Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 48
  2. Negative: 1 out of 48
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  1. 92
    It is fast-paced, long, challenging, and beautiful to look at. The minor flaws with it are easily overlooked when one considers the whole package and realizes that this is probably the best X-Men game to appear on a console in the past ten years or so.
  2. All in all, this is a really simple gauntlet style title, but it’s a good one, and worth playing with three of your friends.
  3. The beat ‘em up is a genre that has quietly faded to the side and hasn’t had many revolutions on the consoles in recent years. X-Men: Legends takes that style of gameplay, adds a ton of depth to it, four-player support and quite frankly is one of the best X-Men games I’ve ever played.
  4. 91
    Do you have a buddy that wants to play with ya, also? Simple and easy to get him in. You don't have to have him restart with a gimpy character. You can just have him plug in his controller and join in with you, then just unplug it when he is done. This rocked.
  5. Successfully combines action and RPG elements; Easy controls and simple game play; Great use of X-Men license that will please fans of the comic.
  6. 90
    The thing that immediately struck me when playing the game was the amazing amount of minutiae that's been included for eagle-eyed fans.
  7. Creates a thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere, with great multiplayer options. Marvel fans can rejoice, and fans of team-based combat games can as well.
  8. 90
    The best game set in the X-Men universe yet.
  9. 90
    Stellar cell-shaded graphics, excellent voice acting (with Patrick Stewart reprising his cinematic role as Professor X), and multiplayer mayhem that make Legends look and feel like the A-list game that it is.
  10. Game Informer
    90
    With over 20 hours of gameplay, and one of the most enjoyable cooperative multiplayer experiences I've had, I couldn't recommend Legends more highly to fans and newbies alike. [Nov 2004, p.144]
  11. A must own for the fans, and definitely worth at least a rental from casual gamers. Be warned though, with its sprawling story, if you get hooked on this game be prepared to play it for a while – it’s a long title that will definitely make you feel like you got your money’s worth.
  12. X-Men fans rejoice! There’s finally a game worthy of your devotion.
  13. The action-RPG element really gave Raven Soft the ability to expand on the characters and give you more control than you've ever had with them.
  14. There are some AI issues, and the multiplayer component seems like it was tacked on as an afterthought, but, as a total package, Legends delivers. It is as true to the source material as any game could hope to be, and as a long-time fan of the X-Men, I am more than pleased.
  15. It is steeped in the history of the X-Men comic books and is an easy game to just pick up and play.
  16. To reinforce the notion that the game is based on the comic series, a cel shading style has been used for the graphics and it looks great even on the PS2.
  17. 84
    The fighting is simple, addictive, and enjoyable throughout the long adventure. It's nice to see the X-Men get their due with a game that truly showcases what has made the comics great for three decades.
  18. A surprisingly natural, action-RPG that remains fun to play through during its length.
  19. Even with the technical snafus that sometimes plague Legends, this is still the best X-Men title ever produced. The Action/RPG elements are nicely integrated within an epic storyline with plenty of intrigue and a huge amount of gameplay that can take 20 hours or more to fully complete.
  20. What probably makes this game so interesting as an action game though is the ability to play up to four players cooperatively. Even better is how seamless they make this experience.
  21. Packs in a good number of different playable characters and great-looking graphics into an easy, but fairly lengthy adventure. It all combines to form a great action RPG with strong action and a well-told story.
  22. Does away with swords and sorcery, and instead gives us an excellent action RPG populated by Marvel Comics' band of heroic mutants.
  23. 81
    Although it's certainly not genre busting in any way, it provides Action-RPG fans something better to play than the subpar "Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel." Anyone who is a fan of either the X-Men or Action-RPGs will find a fun, 15-hour game with X-Men Legends.
  24. If you have a couple friends and an afternoon to charge through the game with them, you're going to have a blast. The single-player experience is still fun, but without the lure of real teamwork, the rougher spots of the game tend to punch through to the fore during inopportune times.
  25. One thing to keep in mind though is that this is indeed an RPG. Although it may not seem like one, it is and the games length reveals that very well. You will need to stick with the game for some time until you start to see the real fun start to shine through.
  26. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    80
    On its own merits, XML is a solid action-RPG, but as an X-Men game, it's a superb representation of the mythos. [Dec 2004, p.112]
  27. 80
    If an absolutely brilliant story, finely detailed characterization, and faultless attention to canonical detail are what you're after, then, X-Men Legends is not what you're looking for. If you want a good game, though, and an especially good game to play with a couch full of superhero fans, this is the game to get.
  28. If you can get over the uninspiring graphics, you can definitely enjoy some really fun gameplay and a nice new type of game for the Marvel comic universe.
