Metacritic Games

Skies of Arcadia Legends (GameCube)

Grasp the wheel of your airship and prepare to embark on an adventure of legendary proportions. You are Vyse, a young member of the Blue Rogue pirates. Together with your childhood friend Aika and a mysterious girl named Fina, you are locked in an epic struggle with a powerful enemy nation for the fate of the world. You must gather your own crew of air pirates and journey through uncharted skies to vanquish the empire from every corner of the map. Along the way, you'll wage battles against savage monsters and evil Pirates as you make a name for yourself on land and in the sky. [Sega]

Sega of America
Role-Playing Game
Players: 1
T (Teen)
Developer: Overworks
Released January 28, 2003

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

84 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 GameNow
The Skies experience is bright, poppy, and exciting. [Feb 2003, p.50]
97 Nintendojo
A definitive RPG. This is the killer RPG app for GameCube. No, it isn't "Final Fantasy" (nor does it try to be), but in this writer's opinion, it's something even better.
95 NintendoWorldReport
The sense of exploration and freedom is one thing that makes Skies of Arcadia such a wonderful game.
92 Electronic Gaming Monthly
An absolutely phenomenal experience... GameCube desperately needed a title like this. [Feb 2003, p.151]
90 GameZone
The main problem with this game is that it feels a little dated, especially when you compare it to "FFX" or other games coming out shortly. Other than that it is a great game.
90 eToychest
I didn't find myself level grinding at all, because the amount of random battles is more than enough to raise your characters to the point where the bosses are only moderate challenges.
90 GMR Magazine
A one-time sleeper hit [has] evolved into a bona fide classic. Quite possibly the finest next-gen RPG thus far. [Feb 2003, p.70]
90 Nintendophiles
Every RPG fans' dream of a game. It has some of the best gameplay, an engaging story, great music (although the quality detracts from this), and hours of gameplay to keep you playing into the long nights.
90 Game Informer
The fact that the gameplay and graphics are still impressive by today's standards shows just how under-appreciated this game was. [Feb 2003, p.100]
90 TotalGames.net
For all of its failings though, Skies Of Arcadia Legends is a worthy game. The atmosphere draws you in completely, and the wonderful characters make your journey through this massive game a total joy.
90 Nintendo Power
The monstrous length of the game is an RPG fanatic's dream. [Feb 2003, p.154]
90 GamePro
The story, though, is the best part—Vyse and crew are the most extroverted RPG heroes ever, and there's none of that Final Fantasy–style self-abhorrence present.
90 GamerWeb Nintendo
A great RPG, one of the best for any system. If you've never played the original on the Dreamcast, buy Legends immediately.
88 netjak
While Skies of Arcadia is not a paramount of technical achievement, the substance is worth buying. Great story and great gameplay elements are the very meat of this title.
88 GameSpy
Deserves praise for the innovative manner in which it presents its 3D locales.
85 GameCube Europe
If you are looking for an adventure of epic proportions with a sci-fi twist on pirates and that sports a classic, yet polished, RPG battle interface with some interesting innovations such as ship battles, then Skies of Arcadia Legends is definitely the game for you!
85 GameCritics
[Vyse's] simple and fun-loving personality is a welcome trait compared to the angst-ridden heroes of today's more popular RPG titles.
85 IGN
RPGs fans must buy and play this game -- no questions asked. Get over the graphics and technical shortcomings; it's still a great game.
85 Electric Playground
Story and characters are excellent. Their personalities and motivations come through easily without a lot of overdone angst.
83 Gaming Age
Almost a directors cut, there has been many cut scenes and even some characters added to tighten up the storyline, making the GC version of Skies a different, and even deeper game than its predecessor.
83 Into Liquid Sky
While some elements of the game aren't perfect, the underlying adventure is more than worth the time.
80 EuroGamer
If you're looking for an enjoyable but fairly traditional RPG with a cracking storyline and likeable characters, Skies of Arcadia Legends comes about as highly recommended as any game can.
80 G4 TV
Though visually lacking, Skies of Arcadia proves that gameplay is still king. It may be a port, but it's superior to most other role-playing games out there.
80 Play Magazine
The mark of any truly legendary RPG lies in its characters and story, and in both of these areas Skies' shines as brightly as its most blue-blue skies. [Mar 2003, p.42]
76 Inside Gamer Online
This is one of the better RPGs to come in a few years, and a revamped version for the GameCube is just what the Doctor ordered.
75 Game Revolution
Considering it's a port, I would have been much happier if more attention was given to the audio and video.
75 GameSpot
Those who fondly remember the original should beware though: One particular idiosyncrasy of the original--the overabundance of random battles--may overpower both the nostalgia factor and the relative dearth of new content.
72 Gamezilla!
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to this fun throw-back is the over-abundance of these random fights.
70 Yahoo! Games
Sappy, sure, but the enthusiasm is infectious and ultimately effective.
70 Cheat Code Central
Skies may be ordinary in the sound department but it's extraordinary in all other aspects.
58 XenGamers
The story is only average for a RPG (make that above average if you love the air pirates setting), the combat system is mildly interesting but lacks much in the way of depth and the presentation is a bit dated.