Untold Legends has finally made the jump from the PSP to the big screen, hopping over to the PS3 launch day wagon with Dark Kingdom. There is no denying that the series was meant for greener pastures, as the high-definition graphics and impressive physics in Dark Kingdom bring the series to life in a way that was previously impossible. Upon closer examination though, it becomes obvious that this seed has been laid upon barren earth, as terrible collusion detection, uninspired character models and a bare bones experience make for a poor nutrient source, leaving this grassy knoll to helplessly turn brown.

Dark Kingdom weaves your typical 'epic' fantasy tale of a king tainted by greed and the warriors who have to bring his reign down for the betterment of the common people. Trust me, if you have any experience with Western fantasy then you'll be predicting every move this story makes, when it actually bothers to make one. That aside, the game opens with an excellent cut scene, utilizing detailed still images with special effects and narration superimposed over it. These pieces of art, displaying various barbarians, paint imposing figures into your imagination, pumping you up for the actual game to begin. Once that happens though, you are face to face with the foes you just saw in still form. These barbarians, while still dangerous, aren't as intimidating, lacking that feral, primitive image seen in the cut scenes; instead they look like a bunch of men attempting to cosplay bears that were attempting to cosplay barbarians. Double cosplay - now you know that can't be good.

But when it comes to cosplay, no one takes the cake like the three playable characters do. While their leader, Torran, is a massive beast of a man with a voice as large and booming as his sword, casts an impressive shadow, the motley crew you get to choose seem as if they got lost on their way to a real-life game of Dungeons & Dragons. First up is the hulking 'Conan the Barbarian' wannabe warrior, wielder of a gigantic hammer and an apathetic voice actor. Next up is the sultry 'hottie,' the Scout, who is never above using tricks to get her way. Her twin swords may slice and dice with style, but every other aspect of her screams stereotypical, especially her silly 'multi-purpose' outfit ('whether hitting the clubs or fighting goons, with this outfit I'll always look great!'). Last in order, and in my heart, is the wiz…I mean 'Mage,' who must have broken into Sir Ian McKellan's house, stole his Gandalf costume from The Lord of the Rings and altered it just enough to avoid being caught wearing it. If that wasn't enough, these characters appear to have started life on the PSP before making the journey to the PS3, lacking detail, realism and attractiveness.

If there was some sort of character development, some sort of 'epic' storyline to flesh out these stereotypes, then maybe we could have seen the effects of bromidic character models limited. But those awesome cut scenes are few and far between, and when you do get an in-game cut scene, they simply remind you of what you are supposed to be doing - nothing more. Did the marketing department over at SOE not play this game, as attaching the phrase 'epic storyline' to a game - by way of the back of the box - with very little story to speak of is, among other things, false advertising.

This leaves the gameplay to pick up the slack, and at first, it appears more than up for the task. Beautiful backdrops play host to all of your hack 'n' slash carnage, as every level - from the sun-soaked villa and surrounding fields that serve as the opener, to the dreary, dank caverns with impressive water and lighting effects seen later - is rendered with spectacular detail. As you slash and smash enemies, not only is each attack followed by a shimmering blur of power and speed, but any spilt blood splashes onto the environment with hauntingly striking results. Projectiles, enemies and their body parts where applicable, swirl and fly around with ease, thanks to the impressive physics engine at play. Magic spells are all about being as flashy as possible, taking full advantage of the PS3 to create impressive lighting and particle effects. Voice acting aside, the sound effects and orchestrated score are above average and fit the game well too. While the frame rate does stumble a bit at times and the levels could use more interactivity, for the most part, observing Dark Kingdom at play is a treat.

Playing it, however, is another story entirely. What begins as an accessible and flashy hack and slasher quickly devolves into a monotonous and repetitive button masher. For starters, at the beginning of the game you are asked to choose between the three characters mentioned above. Unfortunately, you are stuck with whomever you choose for the entire game. There are no opportunities to switch between characters, play as someone different during some parts of the game or even adventure with them, as this is mainly a solo affair in single player mode. This means you are stuck with your chosen avatar for twenty or more hours. Now, that wouldn't be a bad thing if you were playing, say, the PC classic, Diablo II, but you aren't, so it is.

Unlike that seemingly immortally exceptional PC game, Dark Kingdom provides very little in the way of character customization and engaging controls. Regardless of the character you choose, the chances are that you'll find yourself mashing the same melee combo, over and over again. Each character has a decent set of combos to execute and special moves to use, but unless you are playing on the hardest difficulty level, you'll find little reason to even mix in the underpowered special attacks with the overly powerful melee attacks. There isn't even a need for items or worrying about damage taken, as enemies spit forth recovery orbs after their demise. Even equipment collecting - what should be the backbone of any hack 'n' slash game - is represented at such a rudimentary level that the only highlight, if you can call it that, is that each piece of armor is represented differently on your character. The lack of additional weapons outside of the starter weapon is sacrilegious.

Puzzles pop up every once in awhile to attempt to break up the fighting, but they provide only the slightest of distractions, as they are neither creative nor interesting. Step on matching squares and collect crystals - yawn. There are even some platforming moments thrown in for good measure, but these are nothing short of frustrating, as collision detection is just pathetic. I don't know how many times I was trying to jump near an object, regardless of height, and found myself bouncing against an invisible wall. These walls also rear their ugly heads in tight areas, such as traversing off the beaten path in the caverns, leading you away from areas that should be accessible.

So, if you take out storytelling and character building, then add in mediocre gameplay, what do you have? A pretty action title that stumbles far more than it struts. As a single player adventure, there are thirty levels and four difficulty levels to fight through, but it's a quest that quickly becomes more chore than fun, leaving many to abandon the game mid-save-file. The multiplayer, whether with one other person at home or three others online, is about as enjoyable as the game gets, allowing parties to fight from scratch or tackle any existing save file - a very important feature, since there is no way you can tackle this game in one sitting, even with three others. But with the superior (though not without its own problems) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance also on the market, there isn't much reason to explore Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom for more than a rental, unless you are really bored or dislike comic books. Sadly, this is one legend that would have been better off left untold.

Reviewed by Tony Peters for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).