COLLECTION of SaGa FINAL FANTASY LEGEND
- October 21, 2021
- Square Enix
Get on Steam"Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend" is a compilation of the first three games in the SaGa series, originally released on Game Boy. These RPGs feature pixel art graphics and unique battle systems, with character progression determined by equipment rather than traditional leveling. Players can explore various worlds, encountering different races, enemies, and allies throughout their journey.
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Nintendo Switch
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Steam Deck
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Reviews
- The collection offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans of the original Game Boy titles, with many players enjoying the return to classic gameplay mechanics.
- The speed-up feature enhances the experience, making grinding and battles more manageable for modern audiences.
- Each game presents unique mechanics and character progression systems, providing a distinct experience that can be rewarding for those willing to invest time.
- The collection is criticized for being a lazy port with minimal enhancements, lacking features like save states and proper manuals, which can frustrate new players.
- High encounter rates and weapon durability mechanics lead to excessive grinding, making the gameplay feel tedious and punishing at times.
- Censorship and translation changes have disappointed some fans, who feel that the original charm and content of the games have been compromised.
- story18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The "story" aspect of the Final Fantasy Legend series is characterized by a mix of engaging narratives and varying levels of depth across the games. While some players appreciate the rich side quests and character development in titles like Final Fantasy Legend II and III, others criticize the overall plot for being overly convoluted or minimal, particularly in the first game. The series is noted for its classic JRPG storytelling style, with some entries offering more cohesive narratives and enjoyable character interactions, while others feel less structured and more reliant on gameplay mechanics than on plot.
“So many side quests and adventures in Final Fantasy Legends II... you become a detective for a bit, you visit a haunted place...”
“Final Fantasy Legend II improves upon the first game by offering a better story and a more concrete way to advance characters.”
“Like most Final Fantasy titles, these three have a fantastic story, a fantastic score composed by Nobuo Uematsu, lovely sprites, and a fun unchanged color scheme from a bygone era of gaming.”
“It tries to cram way too much plot into a small cartridge, sometimes to hilarious effect by forcing dialogue to be way too terse.”
“Don't buy it if you want full-featured, modern games with a lot of plot, writing, and graphics.”
“The combat is very classic JRPG, the plot is minimal, most of the mechanics are unexciting, and there's almost no exploration or openness to the world.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by janky mechanics that some players find enjoyable for their novelty, while others note a significant departure from previous titles due to the removal of the weapon durability system. Combat follows a classic JRPG style, but the overall mechanics can feel unexciting and confusing, especially for newcomers, as the game lacks clear explanations. Despite its dated graphics and gameplay, it offers unique features like monster evolution and a quirky charm that appeals to fans of the original series.
“Fyi, this game abandons the weapon durability mechanic the previous two games had, so the gameplay loop is very different here.”
“Having a monster in your party that can evolve depending on the enemy you kill and eat is a very fun mechanic.”
“Great story(ies), great romance(s), great characters (including Indiana Jones!), great gameplay, really interesting mechanics, and delicious retro wonkiness.”
“This game abandons the weapon durability mechanic the previous two games had, so the gameplay loop is very different here.”
“The combat is very classic JRPG; the plot is minimal, most of the mechanics are unexciting, and there's almost no exploration or openness to the world.”
“The other thing is the difficulty of the games, as they are not your traditional JRPG type and require unique mechanics, at least in the first two games of the collection, to really get a grasp on things.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with many players finding it excessive and frustrating, particularly due to weapon durability and a lack of an XP system. While some appreciate the nostalgic challenge of grinding typical in old-school JRPGs, others criticize it for making gameplay tedious and unenjoyable. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players enjoying the grind while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“Game has weapon durability and later on weapons cost 32k, you spend time grinding the money and your weapons break during that time. Also, the game doesn't have an XP/leveling system to get stronger. 0/5, this is pure garbage.”
“Extremely grindy, crap story, confusing leveling system, dungeons are an absolute chore, very limited inventory system, no loot from enemies other than chests, and generally unfun encounters to the point where I had to save, leave the game, make one step, save, leave, etc. Some people might like it, I really didn't.”
“All of these games are a bit archaic in their design - random encounters with high encounter rates, grinding for stats and/or gold, that sort of thing.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly in "Final Fantasy Saga 2," is highly praised for its quality and nostalgic value, with many considering it the best soundtrack on the Game Boy. The chiptune compositions are noted for aging well, complementing the gameplay while allowing for modern speed adjustments without altering the music's original tempo. Overall, the soundtrack is celebrated for its engaging 8-bit sound and memorable melodies, enhancing the gaming experience despite some gameplay grind.
“Final Fantasy Saga 2: another amazing game, the soundtrack is easily the best on the system, and the combat is super unique.”
“Great soundtrack and plenty of nostalgia.”
“The fact that you can boost the walking speed and battle speed to something palatable to a modern audience while leaving the chiptune music (which is the part of the game that aged the best, particularly in the second game) to play at original speed?”
“From the present point of view, while the graphics and music are still passable, there are some serious grindfests that take the joy away, mostly in the form of the absolutely insane encounter rate.”
“The key meta-feature introduced here is the ability to increase the game speed, which makes everything in-game run faster without disrupting music/sound effects.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as simplistic and reminiscent of older titles, featuring greyscale pixel art that may not appeal to those seeking modern visuals. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and cleaned-up versions for PC, others find the lack of advanced graphics and features a drawback, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the visuals are considered passable but dated, making it more suitable for fans of the original rather than those expecting contemporary graphics.
“The artwork in the original manuals was stunning, and I can still vividly see the shade of blue from FFL2's box art, so it's a real missed opportunity to not see it included here.”
“Would recommend to anyone that played the original and wants to play again, or to new players willing to accept the dated graphics and gameplay.”
“Don't buy it if you want fully featured, modern games with a lot of plot, writing, and graphics.”
“From the present point of view, while the graphics and music are still passable, there are some serious grindfests that take the joy away, mostly in the form of the absolutely insane encounter rate.”
“They have the same graphics as back then, but somewhat cleaned up for PC.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its short and simple dialogue, often resulting in hilariously terse exchanges due to hardware limitations. Additionally, the chaotic development process led to amusingly absurd scenarios, such as the metaphorical depiction of developers being sidelined with "funny hats" after attempting to innovate within the franchise.
“They also suffer from hardware limitations of the day, generally being short and simple with sometimes humorously terse dialog.”
“It tries to cram way too much plot into a small cartridge, sometimes to hilarious effect by forcing dialog to be way too terse.”
“Bomb-throwing anarchists at Squaresoft tried to change the world during the development of Final Fantasy II, after which they were sent off to sit in the corner, wear funny hats, and practice their mad experiments outside of the flagship franchise.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users express frustration with the current state of games, noting that they often feel overly complex and plagued by bugs, detracting from the enjoyment and simplicity that characterized earlier gaming experiences.
“I wish sometimes games would go back to being simple and fun like they used to, instead of being a huge buggy grindfest.”
