Legend of Kay Anniversary
Remake blurs line between nostalgic, outdated.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Legend of Kay Anniversary
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Legend of Kay Anniversary is an HD remake marking the 10-year anniversary of the original's PlayStation 2 release. The action/adventure game features a combination of platforming elements and martial-arts fighting with various weapons, including swords, claws, blunt objects, and explosives. Though the game is combat-heavy, the violence is cartoonish and not portrayed graphically. Dialogue includes a number of insulting comments toward other characters, and the word "bastard" is used at times. Alcohol use is referred to, with some characters appearing to be drunk in some scenes.
Community Reviews
Why Legend of Kay is the Best
Report this review
What’s It About?
LEGEND OF KAY ANNIVERSARY is a remake of the classic PlayStation 2 action-adventure game, which introduces players to the land of Yenching. Yenching is the home of various anthropomorphic creatures who once lived by a code called the Way. Over time, the younger generations lost their belief in the Way, ultimately leaving their land open to invasion. Players take on the role of Kay, a brash young student who decides to set out on his own to try to find a way to turn back the invaders. During his quest, Kay discovers new allies and old friends while learning to grow and mature into the hero his land needs.
Is It Any Good?
Revisiting a decade-old game is a bit of a double-edged sword, because it brings along a fun sense of nostalgia but also a fair amount of baggage. Legend of Kay Anniversary's improved HD graphics are absolutely gorgeous, and the animation flows smoothly. Unfortunately, the game's script, and particularly the character dialogue, can't help but feel a bit dated. It's also hampered by an occasionally frustrating camera, which hasn't improved in this remake. The shifting point of view and the awkward angles sometimes make it difficult to keep up with what's happening on-screen. This can be particularly unnerving in some of the more combat-heavy sections of the game. On the upside, though, the game's controls are simple and solid, allowing even novice players to chain together combos to feel like martial-arts masters.
Legend of Kay Anniversary could've been a great example of how to refresh an older title, but solely enhancing the visuals doesn't improve the overall experience on current-generation systems.Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in the game. How did the violence escalate? Could the conflict have been resolved in another way?
Talk about different beliefs and learning from others. How important is it to understand the beliefs of others? What lessons can we learn from past generations?
Game Details
- Platforms: Mac, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Nordic Games
- Release date: July 27, 2015
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Sports and Martial Arts, Adventures, Wild Animals
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Fantasy violence, Language, Use of alcohol
- Last updated: December 14, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
-
Lego Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin
Lego's ninja franchise spun into clever hand-held adventure.
-
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Kinect)
Fun physical gaming, but lots of fighting.
-
LEGO City Undercover
Fun, imaginative, safe adventure set in a plastic world.
-
Kung Fu Panda
Movie-based kid combat best on Xbox and PS3.
For kids who love kung fu
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate