Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom

by Sony

Product Features

• Experience next-gen graphics in true high-definition formats - Watch as the fantasy unfolds through vibrant environments, beautifully rendered characters, highly-detailed creatures, and intense battles
• Unique physics-based game mechanics let you tear through environments and defeat enemies in exciting ways - Knock enemies against walls and watch them tumble to the ground
• Smash through crates, pillars and rocks to clear a way through the environment -- or grab creatures and use them as living, unwilling weapons
• Immerse yourself in an intriguing storyline, as you seek to end an evil king's reign of oppression that he has forced upon your fellow citizens
• Choose from three unique heroes and enjoy their in-depth character progression - Unlock new spells and abilities, collect and equip unique armor & weapons, and more

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000HCJD68
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 4.6 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 19, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,785 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #42 in Video Games > PlayStation 3 > Role-Playing
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom sets the standard for next-gen RPGs through never-before-seen graphics delivered in true high-definition and all-new action-RPG combat featuring physics-based gameplay. Immerse yourself in a truly epic fantasy adventure that comes to life through engaging storylines and action-packed battles filled with heart-pounding combat, magical spells and brilliant SFX. Experience cinematic storytelling and in-depth character progression as a hero in a fantastic world of beauty, terror and betrayal, where only you can end the long standing oppression of a tyrannical king. Collect and equip thousands of weapons, armor, and items along your journey as you slay the hordes of monsters which inhabit the magical worlds from which they come. In addition, Dark Kingdom will feature online gameplay and expanded online game options through the PlayStation 3's online service. Prepare to experience the next generation of console gaming. Prepare to experience Dark Kingdom. The truth lies in darkness on PlayStation 3.

Co-op RPG action in glorious high definition.

Cast spells as a mage for powerful damage. View larger.

Enemies often attack in groups. View larger.

The evil King suspects your aware of his plans. View larger.

Join a friend online for co-op questing. View larger.

A warrior's rite
You are members of the Dragon's Shade, an elite squad of mystical warriors with the ability to absorb power from those you defeat. Although you have loyally served King Halaskar, you have reason to believe he is being corrupted by ultimate dark forces. Sensing your distrust, Halaskar sends you off to quell an uprising in the barbaric borderlands. However, upon your return home, to your utter amazement, you find the land of Dureth a horribly changed place.

Greater sources reveal to you that it is very possibly your own king who is responsible for brutally torturing and mindlessly killing many of the innocent people whom you were once sworn to protect. In order to save your Kingdom and restore peace and order to the lands, you and you comrades agree that the only solution is to assassinate the king.

On your journey, get ready to explore mystical lands drenched with deceit and betrayal as you venture to save your people. Teleport to the first site of anguish, the Sunken Cathedral located in a flooded portion of the city where the king's sorcerers have animated the long-drowned people to keep them in eternal pain. Or battle your way through The Kiln, a terrifying place where Halaskar relentlessly burns citizens alive to further fuel his power. Race to The Grinder: a gigantic machine that mixes unwilling slaves with blades and saws and save Dureth before it is too late.

The future of your Kingdom lies in your hands...

Opportunity knocks
Encounter numerous foes on your quest and defeat them with skills beyond your wildest imagination. Encounter the following four characters as you attempt to put an end to Halaskar's madness:

Warrior- The awesome might of his steel-clad fists leave a trail of shattered bodies in his path. His magical abilities mirror his physical strength. This includes rippling shockwaves, controlled blasts of force, and other earthshaking attacks.

Scout- Using shadow magic, poisonous attacks, and vicious direct assaults, the Scout is a fierce close-quarters combatant. Her agility and skill with bladed weapons giver her an almost snake-like appearance as she weaves through throngs of enemies.

Mage- The Mage wields a staff in addition to his mastery of arcane elements. The Mage's basic attacks are weaker than the other classes but he makes up for it with his commanding power over the elements of fire and ice.

