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| Summary: Certainly sets the bar low
Finally, an old-school RPG for the PSP! I had been waiting patiently mostly for the release of Legend of Heroes, and having finally played it, I can't seem to remember what all the fuss was about.
Well, first things first, let's get into the good things about LoH. One of the main things the game has going for it is its graphical style. The 3/4 view, 2D RPG has always held a special place in my heart, with the greatest entries in the genre being among the greatest games ever created (FF 1-6, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire series). Anyone that immediately thinks that the 'look' of the game is a detractor probably won't give the game enough of a chance, though, which is quite a shame. I have always been a big believer in the 'less is more' style of video game design and feel that it is perfectly utilized here in LoH.
The game's story doesn't disappoint, either. The tale of young Avin and Eimelle's separation is certainly one of the better RPG storylines of late (The confusing and pretentious politics of the more recent FF storylines come immediately to mind). All the emotions that are portrayed by the characters involved are believable, and I maintained an honest interest in how the protagonist would come to find his lost sister. Certainly the high point of the game.
Also, it should be noted that I thoroughly enjoyed the encounter system. Being able to avoid fights when I needed to by physically staying away from enemies is a godsend in RPG's. So many times in other games have I gotten frustrated when I just wanted to pull into a town, wounded, only to meet a Level XX creature that saps most of my parties remaining resources and all of my patience.
I suppose first I should establish what I was looking for when I picked up LoH. I was expecting a game starring strategic battle sequences, where creativity and forward-thinking would be rewarded. I was expecting exploration and difficult item/equipment choices that could make or break your band of fighters. In short, I was expecting a game that wouldn't feel like I was being led around by the hand; being shown each portion of the game when it was good and ready.
First off, the main offender in the game was the battle system. While, yes, it might seem strategic at first, what with your one or two main fighters, your support character, and your magic wielder, very quickly the fights breaks down into a guessing game. With no indication of which characters perform actions in what order, setting up enemies for combos is completely impossible. The worst part of this infraction is the fact that all of the actions in the game are ranged, meaning that if you want to cast a spell on your entire party, you must first assemble them into a tight group before casting. If your caster decides to use the spell before your party is assembled, only one or two nearby members receive the spell, and your frustration will grow. Also, the fact that your enemies appear to be able to perform several actions per turn, such as moving and casting a spell subsequently, confused and frustrated me even more.
I suppose the lack of exploration in the game needs little explanation. To ease development, the creators built an entirely linear game with no chance of straying from their neat little path. The game map is literally a row of towns that you must visit in sequence to progress throughout the game. Anytime you wish to go someplace other than your next waypoint, your friend Mile will pop up on screen to remind you that you shouldn't paint outside of the lines.
Finally, and probably not the most surprising of complaints about the game, is the inventory/weapon system. It's pretty standard fare for an RPG, so I guess I shouldn't criticize the game too much over it. Basically, you go to a new town, they have your next level of sword/shield/armor/etc. And you purchase it and equip it. Every time this gives you an incremental advantage over the last sword/shield/armor you had equipped but still, the materialist in you wants the new one. I only wish that there was some sort of visual reflection of the different weapons in battle. Every sword looks like the very first one you got at the end of the tutorial.
In summation, I gave this game a 55%, which I feel is pretty generous. While there were a few victories for the RPG genre on the PSP, I still couldn't sit through anymore of this game if I tried, and wouldn't suggest you do it either. In short, Legend of Heroes is frustratingly simple, and assumes you've never played another RPG in your life to compare it to. If you don't mind having all control taken away from you in a game, then LoH might not annoy you as much as it did me. However, I think I'm probably in the majority here. Hopefully PoPoLoCrois will be better.
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