Panzer Paladin

Lore & Background

The story follows Flame, a spunky, good-natured rescue service android and pilot of Grit, a sentient bipedal power armor mecha known as a Paladin. They work as operatives for Gauntlet, a peacekeeping organization dedicated to defending Earth from invaders, alongside the group's unnamed Director, scientist Dr. Bloom, and technical support member Etch. The group fights against the dark prince Ravenous, a tall bird-like creature resembling a griffin, and his army of demonic creatures led by powerful Weapon Keepers resembling entities from human myth and folklore such as Anubis, Baba Yaga, and Medusa. A stoic centaur-like creature known as The Horseman appears randomly as a seemingly neutral party, frequently challenging Flame and Grit to fights while providing assistance on numerous occasions, though his intentions remain mostly unclear.

The plot begins when a large weapon-shaped meteor falls to Earth near Gauntlet's HQ in Canada, releasing demonic invaders led by a Wendigo monster. After the Wendigo is killed by The Horseman, Dr. Bloom explains that weapon-shaped meteorites landed in ten countries, each acting as a transfer gateway for demonic entities. A secret religious parchment foretold that spirit weapons would be crafted at a place known as the Forge to take over the planet. Flame offers to engage Ravenous' Weapon Keepers as a Squire pilot with Grit, traveling across the globe to defeat them. After the final Weapon Keeper is defeated, The Horseman opens a conduit to an Inverted Tower orbiting the planet, where Flame and Grit confront a decayed Paladin mecha whose lifeless operator is a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Flame—revealed to be the first Squire pilot Blaze, who Gauntlet had lost contact with. The duo proceeds to the Spirit Forge to confront Ravenous, leading to a final battle that determines Earth's fate based on how the player interacts with Ravenous' remaining weapon.

Reader's Guide

Panzer Paladin's significance lies in its deliberate homage to classic NES-era platformers while introducing modern mechanics such as a weapon durability system similar to Breath of the Wild and a rock-paper-scissors style weapon triangle system. The game features 17 levels with stage progression modeled after Mega Man, where each stage's boss is visible on the stage select screen and stages can be completed in any order with some exceptions. Combat includes a high-versus-low attacking and blocking system akin to Zelda II, and weapons degrade with use, each containing a predetermined spell that can be cast by intentionally breaking the weapon. The player can eject from Grit to play as Flame, who is quick and small enough to fit through tight spaces, wields a Castlevania-style laser whip, and can siphon energy from power tanks to restore Grit's health. The game also implements a weapon customization system called the 'Blacksmith' where players can draw and create their own weapons to share with others via the internet. Between missions, unused weapons can be converted into Spirit Points to increase Grit's maximum health. The dual-ending system, determined by whether the player picks up or destroys Ravenous' weapon, adds narrative consequence to gameplay choices.

Did You Know?

• Panzer Paladin was released for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch in July 2020, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions following in June 2024.
• The game features a weapon durability system where weapons degrade and break after enough uses, similar to Breath of the Wild.
• Players can draw and create their own weapons using the 'Blacksmith' customization system and share them with other players via the internet.
• The story includes a bad ending where Flame becomes possessed by Ravenous' weapon and leads a demonic army.