Panzer Dragoon Zwei Issue

[ElkinFencer10]

So my heart is breaking a little bit typing this, but...I'm having issues with my copy of Panzer Dragoon Zwei. I can play through to Episode 4, but it freezes every time without fail on Episode 4 in the exact same spot. To be precise, the video freezes, but the music continues to play uninterrupted. This leads me to believe that the problem lies with the disc and not the console, but I'm no expert, especially when it comes to the Saturn. I've tried cleaning the disc with isopropyl without effect.

Do any of yall more learned folks have suggestions? Or are my options really just "Don't play Panzer Dragoon II anymore" or "Buy another disc"?

[Segata]

Do you have any local shops that will resurface the disc?

[ElkinFencer10]

Do you have any local shops that will resurface the disc?

The closest one I know if is about two hours away.

[MrPopo]

That's definitely a disc problem; I had a similar issue with my copy of PDS disc 1 (it failed on the last cutscene of the disc midway through the cutscene, but fortunately cutscenes are skippable so I could continue). Something to spot check would be to hold it up to a bright light and see if there's any pits in the label that lets light through.

[ElkinFencer10]

I thought of that, but I didn't see any signs of disc rot. There aren't any significant looking scratches either; just two that both appear to be fairly light.

[Segata]

Label not scratched either?

[ElkinFencer10]

Label not scratched either?

Not that I can see

[Sarge]

I would consider using something like ISOBuster and doing a disc scan at the least, and see if there's something physically wrong with it with a decent PC reader. Who knows, the Saturn could be getting a little sketchy and not wanting to read the disc... or you may discover those light scratches are the issue, and a PC reader can power through where the console can't. I have that problem with PSX discs that are scuffed up at times.

[Jagosaurus]

Could be the console laser. I've ad certain disc based games give me an issue on one console, but not another.

I'd recommend cleaning the laser. Years of dust can sneak in there.