Review for Hidden Dragon Legend. Game for PlayStation Network and PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 19/09/2017
In all fairness, Oasis Games it is certainly not the most famous software house and it is not new to the release of titles of questionable quality, more based on mobile and PC platforms. Hidden Dragon Legend therefore did not enjoy the rosiest expectations from the public and critics, although the launch trailer left glimmers of curiosity and hope.
Unfortunately the truth of the facts turned out to be rather harsh: Hidden Dragon Legend it is certainly not the worst game ever seen and certainly represents a big step forward in the production quality of Oasis Games, but it is nonetheless a mediocre title from virtually every point of view.
The character and level design and musical background are not memorable, while still being pleasing; excluding that, Hidden Dragon Legend oscillates between the modest and the disturbing, with badly directed cutscene and still bad English dubbing, woody animations and decidedly embarrassing graphics even for an indie title.
The gameplay is not lacking in interesting ideas and even the structuring of the levels, although classic, manages to have some variety; the same goes for the enemies, which, however ugly to look at, each have their own moveset and a strategy to be dealt with. Unfortunately, all this is not enough to lift Hidden Dragon Legend from mota of anonymity into which it sinks inexorably.
While pleasing to the eye, the areas in each chapter are nothing more than two-dimensional corridors with a few secret recesses and occasional battles; the latter suffer from a serious camera problem, as the extremes of the arena will have blind spots capable of making even the most experienced players lose patience, precisely because of the peaks of avoidable frustration due to the accumulation of overlapping enemies, these points, whose movements will not be legible and will cause damage undeserved and increasingly consistent as you progress through the levels.
Besides a basic system of sword and dagger equipment, the protagonist also has unique active and passive skills available, unlockable via i sutra fragments, hidden within the levels and upgradeable by consuming experience points. The latter is also the in-game currency, which is necessary for the purchase of healing potions. Each skill consumes skill points when used, recoverable by hitting standard hits, which are divided into light and heavy, with a minimum combo system in the four cardinal directions.
On paper then Hidden Dragon Legend it could have been an excellent two-dimensional platformer, with simple but satisfying combat and a classic and always effective setting. Unfortunately, as can already be guessed, the final result differs too much from this vision: banal plot, mediocre graphics, sixth generation videogame animations, scandalous dubbing, unresponsive controls and inaccurate hitboxes for a gameplay that does not invent anything and copy badly, the all prolonged for about ten hours of longevity and a list price (16,99 Euros on PlayStation Store) definitely excessive.
Unfortunately there is little to say about Hidden Dragon Legend: it is a small step forward for the software house, but still a barely mediocre product that will hardly deserve the time and money of the players, unless they are real die-hard fans like that in severe withdrawal crisis.
► Hidden Dragon Legend is an Action-type game developed and published by Oasis Games for PlayStation Network and PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 19/09/2017
