The story is communicated though a combination of CGI and real-time cutscenes and dialogue during gameplay, with in-game speech using the fictional language of Panzer Dragoon with subtitles.

Gameplay consists of the player controlling the protagonist Orta and her dragon, navigating levels through an aiming reticle that can be moved over the whole screen while the player's path is predetermined, alternate routes can be opened based on in-game actions. Panzer Dragoon Orta is a single-player rail shooter which spans ten levels of varying lengths and difficulty, covering a variety of environments and each housing a boss. Orta and her dragon in combat, targeting a swarm of enemies Orta was the final Panzer Dragoon game until the 2020 remake of the original Panzer Dragoon. Panzer Dragoon staff have voiced mixed feelings regarding Orta for its continuation of the story after Saga. Several publications have named it one of the best Xbox games, and it is remembered favorably for its gameplay and technical achievements. Panzer Dragoon Orta received positive reviews, with praise for its gameplay and art design. While the greater power of the Xbox allowed for more freedom in gameplay and graphical design, the production was troubled by a lack of art design direction and problems with the team's graphical and gameplay ambitions. Around a dozen staff returned to work on Orta, including the artists Takashi Iwade and Kentaro Yoshida, the composer Saori Kobayashi and the battle designer Akihiko Mukaiyama, who directed Orta. The previous Panzer Dragoon developer, Team Andromeda, had disbanded after the release of Panzer Dragoon Saga (1998).

The gameplay features the player moving an aiming reticle and shooting enemies while the dragon flies through 3D environments on a predetermined track. The story follows a girl, Orta, who is freed by a dragon and embarks on a quest to prevent the abuse of ancient technology. The fourth Panzer Dragoon game, it was released in Japan in 2002 and in North America and Europe in 2003.

Panzer Dragoon Orta is a rail shooter game for the Xbox, developed by Smilebit and published by Sega.

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