Legend of Kay Anniversary Reviews
The return to Yenching in Legend of Kay Anniversary is not the complete package as one would've hoped for. While the adventure itself stays true to the original, it unfortunately stays too true for its own good. The faults that it contained are still prevalent in here, and the whole mechanics also feel dated and are missing that revamp that other remade platformers contain, such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. However, when looking past the dated mechanics and annoying camera angles, Kay's journey can be a fun little treat to spend 10 to 15 hours in, though it does require a heap of patience to be able to fully enjoy it.
If you are in the market for a good action adventure game, Legend of Kay is sadly not going to meet your expectations. It is a decent game that has aged terribly and the efforts to remaster it haven't really brought it up to the current generation standards.
Bottom line, Legend Of Kay Anniversary for the Switch is a retro action-RPG platformer that shows some signs of age. You're not going to see anything new or inventive here and consequently, it's a game that you might want to wait on unless you're a die-hard Kay fan who wants to go portable. It also might be appropriate for most younger gamers, assuming you're okay with the mild humorous name-calling.
In your adventures as Kay you ride boars, rescue animals, solve some interesting puzzles, and even befriend a dragon! Though the plot and dialogue are lacking, the combat gives a unique edge to this platformer. But with so much to compete with on the Switch, this game doesn't really stand out in the crowd.
Legend of Kay felt dated in 2005, back when the PS2 platforming renaissance was already fading, so its transition to Wii U - and now Nintendo Switch - brings with it all the same tropes that were already out of fashion long before its inception. Anniversary's combat offers something of a saving grace, with plenty of depth to be found with its combos and warping, but you'll have to contend with camera issues and poor voice acting while you're at it.
A great adventure game with some interesting plattforming that has aged well. However, the camera still is awful and some graphics have not been improved for this version.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Depending on what you're looking for Legend of Kay Anniversary could be worthwhile. If you played it in its original form and have a touch of nostaglia for it or you're simply a big fan of 3D platformers, even ones that haven't necessarily mechanically ages well it has its strengths. That's not to say there's not some baggage along for the ride though, with the voice acting being a surprise out of left field. Be sure to check out some video of gameplay and read up further on it to be sure it's a good fit for you.
Legend of Kay Anniversary is a game that reminds you of the PS2 era of gaming and can be somewhat nostalgic but it also reminds you that sometimes the past isn't always the best. Neon Studios has stated that they would like to continue the Legend of Kay series in the future. If they learn from the mistakes of the this game while keeping the core gameplay then I'm sure they can make a great game.
Legend of Kay Anniversary is a game you want to pay close attention to if you want to acquire the bonuses throughout the levels. It will most likely be your second or third play through before you start finishing the extra quests. This is because you will likely trigger the end of a chapter before finishing them. Is the game worth a second go-around, or even a first play? If you like cartoony platforming games that remind you of the PS1 and N64 era, then this could be your jam.
Legend of Kay: Anniversary is a below-average adventure platforming game. The platforming and combat have flaws but are otherwise fine, while the camera makes bad situations seem worse. The presentation has been buffed up a bit, but the terrible voice acting drags down any excitement one may have from the simple story.
There are few children games with such an iconic underlying semiology, or with more unsettling line dialogues. However, this new version doesn't hold up, at least for being a remastering ten years later. There are a few improvements, but they are a let-down, far from what many probably expected.
This is not the remaster Legend of Kay needed nor deserved. Legend of Kay: Anniversary improves on many parts of the game except the one which held it back in the first place, namely the camera. It is a good title plagued with a horrible camera, which, even at the time of its original release, was problematic, and as time has gone on the standards have improved to the degree that it is unacceptable today. Unless able to stand the camera, stay away from Legend of Kay Anniversary. It is a fine game, but not fine enough to excuse the bad camera.
To me, this game was not good. It never should have been remade. The world is a different landscape for videogames than back in 2005. While Kay had the opportunity to step up and give us more, the developers chose to take the easy route, barely improve graphics, not change the voices, and leave the game as a mediocre blob in the middle of the floor.
It is obvious that there was care put in to this remaster. Fans of the original title should absolutely experience this version, as well as all fans of 3D platformers.
The end result is something that might've been a slightly recommended purchase a decade ago, but there haven't been enough updates to warrant a purchase now for those who aren't fans of the original release.
While Legend of Kay is improved technically, its production values, mechanics, and camera are still stuck in an uncomfortable past.
The Legend of Kay Anniversary is an overlooked gem that is getting a proper HD treatment.
This is definitely not a bad game, but it is a very poor remaster. The intro including the tutorial is way too long, if you can survive through that ordeal, then comes a pretty decent game, mind you, from the PS2 era. The question you should ask yourself is, do you really want to play this?
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Unambitious game with sloppy design gets given a second chance for some reason, turns out to be even more mediocre in retrospect. More news at eleven.
In order to maintain perspective, and sometimes to provide relief, while reviewing a game, I usually play another one concurrently. Coincidentally, my go-to game during this period was a remake, specifically Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty, which was a from-the-ground-up redo of Abe's Oddysee. I understand it's completely different from Legend of Kay Anniversary and probably has a different audience entirely (in that is has one at all). But whereas New 'n' Tasty feels like a love letter to its origins, Legend of Kay feels confused and restricted by its source. I honestly feel that this game could've been actually re-made, brought into modern times, and been successful. As it is, though, it's just further fodder for the anti-remake resistance.