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Legaia 1 was great,Legaia 2 is horrible!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: December 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

They traded it's great gameplay for graphics;this is very evident with all the pointless un-skipable cinemas.Plus they made the characters shout their battlecries in english instead of japanese,and hearing a guy say "yeah!" for the 150th time gets old.

I hated the fact that they introduced a concept of "combining items to create better ones";I've never liked this in a game cause you either end up with something really cool(with help from a guide) or you end up with something worthless.Plus you only win combining-items after a battle,instead of a powerful weapon or defensive armor/accesory.Needless to say that's all you can steal from enemies as well which completely takes all the fun out of stealing.

They also did away with a free-roaming world map(in legaia 2 it has an arrow that takes you from point A to point B and back and forth....no exploring!)I felt that was unforgivable!The game also made the enemies alot harder for some reason.This is very noticable in the second area of the game when you go into the mountains.

As for the traditonal ra-seru type creatures that you could summon by defeating them in battle(in legaia 1)I have no idea if they return in this installment.As far as I played I did not find them,and that was too long for me esp when you learn them in the very begining of legaia 1.

I'll keep playing legaia 1,but I'll pass on legaia 2.

Legaia 2: Duel Saga.........

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The followup to one of my favorite Playstation 1 RPGs of all time, Legend of Legaia, has definitely improved upon every aspect of that game and then some. Developed by the team that made Wild Arms, Legaia 2: Duel Saga begins in a small village called Nohl where a young hero named Lang & his friends are tossed into a monster infested land where the crystal they protect(an Infinite H2O supplying Water Crystal) is stolen right from under them by a mysterious traveler named Avalon. The theft soon plunges the land into a horrible state. Bound by duty & a need to protect his village, Lang sets off into the world to get the crystal back and end the mayhem around the countryside. Needless to say- it's not as cut and dried as you think. Avalon is more dangerous than you first expect. And that's where your journey truly begins.

The real star here is the games' battle system or, better known as, the Tactical Arts System. Learned through scrolls, Arts combinations, and story-based events; the different techniques can all be chained together to form bigger more powerful attacks.The massive variety of possible combos are almost endless. The battle graphics are absolutely stunning at times with all kinds of pyrotechnic special effects and whatnot.

Legaia 2: Duel Saga shows alot more promise than the first game, for sure, yet there is one small thing that bothered me about the game. That being the battles or lack thereof. I spent most of my time looking for more battles to face than actually wanting to move along the story. Still, it's a small gripe and didn't take any enjoyment from the game. If the truth be known, I guess, in a sense, I appreciated the fact I could take a breather between battles. Still, it woulda been nice for them to have upped the ante of the battles just a bit.

Regardless, Legaia 2: Duel Saga is still worth your time if RPGs are your thing. I loved the game & seriously hope we see a third in the series. If not for the PS3, then the PSP instead.

Flat-footed sequel to a charming original

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: April 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The original "Legend of Legaia" was a delightful game. Started out feeling simplistic and child-like, ended up surprisingly stirring and sophisticated. The graphics fit the style of the game, and it was the first game I ever played where the characters' outfits changed drastically in combat as they got new weapons, armor and accessories. It was truly a gem for the PSX.

The new game sacrifices most of the charm for "improved" graphics, which are shockingly bland. The colors are very drab, the characters festooned with strange lines that are supposed to delineate muscle tone, and the camera just sits squarely on the floor, with very few dramatic angles used throughout the game. It's a very boring game to look at, honestly.

The music...how can I say it? I understand reusing themes in new arrangements, but they've reused the music with no improvement in instrumentation or arrangement. It was a marked disappointment.

The only good thing this game kept from the original is the combat system, and the improvements made there are dubious at best: I liked the concept of "charging up" your AP gauge and your arts bar with a "Guard" move...it required me to make decisions about how to fight every single turn. In the new game, the Normal Arts moves add AP, and the Super Arts and Hyper Arts consume it. With special items, the length of your arts bar changes, but is always fixed, otherwise. As a result, I can set up an efficient combination of Normal Arts and Hyper Arts that will prevent my AP gauge from dropping at all. Entire lengthy battles played simply by mashing the X button repeatedly. Yawn.

Cooking is a fun addition to the game, as is combining to improve your Weapons, Armor, Items and Accessories. With Cooking, you can bump your stats up (and sometimes down) for several battles, plus get a little conversation going with your characters. The major complaint I have about Cooking is that the game doesn't keep the effects of Cooking a secret: the very first time you cook something, you know what impact it will have on your characters. Combining--particularly for Weapons and Armor--greatly resembles the weapon upgrade system in Final Fantasy 8, but with a lot more options available to you. It would have been nice to find a manual of sorts to tell you what could be upgraded to what, what you would need to make the upgrade, and where you'd be likely to find it. To fill my needs, I simply bought or traded for junk whenever I could, then tried to see what new combinations I could produce. Fun, but a bit aimless and frustrating. Combining Acessories was the most enjoyable to me, because I could always see what new skills I'd get before making the combination, and the skills can make-or-break your combat (for example, you really need anti-berserk to win the fight in the Gambler's Arena mini-game).