King- Halaskar is a man driven by the pursuit of power an security. When Halaskar assumed the throne, he vowed to secure the Kingdom of Dureth from al aggressors once and for all. Yet as the years passed, the kingdom descended deeper and deeper into an era of war and suffering. Today, rumors whisper of great atrocities against the people of Dureth...atrocities committed by monsters bearing the King's orders.

Not only does Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom feature rich next-generation visuals and engaging combat, but it also offers players a unique multiplayer online co-op mode. Take on Halaskar yourself or ask a friend to join you on your quest. Either way, the Kingdom hangs in the balance, and a world looks your way for help.

Product Description

Product InformationUntold Legends: Dark Kingdom sets the standard for next-gen RPGs throughnever-before-seen graphics delivered in true high-definition and all-newaction-RPG combat featuring physics-based gameplay. Immerse yourself in a trulyepic fantasy adventure that comes to life through engaging storylines andaction-packed battles filled with heart-pounding combat magical spells andbrilliant SFX. Experience cinematic storytelling and in-depth characterprogression as a hero in a fantastic world of beauty terror and betrayal whereonly you can end the long standing oppression of a tyrannical king. Collect andequip thousands of weapons armor and items along your journey as you slay thehordes of monsters which inhabit the magical worlds from which they come. Inaddition Dark Kingdom will feature online gameplay and expanded onlinegame options through the PlayStation 3's online service. Prepare to experiencethe next generation of console gaming. Prepare to experience Dark Kingdom.The truth lies in darkness on PlayStation 3.Product Features Experience next-gen graphics in true high-definition formats - Watch as the fantasy unfolds through vibrant environments beautifully rendered characters highly-detailed creatures and intense battles Unique physics-based game mechanics let you tear through environments and defeat enemies in exciting ways - Knock enemies against walls and watch them tumble to the ground Smash through crates pillars and rocks to clear a way through the environment -- or grab creatures and use them as living unwilling weapons Immerse yourself in an intriguing storyline as you seek to end an evil king's reign of oppression that he has forced upon your fellow citizens Choose from three unique heroes and enjoy their in-depth character progression - Unlock new spells and abilities collect and equip unique armor & weapons and more

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Feels rushed, March 12, 2007

By 

Demystifier - See all my reviews

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Video Game)

This is an mediocre and disappointing title. I'm a big fan of co-op play with the Baulder's Gate and Champions of Norrath series...this game is in that hack-n-slash, half-RPG and half-adventure game mode, but it leaves alot to be desired for a "next-gen" game.

The game feels like it was originally designed for PS2 and at some point in production was deemed to be needed as a PS3 launch title. At the very least, its feels like it was rushed to launch either way. The graphics aren't bad, but in many parts on polished....some elements even look like they belong on PS2, which isn't good. But I could live with that if the gameplay was near the Baulder's or Champions level. It isn't. It is competent as a hack n' slash, but something is missing. Again, this isn't a bad game, just mediocre.

With co-op play, the game also has camera issues. Background elements like trees get in the way of seeing what is going on, and sometimes the camera doesn't follow well and you can get misdirected from the important acttion. It feels like the entire game was designed for a 1 player mode, where these issues largely cease to exist as the game is behind your character and lock to him/her. That is a problem as many who buy games like this do so to have a great multiplayer experience with friends.

I'm not upset that I bought this game, I just wished I had waited a while and bought it used. If you are a Baulder's/Champion fan or like hack n' slash RPGs, give this game a try after its used price drops below the $30 range. But don't get your hopes too high.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This tale's been told before., January 1, 2007

By 

C. Bakehorn (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Video Game)

The PSP launched in March 2005 with only a few games that really took advantage of its hardware or unique features. One of the few that did was Sony Online Entertainment's Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade. It was a game that had potential, and that potential has been brought to another Sony launch, that of the PlayStation 3. How does SOE's Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom fare in the next-gen, non-handheld environment? To say it bluntly, fair. Very fair.

