Jordan Rosenwald
07-09-2004, 07:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/jordan-june04-legacy-1.gif" /> <br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Game<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.redshift.hu/">Redshift</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.redshift.hu/">Redshift</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $19.99 for the main game, $9.99 for Expansion Pack, $5.99 for Revenge Expansion Pack<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> 4MB free memory for the main game. <br /><b>Specifications:</b> Works with most current PDAs. Check their site for complete compatibility list.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Good graphics;<br /><li>Engaging storyline;<br /><li>Challenging level advancement and puzzles.<b>Cons:</b><ul><li>Bar card game gets a little repetitive.</ul><b>Summary:</b><br />When popping bubbles and collapsing blocks just aren’t your thing, and you crave adventure, potions and magic, RPGs are just what the doctor ordered. Redshift’s Legacy boasts over 100+ hours of game play from the base game alone, then you have the <b>two</b> expansion packs. So it’s long, but how does it play? <br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>The Intro</b></span> <br />Lots of words and simple, but attractive, pictures are your introduction to Redshift’s Legacy. The basic story is that the evil sorcerer, Sanamur dies. The world of Monares rejoices and two brothers take the throne. But in typical style, one brother is evil and betrays the other brother, locking him away in a tower. <br /><br />You, the hero, must track down the whereabouts of the evil brother and find a way to defeat him. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/jordan-june04-legacy-2.gif" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The intro.</i><br /><br /><span><b>First Steps Into Adventure</b></span> <br />Like all RPGs, it takes a few minutes to get your feet under you, but the layout of things is pretty straight forward. <br /><br />The majority of the screen is taken up by the view in front of your party (which starts out as one seemingly randomly generated character). Across the bottom of the screen are where your party is assembled, fight and cast spell commands are given, your map and compass are located. Like I said, familiar setup, right?<br /><br />By double-clicking on a character (again, you start with one, but eventually can get up to four party members., you enter the inventory/stats/magic/quests screen. Each of those items is accessed by clicking on pictured tabs along the top of the screen. <br /><br />Not only is all of this neatly laid out, but, even cooler, your character’s appearance changes to match the armor he/she is wearing. No idea where this idea came from, but the first time I saw it was in Diablo 2 and I loved it. In some stupid way it helps you connect with your character. Especially since there are a few armor items that confer the same benefit, and it becomes a matter of style, not protection. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/jordan-june04-legacy-5.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Changing armor changes your character's look.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Game Within A Game</b></span> <br />Ever play Magic: The Gathering(tm)? Ok, there’s a game in every Inn which is almost nothing like that. But it’s the closest comparison I could come up with. For me, this actually starts out as one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. Every time you start to run low on cash, just hit an Inn and play a card game. Beat the other player, which is played by your PDA, and win some gold. As the difficulty increases, so does the money you’re playing for. After awhile, this game does get a little tedious, but so far has not lost its appeal.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/jordan-june04-legacy-3.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: Play a nice hand of cards to win some cash.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>When Last We Left Our Heroes…</b></span><br />The game is organized simply and in a familiar fashion. By and large, the towns are where you get your quests, buy/sell equipment, rest at an inn, etc. Everything outside the towns is fair game for all manners of nasties. The graphics in depicting heroes, villains and the citizens of the town are all simple but engaging. <br /><br />Combat is straightforward and what one would expect from a turn-based RPG. The various weapons and spells do add a level of complexity that keeps the game from being too monotonous. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/jordan-june04-legacy-4.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: Scenes from a creepy dungeon.</i> <br /><br /><b><span>Conclusions</span></b> <br />Legacy is with out a doubt one of the most engaging games I’ve played on my PDA in about 4 years, and it’s certainly more attractive that some of those earlier turn-based RPGs. While the graphics in Legacy certainly can’t stand up to modern computer RPGs, there is something about them that is elegant and attractive. The sound effects are… well, effective, and the storyline is interesting.<br /><br />While I have no idea if the game will stand up to the boast of 100+ hours of gameplay, there’s no question you more than get your money’s worth out of it. With the addition of the expansion packs, I can see this game is going to keep me busy for a long, long time.