A flagship of RPGs, Legend of Legaia is likely one of the best games of the Playstation.
Coming out in 1999, Contrail introduced a new and unique battle system where the player is able to choose strike directions and combine them to make special arts. This same concept was later used in Legaia 2: Duel Saga (2002) for the PS2, where it again proved to be an effective and player-inclusive alternative to single-striking turn-based combat.
Moving about the maps, the gameplay of Legend of the Legaia similarly resembles that of other competing RPGs. It is when a player enters a battle that the difference between this and comparable RPGs can be seen. The battle system works to further include the player by choosing combinations of attacks to perform in a single turn. This is, however, reciprocated by most enemies; meaning that the player must not only anticipate a single strike per turn from foes. Furthermore, the game incorporates a sort of magic by allowing the capturing of certain monsters and using them to fight alongside you in later battles. They can be used to attack enemies or heal your party, and level up as they are used. As it unfolds, the storyline is seen to be significantly deep for an early RPG – branching off to numerous sub-stories that keep the player entangled in war, drama, and various characters that either help or hinder the player's quest to destroy the mist covering the world. The dialogue is generally well done, but work could certainly be done improving linguistics among some characters; as certain scenes seem over-the-top or tacky. Furthermore, it can be annoying to see that even though you saved an entire kingdom, many of its inhabitants say the same lines that they were scripted to say since the beginning of your quest. The boss battles are memorable, and difficulty is rather consistent save for certain bosses in the late game.
The controls of the game are relatively simple and typical among RPGs. Most facets of the game are explained well in quick tutorials or overviews throughout the game, allowing for easy integration with the combat system.
The game has a very well-done music score; placing songs which suit well with the environments and situations. Although the songs are quite simple, they are likely to be remembered long after hearing them in the game. The sound effects found throughout the game in cut scenes and battles are mostly well done considering the age of the game.
The graphics of Legend of Legaia are mediocre for its time, with awkwardly open homes and little intricate detail throughout. The battle scenes, however, offer well created backgrounds and surprisingly well-done enemies. The character designs are on par and reflect all weapon and armour changes; not-so common amongst RPGs at the time. Furthermore, all of these graphical changes are significant, certainly helping draw a player in to the little details of the game. The arts are designed well and the overall battle sequences are fun and entertaining. The well-designed battles largely outweigh some of the sub-par looking environments. Throughout the game there are also a number of well-animated cut scenes which help to add depth to the avatars and in-battle animations of monsters and characters; helping the player truly see what the developers intended their characters to look like.
Although dungeon battles may become repetitive, and largely just pressing the X button to quick-pick through the menu choices and auto attack, Legend of Legaia offers a solid storyline which in itself could lead to a player wishing to replay the game later down the road. It has a certain charm among RPG games that will likely draw you back in. Although the story is linear, it is certainly good enough to deserve a replay when you're feeling like digging up a retro game.
Comparing the game to others in this category, Legend of Legaia holds a competitive edge with its innovative battle system. Aside from the obvious, the storyline is rich and deep and may be one of the best storylines in a Playstation RPG game. The characters and enemies are memorable and the game continues delivering throughout, always adding new environments, plot twists, and fun things to do. Legend of Legaia is a top-notch Playstation game and should be in the collection of any RPG enthusiast.