The Dark Kingdom suffix refers to the storyline's location of Dureth, a land victimized by dark magic, a demented king, and his legions of soldiers attacking defenseless, innocent civilians. Luckily for Dureth a group of gifted soldiers known as the Dragon Shade are there to save the day. From here one picks from three different Dragon Shade combatants: the brutish warrior, the swift scout, or the mystical mage. This begins a 20-hour adventure, as one of those characters sets out to discover what's driven the dark king to his madness.

Untold Legends feels a whole lot like every other 3D dungeon-crawling hack-and-slash. For the most part combat consists of mashing different combinations of the X and Square buttons to perform direct or sweeping attacks that absolutely devastate a pack of enemies. It's repetitive but that's to be expected from the genre and design. It's hard to grow tired of destroying a legion of skeleton swordsmen, to be entirely truthful. In fact, it's only when combat is taken away from the player that the game starts to become frustrating. Between hacking and slashing creatures the player will often perform jumping and platforming puzzles as well as some that will have one's head spinning for a moment before it is discovered what will allow one to move on. These puzzles go a long way towards making the game a little more than just a hack-and-slash, but at its core, that's all it really is anyway.

Leveling up is always enjoyable in RPGs (or should be) and Untold Legends is no different. Defeating enemies earns the player experience points that allow the character to level up. When leveled up, the character's stats can be increased (health, mana, melee damage, defense, etc.) and new magic attacks can be learned or strengthened. It is all too generous that Untold Legends allows the player to power up one of the nine magic skills at every level up; at level 45 one will have every single skill maxed out. Still, it's quite fun to beef up the characters. The game allows one to customize a lot; for example, it is possible to focus on strengthening melee damage and health points to make an indestructible warrior or emphasize ranged magic attacks and mana points for mages.

Throughout the game the player will also absorb essence from fallen enemies and destroyed objects (similar to Devil May Cry). Yellow essences act as currency and allow the player to purchase new item enhancements as well as red essences (heals the character) or blue essences (restores mana). Red and blue orbs are also found on fallen enemies. The only problem with the essence system is that the purpose of yellow orbs is defeated when one has to purchase pricey red and blue ones from save checkpoints if health or mana dips too low.

It hasn't yet been said but Untold Legends plays and looks a lot like Peter Molyneux's Xbox blockbuster Fable. One could take that two different ways. The first is as a compliment, because Untold Legends plays like one of the best Xbox games ever created, and this reviewer's personal favorite hack-and-slash game. The second is as a big insult, because a next-generation video game is being compared to a last-generation one. The combat system, essence-collecting, level-up system, and general gameplay mechanics are all remarkably similar.

Sadly, the visuals aren't much better. Untold Legends has pretty environments, lots of particle effects, and an interesting art design but the animation is just terrible. The Havok engine is put to use here but only sparingly. The camera is the bane of the entire game; it very often gets snagged on trees, boxes, or anything protruding from a wall. This results in it spinning wildly and the player taking extra time to figure out which direction to continue battling. At the very least, the music is pretty darn good and fits the environments and storyline quite well. It's just too bad that the sound effects don't compliment this for a great audio score, because they're very dull and powerless.

Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom is a fun game. It is quite fun to play alone for 20 hours or online with three other friends (it's even free, and one can use the experience earned here in the single-player game). Hacking and slashing might be mindless but it doesn't feel too boring or old in Dark Kingdom. Still, a few problems like ho-hum effects and a bad camera keep it from being a truly great game. Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom is worthy of purchase for those PlayStation 3 owners looking for something to keep them busy until bigger titles come out next year, but that's all.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars what do you expect?, May 13, 2007

By 

Lei Lana "sheisrlana" (Alaska & Hawaii, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Video Game)

I have played untold legends games before, and they are all generally hack and slash, so this was to be expected. Still the graphics were pretty good and the storyline entertaining (played as the female). I also liked how the swords and armor looked different depending on what was equiped and which type. There were a few frustrating moments when the character got stuck on the side of a wall or boulder while fighting, but these were all momentary glitches. I bought this game used for a fraction of the price after reading all the poor reviews, but overall I found it a great game and a decent first try/quick release for the PS3.