The story was...mmm...okay. I kept waiting for it to get started, or to throw a twist or two my way. As it is, the primary story consists of exactly what you expect it to: main character meets some other characters after initial meeting with the main bad guy, then goes and collects some stuff in the process of undermining the main bad guy's plan. No surprises.

The characters are reasonably interesting, and I really liked the firecracker attitude they gave Sharon (though her in-battle quips got seriously annoying after the thousandth battle). There does seem to be a lot of depth about the characters and many side opportunities to discover hidden surprises about them. I especially liked the consistent approach to responding to questions that was employed with Lang: whether you chose to have him agree, disagree, or tell someone off, his responses to questions posed by the NPCs were credible and in character. It was easy to make him a smart-mouth sometimes and have him be understated at other times without feeling like he was suddenly a different character.

Overall, it was an entertaining game, but a little shallow and with combat that looks spectacular but which was ultimately tedious--it was generally more entertaining to set the characters to Auto combat than to watch them perform the same moves over and over and over and over again.

If you liked the first one, you'll enjoy this one, yes. If you didn't like the first one, you'll like this even less. If you haven't played either but are interested, get "Legend of Legaia" instead--it plays well on the PS2 and has a much more engrossing storyline.

Eh...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: July 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The first thing I thought about after playing this game was that it had nothing to do with the first Legaia game; which didn't really matter to me but don't most sequals usually have to have something to do with the first of their series? Anyways:

Pros:
+MUCH better graphics (unlike the polygons in the first game)
+Better battle system (MUCH easier to understand)
+Cool Side-Quests
+The characters actually speaking English *but look at the "Con"

Cons:
-The storyline (it goes all over the place: what the heck is the main goal in this game anyway?)
-Like I said before, it would be nice if it had some things having to do with the first one but I'm not complaining.
*-Even though now you can understand what they're saying, it gets VERY old hearing someone say the name of the art that they're using every time they use it; and it also gets old hearing them say those stupid little phrases (over and over) when they kill an enemy or win a battle.

It wasn't the best game I've ever played but IF they decide to make a third game I'll definitely check it out. In conclusion, this is a game you might want to rent.

Et tu, Legaia?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: February 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I really wanted to love this game. Who wants to spend money for something and not like it? Maybe at a discounted price this game would be worth it. Any more than that, and there are a few things that you have to consider first. To start with, the graphics in this game are really not where they should be. The characters are rather primitive looking, and there are way too many clipping problems, with hands passing through sleeves (see Maya) and enemies disappearing while they are supposedly getting beat upon (see Sharon) being the most noticeable examples. Shadows seem to be painted on--they are hardly at all dynamic. As a result, Maya seems to have a beard every time she lifts her head. I had to avoid using certain battle arts combinations because it was too depressing seeing such an otherwise cute character look like she needed a shave! They also didn't put her legs together with her torso very well--she looks like she was manufactured like a Barbie doll. Eyes seem like they are just painted on to the front of the faces, hair is static--you get the idea. Environments are pretty nondescript, and the entire palette for the game is way too far into the grays--there is very little vibrant color. Finally, the Origins which are partnered with the various characters are very poorly designed, looking for the most part like swirling, colored, blocky blobs. The story is okay, and even moving at times, but the end is just way too sappy. They also tease you throughout the game about certain romantic possibilities which are never satisfactorily explored or resolved. In terms of game play, the much ballyhooed tactical arts battle system is fun to a point, but after seeing the same animation for the hundredth time, it starts to wear a bit thin. And when you are trying to get something accomplished other than just leveling up your characters, the frequency of these long battle interludes will have you pulling out your hair. By the time I got to the final level, I just equipped a "no encounters" jewel so I could get the game over with. This tells me that somewhere along the line, it had stopped being fun. This did NOT happen to me playing Final Fantasy X. Sound-wise, this game is roughly middle of the road. The music is pleasant enough, if somewhat uninspired, and the voice acting is good to passable, what there is of it. The sound of the fire while you are camping could use some work, however... In terms of the characters, there is really no good reason to have more than three. Ayne was a complete waste of time, and I ended up never using him except where he was needed for specific puzzles. Kazan and Sharon are virtually interchangeable, battle-wise, though you will want to use them as a tag team just to keep from having to endure the same attacks and victory comments over and over and over... I would also have appreciated some type of overhead map, as it was way too easy to get turned around and completely lost in the various maze-like levels.

