| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Scroll down for our Kid Factor. 
The ESRB Says
Language: GamerDad heard mild words such as 'damn' but little else and not frequently. Mild Fantasy Violence: simple turn-based combat against monsters with no blood or gore. Use of Alcohol: There are numerous taverns - kids are warned off as always, but there are more adults in the party this time. As I mentioned in my review of The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch, I liked The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion more than I should have. The charming settings and characters; the breezy quests and interactions; the fun combat system and very long main quest all combined to produce an epic experience that was satisfying and pleasant. But it is a game that leaves little lasting impression - you are no sooner done sinking more than forty hours into it than you are unable to really remember the characters or story. That situation only got worse with the second entry in the series - changes in the battle system made it ridiculously easy, and the removal of hidden items made exploration worthless. The last entry in the so-called Gagharv Trilogy is overall the best, but it brings nothing new to the series and is ultimately just as unsatisfying and unremarkable as the others. The majority of the game is indistinguishable from the others in the series - there are different characters and the battle interface looks a bit different, but those things are only noticeable if you are intimately familiar with the other games. Of course, there is no requirement to play the others before approaching this one - the stories do have some linkage but no direct ties. This is the story of a boy, his grandfather, a girl who secretly loves the boy and an old dog. There are other characters who will join you along the way, allowing you to switch characters in and out of your battle party. As in the other games, you run around the world with the analog stick and encounter enemies and friendly NPC's roaming the world - unlike many games of this type, the 'random' battles are avoidable. At first you will want to seek out battles to gain experience, but as you become more powerful the battles are worth very little in terms of experience. The combat is less trivial than in the second game, but the lack of permanent status modifiers and the speed at which your finishing moves charge remove any real danger of dying while exploring the countryside. The Legend of Heroes games pretty much define 'average' in terms of the core game - the quests, characters and overall impression are well done but unremarkable. The controls work well, graphics are pleasing, and the load times are acceptable. The translation is very uneven once again, with some good sections and some very poorly done sections. The game is huge - not quite as sprawling as the first in the series, but you can still expect to spend more than 40 hours winding your way through the huge story. If you are looking for a simple and charming role-playing game in the Final Fantasy tradition, this will keep you occupied for a very long time. Otherwise, look elsewhere, there are many better games you can play on your PSP.  
I had noted in my review for The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch that I was glad they had changed the rating to E-10, and this game is also appropriately rated the same. The content is nearly identical in theme and depth to the first two games. It's cute, charming, friendly and positive in its presentation. The main characters are all attractive and are constantly striving to do what is right. They try to learn from those with more knowledge and always show respect to their elders.
As the party travels through the land, they meet up with many good and evil characters, and have a number of experiences that are not meant for kids of their age. From the very beginning there are lessons about respecting elders and wisdom. As the group travels through dangerous areas and towns there are adults seeking to impart wisdom to the young pilgrims. There is some minor flirtation and characters have 'crushes' on one another, but nothing that goes beyond that level of innocence. It is all good, clean, harmless fun that is easily accessible and acceptable for kids over 10. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
