Legend of Kay Anniversary Review
Legend of Kay is a game that was released in 2005 for the PS2 and Nintendo DS. The Anniversary edition was recently released on PC, PS3, Wii U, 360, and PS4. So how does the game stack up the original? Is this just another re-release?
Legend of Kay stars a cat named Kay who lives in a mystical land called Yenching among 4 different races. Eventually the land was invaded by Gorillas and Rats, Kay must free the land and unite the animals, or something close to that. Sounds like the typical story from so many games in the 1990s, monsters or beings take over the land and the loan hero must free the land from the tyranny.
The game reminds me a lot of the Ratchet and Clank games on PS2 or Banjo Kazooie on the N64. Its a 3rd platformer with free-roaming camera. The graphics are cartoon-like but well drawn. The music and sound effects fit the mood of the game. There are some puzzle elements and ay can talk to NPCs and get guidance on where to travel to next. There is a small mini map which comes in handy.
Combat is simple, Kay has several attacks. He can combine these to form simple combos; this along with blocking and dodging make the combat interesting. Along his journey he can learn new moves and use items. He also gets to pick up weapons. It feels as if the game could have had more like RPG elements. There is a health bar, but as with so many games of this era, it doesn't refill. Gamers have to use items to heal themselves. Parts of the game are broken up with boss fights and animal races.
Is the game fun? Sure! It's not complicated and I found myself enjoying what it had to offer in short bursts. I imagine if someone was a fan of the original they would like this version. I highly recommend this game for anyone looking for a stress free adventure platformer. This is the kind of game well suited for younger gamers. It is available on Amazon $30 for the PS4 version and under $25 for the Wii U. The graphics have been improved but the Wii U version doesn't have any special features with the gamepad. People complained about the camera, but I found it to be functional. The game probably clocks in around 10 hours.
4 out of 5.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a code for review.