarrels), etc.

"Dragoon" is a strategy game with a slant for storytelling and travelling more than constant battles, and unlike many strategy games, it featured an actual world with towns, shops where you can buy things with jewels, and plenty of NPCs, not to mention you explored them like you would in a traditional RPG (think Shining Force). Characters can use or equip various items (each character can carry four items on them personally, though you can hold more) and sleep at inns to recover health, as opposed to many strategy games where units heal after a fight. Additionally, characters can change their class and learn new abilities upon leveling up in battles. Battles themselves aren't very complex, though you have to properly utilize "Action Points" to get the most from a fight. Action Points are required for moving, attacking, and using special abilities. Specials typically use more power than other manuevers, and characters can even move, hit someone, then retreat (provided they have enough AP). The A.I. isn't particularly challenging (it was tweaked in RD:D Plus) and the game isn't too hard, but the story and characters help move things along. The only thing tougher than magic in this game is the power of love.

The game looks and sounds great for a PC-98 game, though there are a few niggling issues (such as characters not having front and back graphics in battle, only one or the other, to name one example). It's a good game overall with nice cutscenes which KSS is typically known for. These videos cover roughly thirty minutes (the intros) and fifteen minutes of assorted gameplay. Enjoy.