Metascore
45 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 38
  2. Negative: 21 out of 38
  1. 42
    But sadly, the strength of the game's characters doesn't lead to a positive, or memorable, gaming experience.
  2. 70
    Tournament of Legends is a good game, but there are a few niggles in the default controls, and it hasn't exactly got much depth to it.
  3. Tournament of Legends isn't the prettiest Wii game, nor is it the most deep and engaging. What it is, however, is a good little fighter that makes good use of the console's interface and truly brings back the feeling of playing a fighting game in the nineties.
  4. ToL's only saving graces are the hammy acting and daft moves. [Sept 2010, p.102]
  5. The only redeeming quality is the echo of ambition that can be faintly heard in the ruins of execution.
  6. Despite its promising concept, Tournament of Legends can be easily defined as one of the worst fighting games on Wii. The lack of an online multiplayer mode and the awful gameplay will in fact force any gamer to move on to something more challenging and, most of all, fun.
  7. Jan 7, 2011
    60
    Tournament Of Legends isn't a awful game. Despite imperfection and lacks, the title is enough enjoyable. Fans of fighting games will undoubtedly spend time with it, but don't expect to play it for months, or not to suffer the excessive flatness of the combat system.
  8. For a game that began life as a gritty and realistic gladiatorial combat game, I was sad to discover that the process of watering down the content to a more family-friendly level has also diluted the entertainment potential of this title, especially since so many fighting games do wonders with a Teen rating and similarly outrageous characters.
  9. Guru players posting how-to videos on YouTube might not get a lot of it, but those craving a fighter that doesn't require slavish dedication will find Tournament of Legends to be a very welcome offering, and one that comes at a budget price, to boot.
  10. Tournament of Legends feels slack, slow and is very ugly, if not ridiculous with its outdated engine and horrible design, giving to the whole game a rather hideous aspect.
  11. Aged characters, aged gameplay and aged graphics. And we feel at least 15 years older after playing it, too.
  12. Any potential for campy fun disperses upon pressing the power button. [Oct 2010, p.86]
  13. It's hard not to wonder just what exactly High Voltage Software is trying to prove. [Issue#99, p.114]
  14. The bargain price may tempt you to give the game a try but trust me, it's no different than the shuckster me-too fighting games of 15 years ago only this time you'll be losing a lot more than just a quarter.
  15. These legendary fighters may look the part, but unresponsive controls are the first thing you'll notice.
  16. Ultimately, everything in ToL can be learned and mastered in a matter of hours, which is perfect because that's about the maximum amount of time it can be fun for.
  17. If the game had continued to be developed as Gladiator A.D. it might not have sold but at least that seemed like a project the developers could have been proud of. This game absolutely reeks of a rushed development cycle after the change in tone in pursuit of sales.
  18. Tournament of Legends is definitely a different type of fighter with a unique mythological spin, but different isn't better in this case. This paltry package is best left to fade into the mists of time.
  19. Tournament of Legends is a mess of glitches, incompetent gameplay, and unfulfilled ideas. It is an insult to fighting fans and an embarrassment to the icons of classic mythology, although I suppose it deserves credit as the first fighting game that can be won in the middle of a full-on seizure.
  20. Tournament of Legends has a lot of good ideas but it falters a bit in execution.
  21. 50
    It doesn't matter whether you play this one with motion controls or the Classic Controller: Tournament of Legends is not a good fighting game.
  22. Tournament of Legends doesn't break the mould for fighters but it's always refreshing to play something different as opposed to traditional fighters.
  23. 30
    A shallow SoulCalibur imitation.
  24. 40
    ToL wins a consolation point since there aren't many 3D fighters on the Wii, and it is accessible to play. Everything else is a disappointment stacked on more disappointments.
  25. It was supposed to be something special, but in the end, the latest work by High Voltage Studios's nothing more than a failed 1vs1 under the shadow of some cool fighters. Nice mechanics, but the rest isn't as special as we'd wanted in the beginning.
  26. Incompetent, outdated and hopelessly misconceived - but other than that a great fighter for the Wii.
  27. Like The Conduit, Tournament of Legends feels like a wasted opportunity: the graphics are pretty good and the controls are ok, but the game itself is a mediocre no-brainer beat'em up, which also lacks an adequate amount of content.
  28. To put it as simply as possible, this is one terrible fighting game.
  29. A reminder of the 1990's fighting scene. Unfortunately Tournament of Legends is more chump than champ.
  30. Hardly an epic tournament, but if you've exhausted Smash Bros or Punch-Out!! you could do worse than try this. [Aug 2010, p.62]
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. 6
    Not a bad game. Really good graphics, nice sound design and good gameplay. The main problem is that this game does not have enough content: few characters, few game modes and no online option. A good choice if you can find it for less than 30 dollars. Full Review »
  2. Tournament of Legends isnt a piece of crap nor is it an extraordinary gem. It is decent at best. The graphics, sound design (not counting the dialog, which comes off as average to lame), and gameplay are all excellent. This games biggest and probably only con is its immense lack of content and variety. There arent very many characters, stages, or playing modes, but it slightly makes up for that with a diverse amount of attack variations and weapons. Still even with that small benefit, the overall feel of the game's experimental nature is lukewarm. (EDITED REVIEW) Full Review »
  3. Game receives a bum rap for not being Soul Caliber caliber. GRAPHICS: Good by any standard, fantastic for the Wii- 9/10. ADVENTURE: The story, dialogue, and characters all fall into the so-bad-it-is-good category. The real time events/mini-games vary from why-don't-all-games-have-this (monster attacks) to the-developers-must-hate-us (armor repairs). Very limited character selection (8 to start, some play the same)- 5/10. MECHANICS: Mostly intuitive. Without any manual or tutorial we managed to get the slightly sluggish controls down quickly- 7/10. EXTRAS: Considering the cluster-#@^$ that was the development of this game the finished product offers two big rays of sunshine; 1. a solid rental/bargain bin purchase and 2. a good 'rough draft' for a future release that incorporates MotionPlus, more content, and maybe a better Sega license (Eternal Champions anyone?)- 6/10. Full Review »