Icons: Legacy Edition Review Summary

Engaging and fun gameplay: Players find the gameplay mechanics enjoyable and competitive, contributing to a smooth and fun experience.

Well-designed and balanced characters: Characters are well-designed, original, and balanced, contributing to the game's appeal and variety.

Strong netcode implementation: The game features a well-received netcode that provides mostly stable connections and includes rollback, leading to a smooth online experience.

Responsive and active developers: The development team is noted for being responsive to player feedback and actively working on improvements based on community input.

Unique character identities: Each character feels unique, offering a variety of playstyles and personalities that cater to different player preferences.

Lacks originality and creativity: The game is criticized for its lack of originality in various aspects, including music, characters, and overall presentation. Players find the game generic and uninspired, with bland and unoriginal designs.

Character unlock system criticized: The character unlock system is a major point of contention. Players dislike the paywall and the excessive grind required to unlock characters, making the process feel unfair and time-consuming.

Criticism of F2P model: The free-to-play model is widely criticized as abusive and poorly implemented. Players are dissatisfied with the monetization strategies, including lootboxes.

Limited starting characters: Players are unhappy with the limited number of characters available at the start, with only three unique characters unlocked initially.

Developer layoffs: There are reports of massive layoffs within the development team, which has raised concerns about the game's future and support.

Fast-paced gameplay: The game features fast-paced gameplay with a smooth flow of combos and follow-ups. Players appreciate the quick and responsive controls.

Inspired by Smash Bros.: The game is heavily inspired by and reminiscent of Super Smash Bros., particularly Super Smash Bros. Melee and Project M. Many players note the similarities in mechanics and character design.

Characters feel like copies: Characters are often criticized for feeling like cheap or stripped-down copies of Melee characters. Some players find them dull and lacking originality.

Art and sound design: The game features notable art and sound design, including character designs, music, and sound effects. These elements contribute to the overall aesthetic and feel of the game.

Character progression system: The game features a character progression and unlock system, allowing players to unlock new characters using tokens and other mechanics.

Netcode and server issues: The netcode is inconsistent and causes various problems such as server spikes, high ping, and frequent disconnections. While some players report stable connections, others experience significant issues with netplay and match connections.

Performance and crashes: The game suffers from poor performance, including frequent crashes and lag. Some players report crashes during startup, while others experience general instability.

Positive performance on Linux: Some players report that the game runs smoothly on Linux using Proton, indicating that performance can vary significantly depending on the platform.

Try other games instead: Many reviewers suggest playing other games like Slap City, Rivals of Aether, or waiting for Smash Ultimate instead of this game.

Worth trying despite flaws: Some reviewers recommend giving the game a chance due to its low price point, even though it has some flaws.

Cheap alternative to Smash Bros: The game is recommended as a budget-friendly option for those looking for a platform fighter similar to Smash Bros, especially for those who do not own Nintendo consoles.

Wait for future improvements: Several reviews suggest checking back later to see if the game improves or waiting for a couple of months before making a purchase.

Use guides and focus on unlockables: Reviewers suggest using guides to navigate the game and focusing on unlocking all characters and cosmetics.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 150.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

The game becomes fun after players overcome the initial learning curve and start enjoying the slick movement and rewarding combos.

Reported time to anchor: 30m.

Friction: Built-in delay on controls; Learning curve for newcomers; Lack of a proper tutorial mode.

Unlock drivers: Progressing through the game; Unlocking collectibles.

Critical Veteran: Critical and analytical, focusing on the game's flaws and comparing it to other similar titles. Motivation: Seeking a fair and enjoyable competitive experience without excessive monetization. Stance: no buy.

Casual Explorer: Casual and exploratory, focusing on the fun aspects of the game and its similarity to other popular titles. Motivation: Looking for an enjoyable and accessible fighting game experience. Stance: sale.

Hopeful Optimist: Supportive and patient, focusing on the game's future developments and community engagement. Motivation: Belief in the game's potential and the developers' commitment to improvement. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: The game has several positive aspects, including smooth performance on Linux using Proton, good controller support, and stable multiplayer experiences. However, there are some issues with unresponsive controls and generic characters that affect the gameplay experience.

Monetization: The game is heavily criticized for its monetization strategies, particularly the paywall for characters and the use of lootboxes. Many users feel that the game is designed to push players towards spending real money, with high costs for unlocking characters and difficulty in earning in-game currency. The art style is also criticized, contributing to the overall negative perception of the game as a cash grab.