The Legend of Legacy: HD Remastered

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a decent, though unspectacular, dungeon crawler that does a good job of defying some traditional RPG tropes. Mechanics like the elemental system and the randomized character progression help this stand out from the pack, while its simple dungeon-crawling format carries the basic, but satisfying gameplay for dozens of hours. Still, it doesn't take very long for this one to feel like it's overstaying its welcome, and more could've been done to sand its rougher edges. Legend of Legacy may not be the best example of this genre, but it's still an enjoyable release for the dungeon-crawling cognoscenti.

I'm not sure what to feel about The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered. I don't really mind the game's minimalist approach to narrative, but the dungeon design, repetitive battles, and difficulty walls I hit made it hard to press on.

Legend of Legacy was fun and intriguing on the 3DS, but on the Switch it feels like a no-brainer. The frame rate issues and visual imperfections are gone, making the art and character designs stand out even more. The music, composed by Masashi Hamauzu for all you Final Fantasy XIII degenerates out there, is a home run. If this is the kind of game you can gel with, a hardcore dungeon-crawler with strange rules and light storytelling, don’t miss it. If some of these ideas sound neat, but other parts are scary, try out Alliance Alive instead. This team had something special going for sure, and it brings me hope for these kinds of passion projects to see them reappear on different platforms.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid JRPG, but its story leaves something to be desired. There is almost nothing to emotionally latch onto. However, it offers a satisfying gameplay loop for those who enjoy grinding out weapon skills and spells, and exploring vast regions. If you're looking for a more engaging narrative and deeper gameplay systems, however, Emerald SaGa might be a better choice. While both games share similar turn-based combat, Emerald SaGa boasts a richer story and more robust mechanics.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered successfully polishes an underrated gem, bringing its distinctive gameplay and artistic flair to modern platforms. The revamped visuals and accessibility features make it easier than ever to appreciate the game’s unique charm, while its strategic combat and cartography system remain as captivating as they were in 2015. However, this is more of a faithful restoration than a transformative reimagining. Fans of the original will appreciate the enhancements, but newcomers expecting an extensive overhaul might be left wanting. Still, for those willing to embrace its quirks and dive into the mysteries of Avalon, this remaster offers a timeless RPG experience worth exploring.

Although I see what it was going for, Legend of Legacy HD Remastered doesn't quite stick the landing. The visuals and music are excellent, and the concept of filling maps out through exploration scratches a very specific yet satisfying itch. But, the repetitive nature of the overall gameplay, along with punishing you for any sort of experimentation with characters or weapon loadouts, leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, overall.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a terrific title from FuRyu’s past. Those that already own the game on 3DS aren’t going to experience anything new, but it’s wonderful that this title that could have easily been lost is now on multiple platforms. Regardless on which platform you prefer, The Legend of Legacy looks great and is a terrific addition to any RPG enthusiasts catalog.

This HD remaster brings the same experience from the 3DS to current consoles, except for Street Pass, which has been replaced with a character-sending system to still retrieve items. The graphical updates are decent but not exceptional, with some low-definition elements remaining, particularly the illustrations. The change mainly focuses on reducing polygon aliasing, leaving most of the original visuals unchanged. The story, while interesting, is relatively minimal and often takes a backseat, being narrated mostly during gameplay and interrupting the monotony of exploration and constant battles. Overall, the remaster doesn't add much to the original 3DS version, offering a basic upgrade for a title that was already somewhat overlooked upon its initial release.

While the nostalgia may appeal to some fans of the original release, newcomers are likely to find little to redeem this lackluster remaster.

The Legend of Legacy has ideas that I fully support, but the execution has it firmly sitting in the mildly above average category. The major deterrent is the absence of a storyline. It’s the definition of loose, and no amount of exercise will help it tighten.