Legend of Kay Anniversary Reviews
The most peculiar HD remaster so far, that offers no obvious reason for its existence or why the original was though worthy of resurrection.
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.
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
Whether looking to relive a forgotten favourite or simply in the mood for an old school action platformer, The Legend Of Kay is more than just serviceable. It's a fun, inspired take on the genre that plays well despite its lack of ground-breaking features.
Completely overlooked by most on the PS2, Legend of Kay Anniversary is definitely one of the better action platformers to release over the last few years, with fast paced combat that delivers hours of fun for those that missed out on this cult classic.
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.
The Legend of Kay Anniversary is an unnecessary and forgettable remaster of a middling game. Unless you're itching to replay it, or have a soft spot for games of its ilk, it's tough to recommend.
During the 5th and 6th generation of gaming, the 3D platformer was a viable genre that was alive and well. With tons of mascots and different games to choose from, the landscape was brimming with variety. While Kickstarter successes have brought back the appeal of the 3D platformer, it has been quite a while since we have seen 3D platformers like in the 6th generation. The Legend of Kay was a PS2 title released in 2005, and although critically well received, the game went mostly unnoticed by gamers due to stiff competition. Now that the competition has all but dried up, how does the Legend of Kay Anniversary fare on the Wii U?
Legend of Kay Anniversary is a worthy nod to a 2005 game. Despite its flaws, such as the irritating camera movement, it contains some fun moments, improved graphics and a few other little things to remind you how good it was back in the day.
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.
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.
Legend of Kay Anniversary's polishing can't hide the game's shortcomings. Bringing this game back only shows how poorly it aged.
The Legend of Kay Anniversary is an overlooked gem that is getting a proper HD treatment.
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.
Combining soothing tracks for when you're exploring, with some suitably rousing tracks when engaged in combat, Legend of Kay's music is constantly a pleasure to your ears
As a reviewer, I've played my share of bad video games, but honestly, few had managed to infuriate me in the ways 'Legend of Kay Anniversary' did right from the get-go. There is so much wrong with this package, from the severely outdated gameplay to the poor "remastering" job to the grating voice acting, that I truly wonder why Nordic Games decided to even give this title the time of day in the first place.
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.
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.
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.
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.