The release of The Legend of Dragoon wasn’t easy, and this underrated gem of a JRPG draws a lot of parallels with Expedition 33.

It’s no surprise that by now, Expedition 33 has grown to become quite the phenomenon, amassing a large, passionate fan base. The game deserves all the credit it gets and is a genuinely refreshing take on the ‘old-school’ JRPG turn-based formula.

Much of the game’s influence can be attributed to titles of yesteryear, such as the Final Fantasy series, and most surprisingly, The Legend of Dragoon. As per a recent report online, the game was released by pure chance but remains one of the most beloved JRPGs to date.

The Legend of Dragoon was released by a series of coincidences and pure luck

For the uninitiated, The Legend of Dragoon was PlayStation’s attempt at creating a classic turn-based RPG of their own. The game was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and directed by Yasuyuki Hasebe.

The Legend of Dragoon had a lot of QTEs | Image Credits: PlayStation

It can best be described as high fantasy fiction set in the world of the Endless. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be seen as its spiritual successor, at least in terms of gameplay.

Both games are primarily turn-based, emphasizing mid-battle QTEs, which further enhance your damage and defensive capabilities. Needlessly to say, both games have proven to be extremely popular, and The Legend of Dragoon is considered by many to be a cult classic.

In a recent interview with Gamesradar and Kyle Bosman, Yoshida provided more context for the title’s success and initial struggles.

According to Yoshida, the game was set to be the ‘next big RPG’, and with an unlimited budget and free rein, they decided to do what they do best—making games. Along with designer Yasuyuki Hasebe, the group went on to make a new kind of RPG after accumulating Hasebe’s experience in making the popular Super Mario RPG with Square Soft.

The Legend of Dragoon made heavy use of cinematics | Image Credits: PlayStation

While the team started small, its ambitions only grew over time, and so did its budget. At the end of production, The Legend of Dragoon cost over $16 million to make, supported by a strong team of 100 people.

Many of their ideas were experimental and came about by accident. The team created a masterpiece and, despite issues, recouped its budget thanks to an incredibly popular response from overseas.

This, sadly, was not enough to push PlayStation to make a sequel, and The Legend of Dragoon remains a PS1 only game for now (although it can be enjoyed on the PS5 thanks to Sony’s efforts in porting it over).

The game has gone on to leave its legacy in other titles

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The legacy of The Legend of Dragoon cannot be stated enough. For starters, its turn-based combat with QTEs resulted in the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which many consider to be GoTY and a generally fantastic experience from start to finish.

Ysauyuki Hasebe, its creative director, was a genius whose work is best recognized in the equally iconic Paper Mario RPG series. The game practically laid the foundation of modern RPGs and is considered by many to be an underrated gem.