Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Chaos Legion

Written by Tony Kennetz on August 04, 2003

Final Glimpse: Devil May Cry this isn't...

If you're Capcom, you might be feeling pretty disappointed in the reception games like Devil May Cry 2 and Resident Evil Zero on GC have gotten from the public. Then again, you know what got you were you are today on the PS2, and that's been excellent action games, so Chaos Legion seems like a pretty good fit. Taking a step away from the gameplay of the DMC series and a step back towards it in terms of graphic style, this game has a lot riding on its shoulders, but the question is, can it really handle all the weight?

Chaos Legion places gamers in the shoes of one Seig Warheit, a powerful warrior with the ability to summon УLegions,Ф devastating creatures that range from spirits all the way to monsters. Now, Seig has a former friend who had become a leader among humanity, only to turn to the side of evil. Both have the power to attain the three sacred glyphs that would reunite three worlds, leading to a mass of death. Now Seig most fight the good fight and prevent this entire scenario from playing out, but no, thanks to his Legions he will not be alone.

These legions will almost certainly be the differentiating factor between the Devil May Cry series and this game. In total, there are seven creatures to be brought to life to battle the enemy, everyone carrying their own strengths, weaknesses and weaponry. They can all also be set to do both fight the enemy and shield Seig from enemy attacks, helpful when all that is needed is to get through a level low on life. All of this help comes with a hefty price tag, however, as Seig will lose much of his mobility as well as points towards summoning in the future.

This isn't to say that our friend Seig can't stand up for himself with his own hands and weapons, far from it. In fact, he reminds many of the man we call Dante from DMC. He'll be able to attack from near and afar using melee attacks to an odd looking ball of energy. How well he is able to do this will effect how he plays in the later levels.

On that note you can start to see how this action game may just play a bit like your action-RPGs out there. That's not to say that we're looking at the next Dark Cloud 2 here, but leveling up and customization are going to be two key factors in completing this game. Both legions and Seig can be upgraded with more health, combos, and the like using points collected in battle. The imperative part is knowing which legions to train and when to break them out of their cages. After the combat is over, every member of a party can be fully customized to the players liking. This may not be as in-depth as RPGs get these days, but from an action stand point, this is pretty solid.

Capcom has been pushing this game as the УGothic OperaФ of video games - take a look at the graphics and its likely you'll quickly agree with the marketing ploy the company is using. Character designs look like they came straight out of Devil May Cry (just take a look at those costumes), while enemies look to come from something a little more fantasy based than gothic, but all are beautifully rendered and animated.