All that being said, there ARE a number of things to like about this game, too. I did like the characters (for the most part), despite some of the glitches in their presentation. (I thought Maya was just too cute!) There is a good deal of humor in this title, and I did get quite a few laughs out of it. Even though it doesn't in any way effect the outcome, it is fun to be able to respond to a character in a number of different ways, choosing a particular answer and seeing how the other character reacts to your choice. The whole cooking/shopping for power foods business is fun, though it's unfortunate that the same dish always evokes the same dialog. The entire casino island is fun, as well. It's cool to fight in the gladiatorial contests (except against Stiel--argh!), and it's a blast kicking the heck out of your otherwise allied friends (WHO'S your daddy?!). The auction house can get tedious, but I loved the dancing bunnies! And the slot machines are a fun waste of time, as in real life.

To summarize: while I do not regret purchasing this game, I would not recommend it. It has its moments, but they are not really enough to justify the time you would have to put into it. I doubt that I will be playing it through a second time. If you have not yet played Final Fantasy X, by all means get that instead. If you HAVE played FFX, you might want to play it again instead of this game. (Just in case you are curious, the time-tracking for saved games only goes up to 99:59 in this title. That's one minute shy of one hundred hours. I put in just over that playing this game.) At least I made it through to the end, which is more than I can say for Kingdom Hearts. Go with Final Fantasy X, and possibly Xenosaga when it comes out. (I'll let you know about .hack.) Get this if there is really nothing else out there and you want to play an RPG, regardless. And the price comes down. It's not bad--it's just not that good.

Just a game to pass time.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: November 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I really enjoted the first one but the first one had a better arts system and was way more challenging than this one. I originally got this game just to pass the time until wild arms 3 came out but it has gone longer than I had expected and in this game is kind of bad. there is always some stupid detour that they throw in just to have you level up more to make the game too easy. This game has lasted ten more hours than it should have. Normally a long game is good but with every dungeon you are fearing the long drawn out battles that occur too frequently. But don't get me wrong it is a fun game just with many flaws. I would wait until there are no really good rpg's out to get this one...

Could have been better

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have to admit that I loved this game through the first couple of days I played it. But as the game carried on it seemed to drag. The storyline was weak. Having to get back a magic crystal isn't all that original. The voices were laughable. The graphics aren't much to look at. I don't think they have to be as grand as a Squaresoft game. But they have to be up to par with PS2 capabilities.
The battle system is the only thing remotely interesting about this game. It's unique in design but in the end can't save it from it's flaws. I agree that this game was JUST TO PASS THE TIME till Suikoden 3 came out. And I find it to be far superior.
Bottom line is that this game should be rented first.

Legaia 2

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 28, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Well I'll start with this. This game doesnt hold a candle to Legend of Legaia at all, but it has hooked me just a little. It looks like the makers of this game didnt really take their time with it. It seems to have kind of a generic story and emotionless characters. It could have been much better, but it has a few little interesting points so I will play it all the way through.

Long review

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 17 / 18
Date: August 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The game's story opens in Nohl, a village that has thrived in a lush land because of a magical water crystal that has supplied the residents with an inexhaustible source of water. You'll take the role of a rookie member of Nohl's militia named Lang. The militia is charged with protecting the crystal and the residents of the town. The arrangement works well--until the game starts. Not long after you begin your adventure, things go horribly awry when a mysterious stranger shows up and steals the crystal. The ensuing solar eclipse and the appearance of a sinister black light, along with the increase in the local monster population, obviously spell trouble for the locals. In true RPG fashion, Lang ends up heading out to set everything right before evil overruns the world.

If you've played the import version of the game that was released last year, or even the PlayStation predecessor, you should be familiar with how Duel Saga will play. You'll explore areas, interact with the locals to get clues on the whereabouts of the grabby mysterious stranger, shop, combine items to create new accessories and weapons, and, of course, fight evil. The game retains its predecessor's innovative tactical arts system that lets you input attack commands during a brawl. Unlike other RPGs, where you'll select from a menu of set attacks, the system in Duel Saga gives you a greater amount of control. You'll use the D-pad to specify where you'll attack an enemy: high, low, left, and right. You'll also be able to discover new attack combos, called arts, which will do some serious damage.

...

In terms of the game's graphics, Legaia Duel Saga shows its age a bit more than most PlayStation 2 games. The characters are somewhat blocky but are balanced out by the game's environments, which are nicely detailed and quite large. While the game's polygon count may be a little modest by this year's standards, Duel Saga is still a solid-looking game. The frame rate is decent, and there's a nice assortment of eye candy during combat, especially when you use your party's origins to attack. Unfortunately, you can't rotate the camera.

