Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 772 Joined: 25 Jun 2008 | A small note before I start. I am fully aware that my spelling, grammar, Sentence structure and most everything else about this review will end up coming under fire mainly because it will not be good. I apologize in advance and hope that people can look past it for whatever it is worth.
For those of you who do not know Megaman Legends 2 is a followup to the respectably popular Megaman Legends, a game that took Megaman fans away from the world of 2D platforming and introduced them for the first time to a game with a complex story and 3D gameplay. Taking place apparently a year or two after the events of the original, legends 2 refines the Action/adventure and RPG elements from the first game while expanding upon the original world with different locations, making the game feel more open and expansive. This combined with both the art and writing to create a world that was at once light hearted and fanciful on the surface while staying dark and complex underneath, something shared by 'Final Fantasy IX' which was also released in 2000.
The gameplay for Legends 2 borrows from the usual 'tank' controls popular with many games of the PS1 era. While such controls are usually notorious for being hard to manage and a bit slow The Legends series seems to stay relatively tight and responsive. The camera rotation and movement are both easy to manage with a bit of practice and while jumping seems to float a little bit it feels much more manageable than the 'NBA JAM' jumps of the first game. Initial combat is naturally done with the buster cannon. When in combat there is no point to be doing anything but holding down the fire button save for a few brief moments when foes will put up some sort of defense to it. The truth is though that the AI is so set in its ways you can easily beat most bosses with the 'run around in a circle while spamming attacks' method. But that is not to say the game is not complex, especially when you consider the special weapons.
Along his adventures Megaman will either find or buy parts that he can then bring to Roll. These parts are then turned into various tools, the most notable of which are the special weapons that give you the majority of your attack punch. Surprisingly these weapons usually do not have the usual 'Robot master weapon' feel that one might expect even though many seem to be similar to weapons used in previous Megaman titles. This is also where the majority of the RPG customization in Legends 2 comes into play. Each weapon Roll makes can be upgraded for a price, and those upgrades can have drastic effects on its performance. The homing missiles for example can be an effective weapon from the start, but as you upgrade them will not only grow in attack power and range but increase its seeking capabilities and gain infinite ammunition. Most weapons have some set of foes that they work best against, but unlike other megaman titles this is often due more to player preference in use than any specific weakness. This combined with a well balanced classic armor/helmet/Accessory (boots) setup that you might find in classic turn based RPGs help to round out the mechanics. The price of these armor parts, as well as your E. canteen and bionic parts to increase your life guage do come at awkward price ranges however, but overall its nothing game breaking.
While I will not spoil the story too much, I feel it is worth noting that Legends 2 does an excellent job of continuing to flesh out the unique setting and doles out enough character development to keep you caring about what is going on. It seems to assume the player has already gone though Legends 1, but if you have the opportunity you have no excuse not to. Quite a few things are revealed such as what happned to Rolls parents, Why Megaman was locked away and just who it was that created the ruins all without breaking the flow of the game. Cut Scenes mesh as easily into the action as possible for a PS1. Also while it does not have much impact on the overall story line it is possible to attempt a minor courtship with Roll. Sadly this equates to little more than buying her nice things and saying the right thing with little coming of it. However those who were familiar with the first legends will appreciate even the small show of interest between the two.
Overall I have to say that this is a good example of what games can and should be more often. While fun to pick up and play when you are bored the game can easily draw you in. Like any PS1 game it does have a few warts by todays standards but for its time it was and in many ways still is an exemplary product. As long as you are willing to put in the time grinding out some Refractor shards and pumping up your weapons then you will be hard pressed to find anything really wrong, save perhaps the rather obvious Canadian accents of the voice actors. Personally, I am more than willing to forgive the soul shredding 'ehs' and "aboots'.
(please note I have nothing against Canada or her fine people. To anyone offended by the above comment I offer my most sincere apology and would like to offer you a sense of humor in compensation.) |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3229 Joined: 10 Nov 2007 | Okay, waaait up a minute, stop right there.
You can't be reviewing Megaman Legends without mentioning the unquestionable star of the show, the inimitable Miss Tron Bonne.
I demand a recount!
Also, I believe that Megaman Legends 2 is the only game with an E rating where the main character has seen every significant female character naked before the end of the game.
And you can literally kick puppies in the first one. How awesome is that. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 862 Joined: 29 May 2008 | if your aware your spelling is a bit off.. why dont you use the spell checker, you right click on Any word with a red line under it and it allows you to choose what might be the right spelling, and if there isent, play around with its spelling and try again |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 772 Joined: 25 Jun 2008 | I used the spell checker, but often times people find flaws even after you have altered every single underlined word. Frankly using spell check is as far as I am willing to go. I don't feel like finding a copy of 'Oxfords new English' and reading over each word again to be sure.
As for Miss Bonne, well, Shes nice and all but I always thought Megaman and Roll were the stars, hence my focus more on them. |
Press Junketeer Posts: 486 Joined: 14 May 2008 | Pigeon_Grenade:
if your aware your spelling is a bit off.. why dont you use the spell checker, you right click on Any word with a red line under it and it allows you to choose what might be the right spelling, and if there isent, play around with its spelling and try again
Correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe the word is "isn't." While we're on the subject, your second work should have been "you're." Both are contractions; one short for "is not" and the other for "you are." If you plan on criticizing others for spelling/grammar mistakes, check your own first. |
BANNED Posts: 6317 Joined: 29 Nov 2007 | AMAZING! I loved this, and the first Legends like there was no tomorrow! How could you have not even hinted at the epic win that was the shinning lazer?
