Version needed: 1.00
Players: 1-4
Wi-Fi Compatible: Ad Hoc
This is the first RPG for the new Sony handheld, which combines adventure and exploration with hack-and-slash action. In Untold Legends you can take on the role of a knight, alchemist, druid or berserker to become the hero of Aven: the last remaining fort in the world of Unataca.
There are several different aspects of Untold Legends that resemble Sony Entertainment Online's main RPG, Everquest Online. Choosing the type of character you play as is one example, and can make quite a difference in the gameplay, so it's best to choose wisely. After making your selection, you can make slight modifications to their appearance before you start on your quest. You can customise the skin tone, hair and hair colour for each character, but there are only three or four choices for each setting, so your selection is very limited. Armour changes come in later, once you've gathered new armour from dungeons or bought them from a nearby merchant.
Once you begin playing, you'll notice is that Untold Legends plays in the bird's eye view, similarly to Nightcaster for Xbox. This was one of the features that hindered the gameplay and it doesn't feel much better in Untold Legends, but the animation of the game is much more smooth and solid and the locations are very varied and attractive. There are a few loading times present in the game. They only appear when you have to go through a door into a new area, but these can last around thirty seconds.
A medieval theme plays through the game; from the weapons and armour you collect to the music playing in the background. During play though, when the music ends, it takes about a minute for the music to start from the beginning again. This is a little annoying: it would've been better if it looped properly or played continuously to match the fluid gameplay, but it's not something that really affects the game.
When you press the select button to access the menus, you'll find that the analog stick now acts like a mouse. This is a very practical use of the analogue stick and makes it really easy to switch weapons and view the other options. Also inside this in-game menu is the ability to check your objectives, so if you're not sure what you should be doing or haven't played it in a while you can read about what's just happened and what you need to do, but sometimes you might need to ask people in the game for directions.
Depending on which character you chose, the gameplay will vary in difficulty. Attacks will be much easier for knights and berserkers, whereas a druid and alchemist have more health and magical attacks and are more useful in multiplayer games. The way you upgrade these characters will change too. They each have different upgrades for you to choose from as you increase in level, and it is these choices that will give your character some individuality. It's particularly useful when you're playing with other people because it's your choices that will help you and your friends to be a strong force against the many enemies you will face.
Early encounters will see you facing monsters such as spiders, and skeleton warriors, but as you get further into the game you come across many other weird creatures. Fighting isn't very difficult. You can use whatever weapon you have to do hack-and-slash attacks, and block either with your weapon or a shield. Knights and berserkers are more adept at performing melee attacks to keep enemies at bay; druids and alchemists can perform magic attacks like shooting acid at them, and once you've upgraded your character a few times you'll be able to use other spells as well as weapons. You'll find loads of weapons in dungeons after defeating monsters: there's a large assortment of swords, daggers, axes, bow and arrows, staffs and hammers to be found, as well as armour, shields and jewellery for protection. Some of these items can also be bought from merchants. But when you have to many items to carry, you'll have to drop, sell or trade them with other people.
Untold Legends feels like a very traditional RPG. It's very long gameplay and conventional storyline will keep you interested whether you play for a few hours or a few minutes, but its hack-and-slash action can get very repetitive. The huge range of weapons helps to overcome this, and the multiplayer mode makes it more enjoyable. [color=black]As the only RPG that's available for PSP at launch, it's interesting and appealing but unlike Sony Online Entertainment's Everquest series, it lacks in depth and personality. There's so much more that could've been done to make Untold Legends a more impressive launch title.
Overall: 71%
Posted on 10/10/06 by Steph
Linear Mode
