Black Legend Reviews
Black Legend is not completely without merit, but it's a game that had better ideas than execution. The big, unique gameplay mechanic that dominates its combat system is also responsible for making each battle far too long, and while the game's atmosphere is excellent, the art direction is uninteresting and there isn't nearly enough of a narrative to actually make something of the setting. There are a lot of excellent tactics games being produced these days, and I fear that the developers of Black Legend won't even be able to use patches to bring it up to the standard of the least of their competitors. The flaws are simply too ingrained into the core experience.
But, now, there are other turn-based strategy games. You can assemble a squad of mechas, a coven of mages, an elite military unit, or even a heavily armed pig and duck. You can fight aliens, fish-men, soldiers, pirates, and existential dread. What I mean to say is that I like the ideas in Black Legend, and I applaud the devs for remaining true to their vision. Although, this is an environment with stiff competition, and it wasn’t long before I felt my attention being pulled elsewhere. Black Legend will doubtlessly have its fans, but the magic simply isn’t there.
Black Legend introduces some neat concepts, but lacks the depth needed to create an engaging experience.
What’s good about Black Legend is very good. The gloomy atmosphere and the novel turn-based combat based on 17th century medicine are well designed and smartly implemented. Everything else about this game is either bland, rough around the edges or straight up poor. Diehard fans of turn based strategy games that can overlook the issues will still get something from Black Legend. For everyone else, there are better alternatives.
Despite having a distinct setting and good ideas for its combat, Black Legend fails in putting its elements in the right place to deliver a worthy experience, which makes it just another forgettable game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Black Legend isn't capable of living up to its interesting premise and quickly becomes a repetitive slog through similar combat encounters. It lacks the complexity other tactical RPGs possess, it doesn't offer meaningful exploration or choices and its writing is generally quite bland. The concept is intriguing enough but it needed a stronger game around it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Black Legend evokes a brooding atmosphere thanks to the fog covered streets of Grant and has some good ideas around party and class management, as well as its turn based battles. However, bugs and awkward camera controls, plus a lack of a strong narrative or lore makes Black Legend feel like a fog has descended obscuring its potential.
Despite the heavy influence of Belgian folklore and an interesting tactical battle system Black Legend couldn’t convince me. A disappointing visual world, annoying bugs, and frustrating explanation of game mechanics result in a game that exists but won’t be recommended by anyone. Honestly a big missed opportunity for something much better.
A great foundation soured by unbalanced classes, uninteresting story and an extremely linear exploration. Black Legend could’ve a future if updated and polished further, but I don’t see that happening.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Black Legend presents well in the cinematic trailer but fails to offer an enjoyable gaming experience that promotes repetitive play. Give it a miss.
Black Legend’s combat is solid if unspectacular, and the setting is unique and atmospheric. The character progression is more interesting than the characters themselves, and the story fails to match the intrigue created by the overall visual style due to average writing. Across the board, Black Legend is a decent game with some good ideas but technical issues hold it back.
It’s dark, it’s foggy and there is blood on the streets. Welcome to Black Legend on the Nintendo Switch, a tactical turn-based combat title with a few twists on the usual tropes of the genre. Think of it like ‘ye olde X-Com with an emo makeover.’ A strange, madness-inducing fog has crept over the city of Grant and it is up to you and a team of capable mercenaries to aid the struggling resistance and eliminate the devastating fog.
The story does little to appeal, although the setting has some potential. The presentation is bad. The city is filled with tropes and no surprises. The development team has a good grasp on mechanics and that will keep die-hard fans of the genre playing for a while. But to reach a wider audience they need to improve all other areas of a future release because Black Legend seems impossible to redeem.
Black Legend is a competent game that loses itself in its own cumbersome execution. For every good mechanic, Black Legend introduces it finds a way to make it confusing to learn, and hinders your enjoyment of it in the process. Black Legend crafts an intriguing world that I loved exploring when I wasn't constantly getting lost due to its poor navigation. Where the brunt of issues appear are in the game's cumbersome Catalyst System and repetitive combat animations. Thankfully ,the fun cross-class System keeps things a bit interesting for as long as it takes to finish the title.
Black Legend is a game with interesting ambitions. The gameplay is well structured in the fights, the dark atmosphere of the lost city in a mad alchemy of madness and violence is well executed in some respects (such as the voice acting and one of the side quests) and also some of the themes raised by the discovery of the origins of the fog are of good depth. Unfortunately, the many technical shortcomings don’t allow you to enjoy the game without being distracted by the aforementioned discordant notes but, if you are a fan of tactical RPGs, give it a try. Grant's misty streets could be worth the ticket price, especially in sight of patch improvements.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Black Legend features some outstanding gameplay elements that can make its battles extremely rewarding. On the other hand, its underwhelming and monotonous game world combines with oodles of technical issues to hold it back from greatness.
With its medieval setting and alchemy-based combat system, Black Legend looks and plays quite a bit differently from most turn-based strategy games available on the Switch. Its repetitive settings and battles, however, will likely turn away those used to a greater degree of variety and fun.
Tactical strategy titles have begun to show up more often overall on Switch since launch but the consistency of quality in the genre has been spotty...
Even though Black Legend uses a lot of common features, they are blended in an original way. With the addition of alchemy, battling never gets boring, even when it takes hours of gameplay to be proficient in it.
Black Legend is a turn-based role-playing game, with good ideas regarding combat and a very distinctive visual appearance. However, certain elements cloud its virtues. Finally, this is a game only for fans of turn-based RPGs.
Review in Spanish | Read full review