Anyway, good read, good work, good game. |
On the Record Posts: 5973 Joined: 7 Feb 2008 | I'm amazed that I'm NOT the only one who loved the Megaman Legends games with their awesomesauce boss battles and super fun storylines. Also, yeah, the Bonne family, super awesome.
EDIT: There are a lot of voice acting studios in Canada, they're responsible for the TV dubs of most of the Gundam shows. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 772 Joined: 25 Jun 2008 | TheNecroswanson:
AMAZING! I loved this, and the first Legends like there was no tomorrow! How could you have not even hinted at the epic win that was the shinning lazer?
Anyway, good read, good work, good game.
I thought about it, but honestly I would hate to spoil the amazement of those not in the know who kick it on for the first time, especially with maxed energy. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 2327 Joined: 19 May 2008 | Mega Man legends is what the franchise should have evolved into instead of being stuck in side scrolling purgatory. the side scrollers where great, but legends really showed that mega man could be so much more. I would have loved to see an X game in the MML style format. The closest thing we have had to what legends did where the Battle network series, and those while good in their own right, wore off fast.
PedroSteckecilo:
EDIT: There are a lot of voice acting studios in Canada, they're responsible for the TV dubs of most of the Gundam shows.
Tell me where these studios are so i can burn them down for the atrocity that is the SEED series. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 772 Joined: 25 Jun 2008 | Well apparently if we all offer encouragement, somehow, we may get a Legends 3. No idea what we as the fans can do but, well, Maybe we can flood them with emails about it or something.
Still I agree. The blue bomber needs to branch out. |
A small note before I start. I am fully aware that my spelling, grammar, Sentence structure and most everything else about this review will end up coming under fire mainly because it will not be good. I apologize in advance and hope that people can look past it for whatever it is worth.
For those of you who do not know Megaman Legends 2 is a followup to the respectably popular Megaman Legends, a game that took Megaman fans away from the world of 2D platforming and introduced them for the first time to a game with a complex story and 3D gameplay. Taking place apparently a year or two after the events of the original, legends 2 refines the Action/adventure and RPG elements from the first game while expanding upon the original world with different locations, making the game feel more open and expansive. This combined with both the art and writing to create a world that was at once light hearted and fanciful on the surface while staying dark and complex underneath, something shared by 'Final Fantasy IX' which was also released in 2000.
The gameplay for Legends 2 borrows from the usual 'tank' controls popular with many games of the PS1 era. While such controls are usually notorious for being hard to manage and a bit slow The Legends series seems to stay relatively tight and responsive. The camera rotation and movement are both easy to manage with a bit of practice and while jumping seems to float a little bit it feels much more manageable than the 'NBA JAM' jumps of the first game. Initial combat is naturally done with the buster cannon. When in combat there is no point to be doing anything but holding down the fire button save for a few brief moments when foes will put up some sort of defense to it. The truth is though that the AI is so set in its ways you can easily beat most bosses with the 'run around in a circle while spamming attacks' method. But that is not to say the game is not complex, especially when you consider the special weapons.
Along his adventures Megaman will either find or buy parts that he can then bring to Roll. These parts are then turned into various tools, the most notable of which are the special weapons that give you the majority of your attack punch. Surprisingly these weapons usually do not have the usual 'Robot master weapon' feel that one might expect even though many seem to be similar to weapons used in previous Megaman titles. This is also where the majority of the RPG customization in Legends 2 comes into play. Each weapon Roll makes can be upgraded for a price, and those upgrades can have drastic effects on its performance. The homing missiles for example can be an effective weapon from the start, but as you upgrade them will not only grow in attack power and range but increase its seeking capabilities and gain infinite ammunition. Most weapons have some set of foes that they work best against, but unlike other megaman titles this is often due more to player preference in use than any specific weakness. This combined with a well balanced classic armor/helmet/Accessory (boots) setup that you might find in classic turn based RPGs help to round out the mechanics. The price of these armor parts, as well as your E. canteen and bionic parts to increase your life guage do come at awkward price ranges however, but overall its nothing game breaking.
While I will not spoil the story too much, I feel it is worth noting that Legends 2 does an excellent job of continuing to flesh out the unique setting and doles out enough character development to keep you caring about what is going on. It seems to assume the player has already gone though Legends 1, but if you have the opportunity you have no excuse not to. Quite a few things are revealed such as what happned to Rolls parents, Why Megaman was locked away and just who it was that created the ruins all without breaking the flow of the game. Cut Scenes mesh as easily into the action as possible for a PS1. Also while it does not have much impact on the overall story line it is possible to attempt a minor courtship with Roll. Sadly this equates to little more than buying her nice things and saying the right thing with little coming of it. However those who were familiar with the first legends will appreciate even the small show of interest between the two.
Overall I have to say that this is a good example of what games can and should be more often. While fun to pick up and play when you are bored the game can easily draw you in. Like any PS1 game it does have a few warts by todays standards but for its time it was and in many ways still is an exemplary product. As long as you are willing to put in the time grinding out some Refractor shards and pumping up your weapons then you will be hard pressed to find anything really wrong, save perhaps the rather obvious Canadian accents of the voice actors. Personally, I am more than willing to forgive the soul shredding 'ehs' and "aboots'.
(please note I have nothing against Canada or her fine people. To anyone offended by the above comment I offer my most sincere apology and would like to offer you a sense of humor in compensation.)