Sword Coast Legends Reviews
A straightforward cliché that feels out of place in the new wave of cRPGs.
Poor creation tools and an aversion to genuine, interesting decision-making keep Sword Coast Legends from succeeding.
A drab, clichéd campaign and lackluster multiplayer tools make this PC RPG pale in comparison to other recent offerings
Sword Coast Legends promised a true multiplayer RPG. If it doesn't live up to that, does it still have something to offer?
In fact, in a few more months (or even years), Sword Coast Legends' creation tools might be a powerhouse. If n-Space remains steadfast and keeps working on them, this might eventually be the digital Dungeons & Dragons many were hoping for. People won't mind buying new adventures, classes, and races if they come out alongside new pen-and-paper releases! But don't blow all of your goodwill with sectioned-off content. As a Dungeon Master, I'm selfishly rooting for you. Just no more gods-damned 3x3 light grid puzzles.
That said, Sword Coast Legends works best as a co-operative multiplayer experience with a knowledgeable and patient dungeon master either in dungeon crawls, user-created modules, or the story campaign. Its overall graphics and presentation are rough around the corners, but it's an enjoyable experience if you can convince friends to join your party. But if you're a lifelong Dungeons & Dragons fan and expect Sword Coast Legends to be the classical D&D experience it claims to be, you'll need to look elsewhere. This is one skill check it does not pass.
As you come to grips with the tactical combat and progression systems, Sword Coast Legends may start to grow on you. For those who can see past its long loading times and other shortcomings, there's an RPG here well worth the price of entry. However, for casual fans of the genre looking for something upbeat, this n-Space swansong is likely to disappoint.
Sword Coast Legends is a decent CRPG let down by an overall lack of imagination and irritating difficulty spikes.
Above: The Sword Coast Legends team really likes oozes. One early dungeon has three different types.Image Credit: Jason Wilson/GamesBeat
It's absolutely true to say that you get out of Sword Coast Legends what you put in, but right now there just aren't enough reasons to put much in.
With a proper DM, Sword Coast Legends feels every bit like the pen and paper game come to life. On the other hand, running modules or playing through the 40-hour single player game makes it feel like more of a standard fare dungeon crawler than a Dungeons & Dragons game. Multiplayer with a DM realizes the promise of Sword Coast Legends, conveying freedom of storytelling and imagination in real time. Come for the co-op and live-DM, but be patient with the tools as they evolve.
Sword Coast Legends features a reasonably strong campaign as it advances and is great to listen to and look at, however it can be terribly linear throughout. The shallow combat system, with lack of skill variety and shallow dungeon master mode detract just a little too much and stop the game being great.
Sword Coast Legends is a comfortable return to the D&D rules and universe, but oversimplified combat and a repetitive feel to dungeons and quests keep this game from being great.
The core of Sword Coast Legends has potential. The single player story is fine, but not remarkable, and the capacity for multiplayer is welcome but ultimately disappointing. The best thing about the game, seemingly, is that it's sort of like a set of tools that could be used (if you're ambitious enough) to create something very cool. The game just doesn't quite make it cool enough by itself.
Sword Coast Legends is a solid game who's one saving grace is its infinitely customizable DM mode. Fans of isometric RPGs or players looking for a traditional D&D experience won't be disappointed with Sword Coast Legends. The Dungeon Master mode is especially great for groups looking to transition from pen-and-paper to something more streamlined yet still robust.
There's so much missed potential here that it's a bit frustrating. Game updates are coming so maybe one day...but not today.
The campaign, predictably for a title whose main focus is its editor, remains serviceable but fails to impress.
Sword Coast Legends had the table set for it. The huddled masses had shown their willingness to gobble up isometric cRPGs with abandon. The problem is this holiday season in the consumer should probably stick to gobbling up Turkey instead.
It sounds good, it looks great, but you can get a more immersive experience out of Neverwinter Nights 2, and while it might take a little bit of work to get going, it's definitely worth it for the experience. Still, Sword Coast Legends might be a good one to have in your library, especially if you're curious.