Sound in the game is pretty low-key. Ambient noise is sparse but effective, and the game's soundtrack is in the same vein as that of the original Legaia on the PlayStation. The characters in the game are pretty silent for the most part, although they do speak a bit during combat. While it would be nice to get a little more out of the game's sound, Duel Saga's audio seems good enough so far.

From what we've seen, Legaia 2: Duel Saga is shaping up to be a solid game that should appeal to fans of the original. The unique combat system is fun and offers some depth for players eager to discover every art. A solid selection of minigames to play ensures that there will be plenty to do as you make your way through the main quest. The localization is coming along fine; the build of the game we checked out was easy to follow and didn't seem to have any translation weirdness. If you enjoyed the original Legaia or are looking for something a little different, you should keep an eye out for Legaia 2: Duel Saga when it ships this September for the PlayStation 2.

A sequel to a classic RPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: June 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The Original Legend of Legaia on the PSX was everything an RPGer could dream of. A unique battle system, lots of difficulty and a good storyline too. When I heard of the sequel, I waited and waited and when it finally got here it was very well done and the battle system was even refined. But the game didn't have that great storyline and the difficulty that the first one gave off was lost. But this was made up for with tons of sidequests and great character developement.

The gameplay is much like the first one. However, there's a difference. You'll be asked LOTS of question that you must make a choice too. This helps you develope your character. The choices you make affect the dialogue in the game and how others view your character. Thus, you're developing your OWN chracter. Also, characters get nicknames in this, which also define how they're viewed. Interesting boost of gameplay (and try and find ALL the nicknames for EVERY character).

The battle system has been a little redone. Where as in the first one, normal battles could get teadiously long, this one allows for you to shorten those battles. For example, there are arts that add AP to your AP gauge (I'm assuming that most of you have played the first one) and they never subtract. Then you've got super arts which detract from your AP gauge. The only way to fill up an AP gauge is to use normal arts. This is a good idea but there are tricks to the point where you could use the same combo over and over full of a bunch of normal arts and the use a super art or a hyper art (A VERY POWERFUL attack) and NEVER lose AP. This made the game severely easy and I was already doing 25000 HP of damage to enemies by level 30! That's really sad (and considering I'm a maniac at raising levels my level 90 characters killed the final boss in one round). You have art techniques that are much too powerful making the difficulty level of this game seem like a joke.

The storyline in the game was not as good as the first Legaia. You've got no serus or ra-serus this time. Instead each chracter has an "Origin" because they are a "Mystic." The main guy is trying to destory the world and revive it with only mystics or something like that...must've dozed off halfway through the storyline. Why? Because the story moves at an incredibly slow pace. Not only that but the way its told seems like a rip off of the very first FINAL FANTASY game! You go around collecting the sacred stones so that you can restore the world back to the way it was. Sort of like the role the crystal's played in Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy V. The dialogue is also a little annoying at times as there are parts where some of it is useless and meaningless. But at least whatever your next task to do is always highlighted in blue making it easier to never get lost.

Wandering on the world map isn't slow like it was in Legend of Legaia. But that's because you can't explore the overworld at all. I'm not mad at this very much but it makes so that you must talk to another character to reveal the location of the next town or dungeon. There aren't any hidden dungeons either. The only hidden locations on the world map are shops. But the shops are very useful...

As far as secrets and sidequests go this game is chalk full of them. There is a hunter's guild to do which contains several sidequests that provide a challenge. There is also a hidden dungeon in town that has 100 battles to do (and that takes a hell of a long time!). Also, your chracters are always hanging out around town when you visit them. Talking to them reveals different things and each time you leave the town and come back they're in a different location. This helps further develop the chracters and gives the game more interface.

THe music in the game is somewhat weak. Battle music is great but dungeons are annoying. They also took tunes from "Legend of Legaia" and that music was beautiful. The problem was that they took TOO MANY tunes. While some are remastered and played smoother, they got annoying at times.

The game presents a long 40 hour or so and it's A WHOLE LOT MORE if you decide to attempt all the sidequests in the game and learn all the nicknames and such.

OVERALL: I could tell you more but the game is immensely huge giving for much more RPG goodness than any other RPG I've seen before.

On the good side
+Improved Battle system
+More character developement
+Lots of interface
+A deep story nonetheless
+Nice graphcis
+Good music at some parts
+Lots of "Legend of Legaia" nostalgia
+TONS of sidequests

But on the downside
-Improved battle system makes the game VERY easy
-Too much old music and not enough new
-Magic animations are too long
-Slow paced story
-Weak story (though deep)

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