There are those who like to compare Sega to Rodney Dangerfield. They don't get no respect. Which is hard to believe in light of their many, many significant achievements in this industry's history, among them the first 3D fighting game, the first 16-bit machine, and a myriad of great gaming franchises, one of which we're discussing today.

The Panzer Dragoon series is somewhat unique in that it's widely known, but not necessarily widely played. It was, after all, on Sega's ill-fated Saturn. Yet it's managed to carve out a reputation for itself as a series of three excellent shooters (well, save for the Game Gear version) and one much lauded but much too short RPG.

So it was with great elation that we took the news that Sega hadn't left Panzer for dead, when it was announced that Panzer Dragoon Orta would be 32-bit classic's first foray into the 128-bit generation on Microsoft's Xbox.

Here's what we know so far...

Orta will most definitely be a shooter. Sorry, Saga fans, it just wasn't meant to be. Like its predecessors, Orta will be on rails, but you will be able to control the vertical movement of your dragon as well as its speed. The controls are a simple affair. Pulling one of the triggers will change the view 90 degrees, while pulling both will change it by 180 degrees. The Y and A buttons accelerate and decelerate, respectively, while the X button fires your weapon. True to the Panzer tradition, you can lock on to multiple enemies by holding down the X button, then unleash holy hell by letting go. Additionally, clicking the left analog stick fires a special attack that will clear the screen of baddies in one all-consuming blast. To further expand your combat options, you can switch between three different forms at any time, each with a different strength in speed, defense, and firepower.

In the looks department, expect PDO to have one of the more impressive graphical showings on a system already known for games with stellar visuals such as Halo and Dead or Alive 3. As if Jet Set Radio Future and GunValkyrie weren't evidence enough, Sega obviously knows how to tap the console's potential. The media of the game released so far showcases some eyepopping effects and the great texturing and lighting ability that have become the Xbox's hallmarks.

Audiophiles will also be right at home with Orta, thanks to Sega's standard practice of laying down the tracks in Dolby 5.1, with a sweeping orchestral score fit for a fantasy shooter.

Sega fans should be waiting with baited breath for Panzer Dragoon Orta, slated for a November 2002 release. We'll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled.

··· soakrates