Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds presents a compelling and mature story to sit through, served by classic, though effective, game systems, all easily comparable to the classics of the 32-bit era that it tries to pay homage to. Production values are perfectly fitting for the kind of budget that went into making this project a reality, and there's a good level of competence shown in the art department with good looking character art, and a great soundtrack complementing the foreboding atmosphere of the world of Legrand. However the whole experience is held back by a poor implementation of the art used for backdrops, which results often in blurry backdrops with pristine looking characters appearing on top in 1080p. Then, sadly, there's the matter of performance with sluggish load times, especially before battles, and an inconsistent frame-rate rearing their ugly heads that make it hard to get sucked in by the, otherwise, interesting story and gameplay.
"Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds" is a turn-based JRPG set in a hand-drawn fantasy world, where players join the Fatebounds to restore peace to Legrand. With a blend of classic combat and tactical gameplay, players must navigate through a sprawling universe filled with wars, creatures, and secrets. The game is available in English and Simplified Chinese, with full controller support.
Legrand Legacy captures the nostalgia of classic JRPGs, reminiscent of titles like Legend of Dragoon and Shadow Hearts.
The combat system is engaging, featuring a unique timing mechanic that adds depth to battles.
The hand-drawn backgrounds and character designs are visually appealing, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the game.
The dialogue can be overly long and repetitive, detracting from the overall pacing of the story.
Some characters lack depth and development, leading to frustrating interactions and a lack of emotional investment.
The game suffers from balancing issues, with certain bosses being disproportionately difficult compared to regular enemies.
story
578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The story of "Legrand Legacy" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging plot and character development, particularly in the latter half of the game. However, some critiques highlight issues with pacing, dialogue quality, and character depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the narrative features intriguing twists and a classic JRPG feel, it also suffers from clichés and occasional disjointed storytelling, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The story, characters, and music were very enjoyable overall.”
“The story's pacing was overall solid and there were some nice twists and turns.”
“The game is the best at what it advertises as and accomplishes what so many games fail to do: have an enthralling story line and intriguing characters.”
“But together with a bit of technical issues, I couldn't stand the writing, the characters (seriously, there's absolutely no character development... I'd say they even get worse.. it's irritating) and the finale, that imo completely ruined a story with good potential.”
“I think the story suffers heavily from pacing issues as the beginning was very slow and it wasn't that compelling; it felt very middle of the road kind of story that is a by-the-numbers fantasy story where it had a prophecy introduction.”
“The storyline sucks, big time!”
gameplay
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
7%
The gameplay of this JRPG features a mix of turn-based mechanics and experimental elements, such as quick time events and character formations, which aim to provide a fresh experience reminiscent of classic titles. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and depth of the combat system, others criticize the poorly executed mechanics and technical issues that detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of engaging and frustrating elements, requiring patience and a willingness to navigate its inconsistencies.
“The characters are great, there's an involved plot and story, and the gameplay alternates between party-style combat and war strategy tactics so the game usually doesn't get repetitive.”
“The story line itself is quite enjoyable and also the gameplay twist on a classic turn-based JRPG gives a sense of freshness and unique feeling into the game.”
“Legrand Legacy takes all the distinctive elements of JRPGs, both classic and modern ones, and also tries to differentiate the gameplay by implementing fresh, experimental mechanics to the combat.”
“Gameplay consists of a very badly assembled, badly cludged emulation of some of the worst elements of Japanese console RPGs from the 1990s.”
“This game is a textbook example of how horrible mechanics can brutalize an otherwise pretty good story and sap enjoyment out of what could have been a pretty decent game.”
“Overall it is sad that not even a pretty good story (end part notwithstanding) can salvage this trainwreck of poorly thought out game mechanics.”
graphics
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a nostalgic charm reminiscent of PS1 and PS2-era RPGs, featuring hand-painted backgrounds and a unique art style. While some appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, others criticize the low-resolution graphics and lack of polish, suggesting that they fall short of modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as competent for an indie title, but players should not expect AAA quality.
“On the graphics side, I particularly enjoyed the hand-painted backgrounds in this game.”
“The art style is excellent and I'm totally hooked.”
“For the style the game is going for, the graphics were pretty good.”
“The graphics are quite bland, the story will look cliché and unappealing whatsoever and you might want to just drop the game altogether 2 hours in.”
“This is an indie game released in 2018 but honestly, its graphics wouldn't have passed as AAA even in 2008.”
“I'll be frank here, for being a game coming out in 2018, graphics are totally not impressive.”
music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the soundtrack for its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience. While some tracks are described as memorable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others are noted as repetitive or less impactful. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, with comparisons to classic JRPGs and specific praise for its emotional depth and thematic relevance.
“The soundtrack is simply amazing; I even dare to compare it with Final Fantasy series quality soundtrack (in my opinion). I really love the world map music, and I sometimes leave it on and keep it playing while I do other stuff.”
“This is one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a JRPG during these last years.”
“The soundtrack fits the world and the themes superbly – perhaps one of my favorite tracks among JRPGs that I have played in recent years, because it reflects that dark-fantasy/adventure vibe the developers may have had in mind.”
“The music is ok, but that's about it.”
“2.) Music is bland and repetitive.”
