Legend of Kay Anniversary

 Wii U
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 40
  3. Negative: 8 out of 40
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  1. ricklongo
    Oct 15, 2015
    6
    We're in the midst of a small wave of indie interest in 3D platformers, and the thought of an impending full-on revival of the genre, much like what happened to 2D sidescrollers, makes me all giddy. Of course, there are several different shades of 3D platformers; my favorites tend to be the one that are more open and quasi-seamless (and, I confess, the ones with three bajillionWe're in the midst of a small wave of indie interest in 3D platformers, and the thought of an impending full-on revival of the genre, much like what happened to 2D sidescrollers, makes me all giddy. Of course, there are several different shades of 3D platformers; my favorites tend to be the one that are more open and quasi-seamless (and, I confess, the ones with three bajillion collectibles to track down). Legend of Kay is not any of that; it's very linear in its strict level-based progression, but it does offer fun moments if you look beyond its flaws.

    As you may have imagined, you play the game as Kay, who is an teenage anthropomorphic tiger. After a villanous band of gorillas invade the country and throw its inhabitants into slavery, it's up to him to set things straight. The story is told mostly via spoken dialogue, some of which is delivered in comic-book-like cutscenes. The writing is subpar, which is annoying given the story focus of the game, while the voice acting is mostly bland and uninteresting.

    The game plays as a simplified action title, which frankly isn't a problem in my eyes. I was never really that into the complicated combo system for most modern beat-em-ups, so it's refreshing to come across something less intricate. Going through each stage can be a lot of fun at times, as the game offers pleasant environments with beatiful (if a bit antiquated) graphics and some pretty cool tunes. Some small details are also nice, such as when Kay gets out of a swimming section and proceeds to endearingly shake waterdrops off his fur.

    There are collectibles to look for in each section, but the fact that you can't go back to previously completed locations is very annoying in this regard. Levels end quite abruptly, too, meaning sometimes you won't really be given a fair chance at getting everything. Worse yet, you can't really keep track of available collectibles until you finish each level, making the game's collect-a-thon side a bit pointless. All of this severely dampens the adventure feel of the title, which could have been one of the game's best aspects if done right.

    It should also be said that, technically, the game feels extremely half-assed at places. Kay's damage-taking animation, for example, is so stiff that sometimes you won't even realize you lost energy, leading to some frustrating deaths. The camera is a nightmare, and should have been completely reworked for this version. It's a shame, because it feels that, even with the oversights I mentioned in the last paragraph, this could have been a very good linear action-platformer if only there were more attention to those nagging aspects of the gameplay.

    If you're starved for 3D platformers (as I certainly am), Legend of Kay Anniversary might be worth a try. You'll have a good time if you like simple-yet-effective action, and especially so if open-ended exploration isn't a must for you. I must say I expected more, but the good aspects of the title kept me playing for a decent chunk of time.

    Rating: 6.0    … Expand
  2. thealexmott
    Mar 26, 2017
    5
    Got this on a serious sale for like $3, and I still have buyer's remorse.

    The game is fine. It's a passable 3D platformer in the vein of Jak and Daxter. But if you struggle with bad voice acting or overall cheesiness, this game will destroy you like it destroyed me.

    Like I said, the game is fine. But it's NOT worth sitting through dozens of unskippable awful cutscenes.
  3. Wizrad
    Apr 25, 2017
    6
    While I did enjoy my time playing through this roughly 12 hour game, there were some issues that hindered the experience, preventing the game from being a classic in my eyes.

    Good: - great atmospheric music - tight platforming segments - good ramp up with difficulty - environments are full of character - somewhat deep and challenging combat system - the comical story, and voice    While I did enjoy my time playing through this roughly 12 hour game, there were some issues that hindered the experience, preventing the game from being a classic in my eyes.

    Good:
    - great atmospheric music
    - tight platforming segments
    - good ramp up with difficulty
    - environments are full of character
    - somewhat deep and challenging combat system
    - the comical story, and voice acting...

    Bad:
    - voice acting is terrible, and the writing is just cringe worthy.. but kind of a plus?
    - camera control just never felt right, it isn't bad per say, but not up to modern industry standards
    - the combat is flawed, and just never feels "right".
    - the map system is annoying to use, just wish there was a map screen to use.

    Overall: Fun game, and a decent game for the price. Worth a play.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best Wii U Game of 2015
19
#19 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2015
23
#23 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Sep 30, 2015
    65
    Legend of Kay: Anniversary is a questionable re-release, but most mascot platformer fans should give it a go at some point. [Issue #17 – September/October 2015, p.72]
  2. FNintendo
    Sep 8, 2015
    40
    While its platforming mechanics are overall competent, there's virtually no improvement whatsoever over the original and the visible result is that of something which stopped in time one decade ago, even in the visual component. Having some new elements would be welcome too, but that has also been left out of this anniversary edition.
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  3. Brash Games
    Aug 30, 2015
    60
    It is a decent wee title for a budget release, but I cannot recommend this to any type of real gamer, it’s good for what it is, just not for someone wanting a varied challenge.
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