Demon Legacy

Graphics

I'm not going to rate the graphics as strictly as I would normally simply because this game was made awhile back when people's standards were a little lower.

The facesets are consistent and some of the main characters have some nice graphics. Other than that, however, nothing is going to blow you away in this department. The towns range from mediocre to downright ugly and many of the buildings, you cannot even go inside of. Townspeople make up the regular RTP, and enemy graphics are borrowed primarily from the final fantasy games (but, hey, everyone does it). I did like some of the edits, like Shadar's monster (Grim from Castlevania, wasn't it?) and the blind guy, whose name I've already forgotten. All in all, decent, but definitely not great. But like I said, I'm not going to be as strict.

3 out 5

Music/Sound

The music was pretty good, I enjoyed some of the midis, and I thought the battle music (especially when fighting Diemos) was fantastic. I also loved Shadar's theme (I don't know if that's from another game because I've never heard it before, but it's great). There were a few midis that sounded kinda scratchy (Sharn's hometown is the first that comes to mind), but overall, the music was good. Battle sounds such as slices and explosions sounded damn good, but other than that, there wasn't really a whole lot of ambience sound. But that's being really picky. I still enjoyed what was there.

4 out of 5

Gameplay

There is absolutely nothing special about the gameplay that really makes Demon Legacy stand out. There are a few little mini games, such as sneaking by a bunch of guards and talking your way out if you get caught, but other than that, it's pretty standard fare. Level up, buy weapons, and buy a shit-ton of items. Damn, I don't think I've ever used as many healing items as I have in this game.

Similarly, the battles are also standard, but that isn't a bad thing. The fights were extremely balanced and (minus the final battle) there wasn't a single fight I found to be unfair or unreasonable. Iris learning techniques from her surroundings was a nice touch (even though it sometimes got a little whacky) and Slade discovering his "potential" was very enjoyable (I always love that kind of stuff). It's nothing people haven't seen before, but it's still done really well.

Another plus about Demon Legacy is that it's really long. You can easily get over eight hours with this game, which is hard to come across in RPG maker games these days.

3.5 out 5

Characters/Storyline

I'm saving the best for last. This is where Demon Legacy truly shines. I really cannot say enough about the story, it's that damn good. It's starts off a little slow, but it picks up quickly after about an hour into the game. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't played, but let's just say there are enough twists and turns to keep you glued to your seat. Oh man, and the characters, god damn, this game has some enjoyable characters. Shadar is one of the best villains I've seen in a long time, and Sharn always gives me a few chuckles. I also liked how Slade ended up being the glue that kept everyone together. Even the minor character appearances were very enjoyable (oh and some of the NPC's have some funny dialogue). My only complaint against the story is the number of typos in the game: there are a shit-ton of em'. But other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. Really, really good.

4.5 out of 5

Conclusion

I just got through playing Demon Legacy for the second time, making it the only RPG maker game I've played more than once. It's absolutely my favorite RPG maker game. If you are willing to look past the typos and the rather standard battles and music, you are in for a very enjoyable gaming experience. I highly recommend this game to anyone.