“This is not Uematsu and Mitsuda-tier game music by any means, and of course every note of it is synthetic.”
grinding
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some enjoy the extensive grinding for levels and materials, finding it engaging and reminiscent of classic RPGs, many others criticize it as tedious and repetitive, particularly in boss fights and item farming. Overall, the grinding can feel excessive and detracts from the enjoyment of the game for a significant number of players.
“A lot of grinding is required and I don't like grinding.”
“After the 4th time, I realized the game really wants you to brute force this boss by going back and grinding more, which is not something that is particularly fun in this game, nor do I have the patience to do so, considering I can just play games that are way more interesting and fun to play.”
“Something indie devs seem to forget when trying to recapture the spirit of old RPGs is the fact that grinding is boring and time-consuming.”
character development
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as one of the weakest aspects, often feeling rushed and underwhelming, particularly in the final chapter. While some characters, like Finn and Eris, exhibit interesting development, the overall narrative is marred by inconsistent writing and a lack of depth. Despite the appealing character designs and art, the execution of character arcs leaves much to be desired, leading to a generally disappointing experience in this area.
“I honestly loved Finn and Eris the most because they were at least true to themselves in some fashion, and those two at least had interesting character development.”
“This game has brilliant writing and character development.”
“I enjoyed the character designs, the grit and gloom of war normally avoided in recent JRPGs, and what the team managed to pull off with such a small crew.”
“The character development is probably the worst aspect of the game.”
“Really, the last chapter feels rushed from a story and character development perspective and delivers a very underwhelming conclusion.”
“There is very little character development and most of the game is word vomit.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and frequent crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players note that it runs well on certain hardware, the overall consensus is that the game is unpolished and often unplayable due to its technical issues. Many users express frustration over the lack of developer responsiveness to these problems, despite some community support available through forums.
“Runs great on a ROG Ally with a 13/15/15 watt TDP.”
“I could go on about how the game is a buggy mess that the developers have zero interest in testing, let alone bug fixing or polishing, but other reviewers have already done a good job of highlighting that.”
“Extremely buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
“Buggy, frequently crashing mess.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely perceived as forced, cliché, and predictable, with attempts at witty banter failing to elicit genuine laughter. While some NPCs, like a beggar, occasionally deliver amusing lines, the overall comedic elements detract from the story rather than enhance it, often feeling drawn out and uninteresting.
“Humor and the characters really carry the story along more than the actual meat of the story.”
“I believe what the person who made this was trying to do was to create funny banter between characters, which is always a plus in my book... unless that banter takes forever to get to the point, and is not that interesting.”
“Yes, sometimes the beggar said funny things, but not too much of my attention.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The emotional impact of the game is inconsistent, with some players only feeling a connection during specific chapters, while others find the overall narrative lacking depth and engagement. Issues such as poor grammar detract from potentially poignant moments, preventing players from fully immersing themselves in the emotional experience. Despite some nostalgic elements, many reviewers express disappointment in the storytelling and character development, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's emotional resonance.
“Some mini-games/side-quests and battles are frustrating, but the game itself feels nostalgic and made me like it a lot!”
“There were twists that happen, and while it was hard to feel something for the characters without flashbacks or emotional payoffs, I can say that chapters 5 and 6 were more than decent.”
“The grammar actually ruins some very emotional scenes in the game that I'm sure would otherwise have had me tearing up.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive apocalyptic fantasy setting, characterized by themes of war, poverty, and disaster. While some players feel it could benefit from a darker tone, many appreciate how the atmosphere, music, and aesthetic work together to enhance the overall experience and draw them into the story.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of the game that struck the chord of apocalyptic fantasy, with countries always seeming to be at war, in poverty, suffering some natural or unnatural disaster, or some unholy combination of all four.”
“I felt that the game would have benefitted from a much darker atmosphere like Shadow Hearts.”
“This game gives me the same vibe, not just because of the combat style, but the atmosphere, music, and aesthetic.”
“I felt that the game would have benefitted from a much darker atmosphere, like Shadow Hearts.”
“The atmosphere and the story sucked me in from the start, but it only went downhill from there.”
“This game gives me the same vibe, but not just because of the combat style; the atmosphere, music, and aesthetic are lacking.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, featuring fast loading times, smooth frame rates, and straightforward settings for graphics and sound. However, there are issues with dialogue box text not being properly optimized, causing it to stretch and shrink during display, though this is considered a minor flaw that could be easily addressed. Players are advised to ensure their PCs meet the game's requirements for optimal performance.
“Loading time is pretty fast with fluid FPS and no stuttering at all. The simple graphic, sound, controller, and gameplay settings are also good.”
“Legrand itself isn't that heavy performance game, but you have to make sure your PC can run it really well.”
“The dialogue boxes are not properly optimized, so the text will stretch and shrink in the middle of the text being displayed a lot of the time. However, it is an issue easily overlooked, and I am sure it is an easy fix as well.”
“The dialogue boxes are not properly optimized, so the text will stretch and shrink in the middle of text being displayed a lot of the time, but it is an issue easily overlooked, and I am sure it is an easy fix as well.”
“Legrand itself isn't that heavy performance game, but you gotta make sure your PC can play it really well.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that the limitations on stats encourage experimentation with different builds, enhancing the overall experience.
“Being limited with stats means that you can try more builds; it also adds some solid replay value.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express disappointment with the game's monetization strategy, suggesting that the promotional advertising raised their expectations unrealistically, leading to dissatisfaction with the actual experience.