  29. 80
    Legends is a compelling game for those who aren't fans of the license, but it's an absolute must-have for X-Men followers; the bigger the fan, the more you need this game.
  30. GMR Magazine
    80
    The love that went into it shines through, and it's enough to have True Believers shouting "Excelsior!" for weeks to come. [Dec 2004, p.117]
  31. Super hero games have a particularly bad reputation among most gamers. For every rare decent licensed game there are always a slew along the lines of the abysmal Aquaman Now that I’ve succeeded in sending shivers down your spine, I am pleased to announce that X-Men Legends most definitely does not suck.
  32. Good for fans, but action-RPG gamers probably already have a better game in hand.
  33. TotalGames.net
    77
    The combat system has a depth that allows you to learn new moves and string together long combos for some slick fighting while the vivid comic book style goes some way to explain the occasionally basic look of some of the sections.
  34. Easily the best of the X-Men games to ever appear on a console and a shining example that not all games based on licensed properties like comics and movies have to suck.
  35. The developers took a bit of a short cut by relying on invisible walls to guide you through each level.
  36. The environments are expansive and varied, and you can interact (read: destroy) virtually anything you come across. The cel-shading effect is put to good use here.
  37. PSM Magazine
    75
    The camera is a frequent problem and some of the battles and level designs are unbalanced, but these feel just like classic X-Men battles. [Holiday 2004, p.82]
  38. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    75
    Despite recycled levels, repetitive enemies, chaotic combat, and unbalanced characters, just controlling four X-Men and using their powers is usually enough to make up for Legends' flaws. [Holiday 2004, p.100]
  39. It's rare that an action role-playing game works as both an 'action' and 'role-playing' game, so to come across such slick combat and a deeply involving character upgrade system here is a real treat.
  40. Light on story and depth but packed with tons of action (particularly in multiplayer), Legends is an X-Men fan’s dream come true and the best non-fighting game ever made featuring Marvel’s legendary team of superheroes.
  41. The game does have quite an ‘old-school’ feel to it that some may not like, but it’s a definite foundation for the franchise to develop over time.
  42. Play Magazine
    67
    There's no denying that the level of interaction in here is humbling. [Nov 2004, p.54]
  43. netjak
    62
    The AI-controlled team mates are shockingly ineffective. They have the power; they have the abilities. Why can’t they take matters into their own hands more often, then?
  44. 60
    The overhead camera feels constrained. We simply want an isometric view to get a better perspective.
  45. games(TM)
    60
    It’s far from perfect, but Marvel fans have been served well, and those who like their Gauntlet served with extra statistics will have a game they can place just behind the last Dark Alliance. [Dec 2004, p.109]
  46. The not-so-obvious story, sound and graphics take away from this excellent game. The game is definitely an experience worth trying, but don’t expect a long ride!
  47. Shame then that the actual game itself does not contain much inspiration to match the source material.
  48. How is it possible to make a tedious game about the adventures of heroic mutants with super powers?

Awards & Rankings

53
78
#78 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2004
97
#97 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 90 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 90
  2. Negative: 8 out of 90
  1. Sep 11, 2023
    8
    An action-based RPG with plenty of X-Men lore and content. Playing solo is enjoyable, but the co-op mode is really what the game is about. TheAn action-based RPG with plenty of X-Men lore and content. Playing solo is enjoyable, but the co-op mode is really what the game is about. The upgrading of character stats and abilities is the key to victory. You'll also use the environment (which is destructible) to discover shortcuts, hidden areas, bonus items and on-the-fly weapons. The story is pretty good, so it's not just all arcade-style brawling. I would rate this with an 8.3 out of 10. Full Review »
  2. Dec 18, 2012
    8
    A epic X-Men action/RPG
  3. GeorgeL
    Nov 7, 2008
    5
    This game is actually worse than I thought it would be. Being an X-Men fan (I watched all 3 movies and also the TV shows), I hoped this gameThis game is actually worse than I thought it would be. Being an X-Men fan (I watched all 3 movies and also the TV shows), I hoped this game would be pretty good. It was an ok experiance when I played. You get to play as several different characters and you can choose your team most of the time in the game (which is cool, as you can create your dream team of X-Men legends. No pun intended). However, since I bought this game after other RPG superhero games like JLH and MUA have already came out, I can't help but see a whole bunch of flaws in the game that have long been improved by the more recent RPG games. This game basically suffers from the same thing MUA does, and that is that the 4-man team typically can kill pratically anything that stands in your way rather easily, making this game much too easy for its own good. And, since most of my friends aren't X-Men fans, I had to play through this by myself, which sucked bigtime. And, it lacks some of the features that MUA had, so we have a lamer version of MUA, which was already pretty lame. Overall, X-Men Legends was a great game at its time, but now, there are better RPG superhero games to play. Full Review »