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Legend of Gladius Review
Carvonica- 12/14/2010 03:13 AM
- 8634 views
Legend of Gladius Review
by Carvonica
Overview
Legend of Gladius is a beginner attempt at a 2D-RPG. The developer(s) follows an informative tutorial called, Benko's Guide, which is written specifically for RPG Maker VX. The story follows two young adventurers, Salazar and Zach, as they're tossed off a boat that the two somehow secretly boarded. After being tossed off at the nearest island, the two adventurers stumble upon a tiny village. Hoping to find a job in order to earn enough money to buy a boating fare, Salazar and Zach begin a quest to find the legendary sword, Gladius.
Story 2.5/5
The story is simple and straightforward. You play two characters: Salazar and Zach. The game's main quest, and only quest I do believe, is to retrieve the legendary sword, Gladius. The player realizes near the beginning why they need to do this quest, to earn enough money for a boat fare. However, is it clear that money is the reward for the quest? No. You just get the sense of feeling it won't be as easy as it seems.
Visuals 2/5
The visuals presented in Legend of Gladius are what you would expect in a first attempt. The developer often adds too much to a single area or too little. For example, the areas outside the tiny village are full of colorful flowers, trees, and display plenty of detail but sometimes you feel it could be too much. Then again, the village and shops don't offer enough details and often feel empty.
Gameplay and General Design 2.5/5
Gameplay is very mediocre in Legend of Gladius. It's nothing special and lacks in certain areas. The main one being probably the most important, balancing. I find a lot of first attempts lack balance between enemy statistics and player statistics. For example, the main character's HP, ATK, and DEF is way too high and doesn't slow down. I felt constantly in front of the enemy and never worried about dying or bothered buying potions. You literally never run out of HP or MP, even when encountering elite or boss enemies. Balancing continues to be a problem as the database doesn't seem to have changed much, even equipment wise.
Note: There are no skills what-so-ever, except when you defeat the first boss, which isn't needed then.
Music and Sound Effects 2/5
The music, I do believe, is entirely RTP. Which isn't really a good thing. Sure, it's not too big of a problem but at least the developer makes decent use of it. It's not over-used and definitely is used at certain story points to increase the drama or action of the plot. The sound effects work in a similar pattern and aren't used often but when are, work out acceptable.
Final Verdict Fair
Legend of Gladius is a decently developed first attempt. It surprises in certain areas, such as combat visuals and disappoints in others, such as balancing. I would suggest giving this game a try, especially if you're new to RPG Maker VX yourself.
In-game Images
by Carvonica
Overview
Legend of Gladius is a beginner attempt at a 2D-RPG. The developer(s) follows an informative tutorial called, Benko's Guide, which is written specifically for RPG Maker VX. The story follows two young adventurers, Salazar and Zach, as they're tossed off a boat that the two somehow secretly boarded. After being tossed off at the nearest island, the two adventurers stumble upon a tiny village. Hoping to find a job in order to earn enough money to buy a boating fare, Salazar and Zach begin a quest to find the legendary sword, Gladius.
Story 2.5/5
The story is simple and straightforward. You play two characters: Salazar and Zach. The game's main quest, and only quest I do believe, is to retrieve the legendary sword, Gladius. The player realizes near the beginning why they need to do this quest, to earn enough money for a boat fare. However, is it clear that money is the reward for the quest? No. You just get the sense of feeling it won't be as easy as it seems.
Visuals 2/5
The visuals presented in Legend of Gladius are what you would expect in a first attempt. The developer often adds too much to a single area or too little. For example, the areas outside the tiny village are full of colorful flowers, trees, and display plenty of detail but sometimes you feel it could be too much. Then again, the village and shops don't offer enough details and often feel empty.
Gameplay and General Design 2.5/5
Gameplay is very mediocre in Legend of Gladius. It's nothing special and lacks in certain areas. The main one being probably the most important, balancing. I find a lot of first attempts lack balance between enemy statistics and player statistics. For example, the main character's HP, ATK, and DEF is way too high and doesn't slow down. I felt constantly in front of the enemy and never worried about dying or bothered buying potions. You literally never run out of HP or MP, even when encountering elite or boss enemies. Balancing continues to be a problem as the database doesn't seem to have changed much, even equipment wise.
Note: There are no skills what-so-ever, except when you defeat the first boss, which isn't needed then.
Music and Sound Effects 2/5
The music, I do believe, is entirely RTP. Which isn't really a good thing. Sure, it's not too big of a problem but at least the developer makes decent use of it. It's not over-used and definitely is used at certain story points to increase the drama or action of the plot. The sound effects work in a similar pattern and aren't used often but when are, work out acceptable.
Final Verdict Fair
Legend of Gladius is a decently developed first attempt. It surprises in certain areas, such as combat visuals and disappoints in others, such as balancing. I would suggest giving this game a try, especially if you're new to RPG Maker VX yourself.
In-game Images
Posts 
Carvonica
1023
View playlists
CloseNo one wants to comment on this review? I understand it's basically a review of a VX tutorial but I chose this game for a reason! I hope at least the developer takes from the review.
Of course it's a bad thing. Take your description of the story, for instance. It's too short. I can't tell if it's good or bad, I can't even tell if you liked it or not. The partial score is not justified. There's not much feedback, not much constructive criticism, and not much to comment on. You should just write more, and... EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS, you know.
TheNecromancer
3160
It gives a pretty general idea of what the game experience will be like. It's precise and to the point. The things that are mentioned as being bad are pretty broad, there's no real need to go into much detail. It's up to the developer to figure out how to fix balancing. Now they know it's a big problem so they have more information about the game now, as opposed to not having a review at all. Instead of looking for justification, just trust that the reviewer knows what he/she is talking about and play the game yourself to see what it's like. Chances are people are going to have a differing opinions anyways.
