Legendary Gary
- February 20, 2018
- Evan Rogers
Get on Steam"Legendary Gary" is a narrative-driven game with a unique turn-based combat system and a fantasy adventure within a game. As Gary tries to improve his mundane life, help him navigate his choices and master hand-to-hand combat with a variety of creatures in "Legend of the Spear." The game features hand-drawn art and a synth-pop soundtrack. Combat is tactical, with simultaneous actions for each turn and no dice rolls, offering a challenging and engaging experience.
Reviews
- The game features great art, music, and a unique gameplay experience that blends reality with the in-game narrative.
- The combat system is engaging and fun, offering a clever puzzle-like approach that enhances the overall experience.
- The story is relatable and emotionally impactful, with well-written dialogue that connects players to the characters.
- The game is quite short, which may leave some players feeling underwhelmed, especially considering the price point.
- Some story elements are not fully developed, leading to an abrupt ending that may disappoint players seeking closure.
- There are moments of clunkiness in gameplay, and certain aspects could have benefited from more polish and development time.
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and emotionally resonant, with well-developed themes and characters that draw players in, though some elements feel underexplored and the conclusion may come too abruptly for some. The narrative cleverly intertwines a "game within a game" concept, creating a unique fourth-wall experience that resonates with players on a personal level. While the plot may lack surprises and predictability, the overall storytelling is complemented by impressive artwork and a captivating soundtrack.
“I was genuinely invested in the characters and the story.”
“The story explored its core themes enough to really hit the mark emotionally, and there's just enough combat to show off the promise of the clever combat system.”
“It's not the nonsensical kind of weird but the mundane kind that creeps up on you because this title has such a relaxed, unassuming approach to telling its story that you're likely to fall right into the narrative without even trying, and suddenly you're in that hazy dream you can't ever remember when you wake up.”
“My only real complaint is some things in the story aren't expanded upon and the story ended a little too abruptly, but I genuinely enjoyed this game.”
“The concept itself is interesting, but frankly I find no surprises or further interest beyond the introductory plot development.”
“The story progresses in a manner that is rather easy to guess, and frankly the combat is as equally challenging.”
- music9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as "great" and "awesome," complementing its fit with the game's art and gameplay. However, others criticize it as "cheesy" and "uninspired," indicating a divide in player opinions on the quality of the music. Overall, while many appreciate the soundtrack, there are notable dissenting voices regarding its execution.
“Great art, music, and gameplay.”
“I enjoyed the art in the Legend of the Spear portions and the soundtrack was pleasant.”
“Amazing artwork, soundtrack, gameplay, and story.”
“I thought the soundtrack was absolutely terrible: cheesy, uninspired, dull beats with soft, garbled, low-effort vocals.”
“The soundtrack is mwah.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their stunning hand-drawn artwork, which evokes the charm of a beautifully illustrated children's book. Reviewers appreciate the game's aesthetic, likening it to a high-quality flash-based experience, and note that the visuals significantly enhance the overall gameplay and storytelling.
“Another element which must be praised is the hand-drawn artwork.”
“Essentially it's a graphic adventure game in the way it feels and looks.”
“-the artwork makes me think of a well illustrated children's book if the illustrations were to start moving around on the page as you read it.”
“The aesthetics are as seen on display; it reminds me of a higher range flash-based game.”
“The artwork makes me think of a well-illustrated children's book if the illustrations were to start moving around on the page as you read it.”
“Essentially, it's a graphic adventure game in the way it feels and looks.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as easy and focused on storytelling, with an engaging combat mechanic in the in-game 'legend of the spear' that adds depth. While some find the overall gameplay enjoyable and immersive, others consider it largely unremarkable outside of its artistic and musical elements.
“The combat mechanics of the in-game 'Legend of the Spear' that Gary plays are actually fun and engrossing.”
“Amazing artwork, soundtrack, gameplay, and story.”
“Other than that, the gameplay was okay, but largely unremarkable.”
“The gameplay is easy, but the point of this game is to experience the journey and story told.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, as it can be completed quickly and lacks compelling content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players may find minor replay value, the overall experience does not stand out compared to other games in the same price range.
“It won't take you long to finish, and it does hold some replay value.”
“The majority of content to play through doesn't appeal to me for replay value, so I'm not verifying if there are various good or true endings.”
“If I'm going to recommend this game positively or negatively, I'm going to lean on the latter side: given the quality of games available for the same price tag, this game is at a minimum competitive, if not better, and I have doubts this game is the sort to find significant play times or be replayable for most buyers.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, effectively exploring core themes that resonate with players, often leading to touching moments that evoke strong feelings, including tears. The combination of a compelling story and clever combat enhances the overall experience, making it both fun and impactful.
“The story explored its core themes enough to really hit the mark emotionally, and there's just enough combat to show off the promise of the clever combat system.”
“Absolutely wonderful... even made me cry a few times.”
“It's fun, interesting, touching, and smart.”
