Sword Coast Legends Reviews
Sword Coast Legends fails to deliver on its promises both as a solid RPG in it's own right and as a digital Dungeon Master toolset. The limited options available to creators are unlikely to yield anything memorable and the single player story section is marred by poor pathfinding, limited scope and shoddy writing. Overall an immense disappointment.
Sword Coast Legends functions more as a second tier cRPG that scratches the itch, but doesn't do anything to push the genre forward.
The combat and overall gameplay mechanics can prove a bit shallow at times, never offering the depth or tactical veracity of Pillars of Eternity, but as a hybrid of Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights, Sword Coast Legends is a game that mostly excels in all that it tries to do. Post-release will be an interesting time, though, as the limited and sometimes restrictive options are opened up and iterated on by N-Space. Until that time comes, however, it's a good game with the capacity to be great.
With boring combat and a limited custom campaign toolset, Sword Coast Legends fails to capture the spirit of a true pen and paper role-playing experience.
Will be remembered for its potential, if at all
Sword Coast Legends is a decent game with a compelling story and some rather excellent voice active. It's brought down heavily, however, by excruciatingly long load screens and the chance of hitting a game ending bug.
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.
The developers have already shown they're willing to listen to player complaints and have rolled out some fixes and announced a steady stream of new content, including plots that sync with recently released D&D campaigns. D&D has evolved and improved significantly since it was first released, and it's possible that Sword Coast Legends will, too, if players are willing to stick around after its rough launch. I'm hopeful the game will because it's probably going to be a while before Wizards is willing to lend its tools to anyone else.
It's a pity that the failings of this game will probably discourage any real development on future hardcore D&D CRPGs. Other than Trent Oster & Beamdog's upcoming Baldur's Gate "1.5" sequel, there isn't likely to be much in the way of good news for fans of the license.
There's a reasonably robust toolset that allows people to create their own adventures, and this helps extend the long-term value of the game if you can get a group of friends together for some play sessions. But, unfortunately, there's just not enough to Sword Coast Legends to make it the truly classic game that I wish it could be.
I feel inclined to give this game a five out of ten, but there's something underneath Sword Coast Legends that makes me hesitate. There's potential here, even if the game is afraid to embrace it. While it would take more than a few hurdles and workarounds to make this game feel like a true finished product, if Dungeon Master mode is salvaged, I could see myself coming back to the game and enjoying myself.
Sword Coast Legends offers up a solid version of Dungeons & Dragons, with a campaign and setting that were immediately appealing to me and plenty of user content already filling the community. This sort of content will be enormously valuable in giving Sword Coast Legends life beyond its campaign. However, limited tools hold this title back from greatness on the editing front, while its clear Diablo and Dragon Age influences may rub D&D purists the wrong way. It is still a fun experience worth having, but there is certainly room to grow and improve as well.
Sword Coast Legends is a worthwhile top down RPG, but is let down by some aspects that would disappoint those it's appealing too. The rest is the confines of your typical RPG, but I think experienced players of the genre will have quite a good time with this. It's not the refreshing kick everybody needs, but it's good enough.
Fans of classic isometric RPGs and Dungeons and Dragons alike will enjoy the style of gameplay. Unfortunately performance issues, frustrating combat and the hidden requirement of needing party members can mar the experience.
Sword Coast Legends has most of the parts but struggles to integrate them into a seamless whole. Based on the fanatically popular pen-and-paper RPG, Dungeons and Dragons, it attempts to emulate some of the classic isometric titles from the past like Baldur's Gate and the legendary Planescape: Torment. In some regards, it certainly succeeds. Unfortunately, the fact that it is set in such a rich fantasy world like the Forgotten Realms ends up hindering its success in the end.
Sword Coast Legends is a straightforward, average game with some unique and interesting ideas that are yet to be fully realized.
Multiplayer felt flat, primarily due to missing the charm of sharing in and adventure that either one of us (my buddy) or I made, which is what a big part of the allure of D&D is; living the games that your friends and you build. Picking up someone else's adventure and running through it can be enjoyable and Sword Coast Legends is certainly that. If you have recently finished Divinity: Original Sin or Wasteland 2 and are looking for some rock-solid console RPG goodness then Sword Coast Legends can certainly scratch that itch. Not quite on par with Neverwinter Nights 1 or 2 of old in terms of campaign creation or single-player story, but still an incredibly welcome trip through a classic Dungeons & Dragons adventure from the comfort of your couch. Sword Coast Legends on PlayStation 4 is a faithful adaptation of a solid D&D throwback.