Good review.
Good review.
Carvonica
1023
I just ignore Calunio's advice. I felt the review justified the score considering the game isn't but about 30 minutes long. Thanks Link_2112!
author=Carvonica
No one wants to comment on this review?
author=Carvonica
I just ignore Calunio's advice.
Ok then.
Carvonica
1023
I'm starting to doubt if you even read the review. I wanted comments on the clarity of the review and whether or not it was detailed enough. The length of a review is irrelevant.
Jericho
52
Are there any other qualifiers you would like to add before another person comments on this review
author=Carvonica
whether or not it was detailed enough. The length of a review is irrelevant.
Ok then.
Carvonica
1023
Since your advice is one I should take, tell me what I didn't do correctly in my review, Calunio. And please, make it reasonable. The length of a review doesn't effect the information within it.
Jericho
52
i liked the restriction "only the developer may comment," more, carvonica.
nonetheless, I would like to know what this
"However, is it clear that money is the reward for the quest? No. You just get the sense of feeling it won't be as easy as it seems. "
means. My brain can't really process these two sentences together.
nonetheless, I would like to know what this
"However, is it clear that money is the reward for the quest? No. You just get the sense of feeling it won't be as easy as it seems. "
means. My brain can't really process these two sentences together.
author=calunio
You should just write more
author=Carvonica
The length of areviewcomment doesn't effect the information within it.
Carvonica
1023
author=Jericho
i liked the restriction "only the developer may comment," more, carvonica.
nonetheless, I would like to know what this
"However, is it clear that money is the reward for the quest? No. You just get the sense of feeling it won't be as easy as it seems. "
means. My brain can't really process these two sentences together.
Oh, if that's a problem I just didn't word the two sentences correctly. The reward for the quest isn't clear but one assumes it's the main quest and won't be as easy as just finding the sword.
Calunio, I've already told you that the length of the review is appropriate based on the game's length. The game is only thirty minutes long and of that, I spent twenty encountering random enemies.
Not dragging this on. It ends here for me. Thank you for the advice, if that's what you call it.
Irili
3198
Firstly, I'm sorry it took me so long to comment. I was mulling over the review. It certainly gave me some insight into the problems of the game.
Secondly, thank you Carvonica. I really appreciate you taking the time to review this.
Now, I know I had issues with balancing. I think there isn't any cure for this except practice. However, I have a question concerning this: "Note: There are no skills what-so-ever, except when you defeat the first boss, which isn't needed then". Do you mean the enemies have no skills or the characters? I didn't plan on the characters needing to be above LV 12, so I did not create more than a handful of skills.
Lastly, although I don't think a review needs to be long to be good, I would have liked to know more specifically, the parts that you thought were good and bad. For instance, you say that the strictly RTP music is not a good thing but that it was not badly implemented. In what ways?
Again, thanks for the review and thank you to everyone else for your concern over the review.
PS. Carvonica, you said you chose this game for a reason. I'm dying to know what it is!
Secondly, thank you Carvonica. I really appreciate you taking the time to review this.
Now, I know I had issues with balancing. I think there isn't any cure for this except practice. However, I have a question concerning this: "Note: There are no skills what-so-ever, except when you defeat the first boss, which isn't needed then". Do you mean the enemies have no skills or the characters? I didn't plan on the characters needing to be above LV 12, so I did not create more than a handful of skills.
Lastly, although I don't think a review needs to be long to be good, I would have liked to know more specifically, the parts that you thought were good and bad. For instance, you say that the strictly RTP music is not a good thing but that it was not badly implemented. In what ways?
Again, thanks for the review and thank you to everyone else for your concern over the review.
PS. Carvonica, you said you chose this game for a reason. I'm dying to know what it is!
Strangeluv
2787
I think if the review was published, it managed to meet certain criteria for 'length' and 'detail'. While it could be more detailed, I don't see why every review must be a thesis. One tip, though: use a few screenshots throughout the review and comment on them instead of placing them at the end.
As for the game itself, there isn't much that looks striking to me... the mapping could be improved and from the review, so could the balance.
As for the game itself, there isn't much that looks striking to me... the mapping could be improved and from the review, so could the balance.
Corfaisus
"It's frustrating because - as much as Corf is otherwise an irredeemable person - his 2k/3 mapping is on point." ~ psy_wombats
7874
author=Strangeluv
I think if the review was published, it managed to meet certain criteria for 'length' and 'detail'.
Carvonica
1023
I must be honest, I had my doubts about reviewing this game considering it's most definitely a very beginner attempt. However, I think it's a lot better than most first attempts. I also believe all games deserve a score. What really sparked my interest about this particular game is that it was developed following a very informative tutorial so I was curious to see how it went.
To comment more on the specifics of your comment: the RTP music and skill-reference, I have this to say. I wasn't able to use any skills in the game. Even once I reached the first boss, I hadn't received one skill. Was this intentional? I did get "Darkness" or something similar after the battle, but then it's not needed for the final boss, the ogre. To address the RTP music, I would advise not using it. Custom music, especially midis aren't terribly difficult to find. As I said, at least the music was well-placed.
To comment more on the specifics of your comment: the RTP music and skill-reference, I have this to say. I wasn't able to use any skills in the game. Even once I reached the first boss, I hadn't received one skill. Was this intentional? I did get "Darkness" or something similar after the battle, but then it's not needed for the final boss, the ogre. To address the RTP music, I would advise not using it. Custom music, especially midis aren't terribly difficult to find. As I said, at least the music was well-placed.
