Black Legion
A young king's quest to save Camelot from the dark sorceress Morgan le Fay.
Legion: The Legend of Excalibur is a real-time strategy / action role-playing video game hybrid developed by the ex-Westwood Studios 7 Studios and published by Midway Games for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The game tells the story of the young King Arthur to save the kingdom from the evil sorceress Morgan and was given mostly poor or mediocre reviews by critics.
- Status
- Defeated during the events of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Lore & Background
The game begins with the dark sorceress Queen Morgan le Fay attacking and slaying her father Uther Pendragon to take over the Kingdom of Camelot. Her good young half-brother King Arthur claims the right to the throne by pulling the magic sword Excalibur out of the stone and sets off to gather the forces of good, including the warrior Lady Gwenevere, the wizard Merlin, the sorceress Nimue, and the knights Sir Lancelot, Sir Percival and Sir Galahad. He must defeat Morgan's supernatural armies, led by the Red Knight, the Green Knight, the Black Knight, and King Lot, and eventually avenge his father.
In Their Own Story
The game was developed by 7 Studios, a company founded in 1999. It was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The plot follows King Arthur as he gathers allies and fights through Morgan's forces to reclaim Camelot.
Reader's Guide
Legion: The Legend of Excalibur was met with generally mixed or average critical reception, including the averaged scores of 51/100 at Metacritic and 57.89% at GameRankings. Chris Carle of IGN gave it a positive review and a score 7.8/10, stating that 'nothing like Legion currently exists on the PlayStation 2' to be such a mix of genres, and opining that 'in the end, Legion is a solid game that is worth playing through once. It may lose its steam after that, but it's a fun mix of action, strategy and RPG. Fans of Gauntlet, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Diablo might want to give it a look.' On the other hand, Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot gave it only 3.8/10, opining 'Legion has many sound concepts, but just about everything falls apart in the execution, resulting in a game that runs the gamut from frustrating to just plain terrible.' Other reviews included C− from Game Revolution, 3/10 from RPGamer, 3/10 from PlayStation World, 6.7/10 from GameZone, 9/20 from Jeuxvideo.com, and 66% from 4Players.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by 7 Studios, a company founded in 1999.
- It was published by Midway Games for the PlayStation 2 in 2002.
- The game received a score of 51/100 at Metacritic and 57.89% at GameRankings.
- Chris Carle of IGN gave it a 7.8/10, calling it 'a solid game that is worth playing through once.'
- Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot gave it a 3.8/10, describing it as 'frustrating to just plain terrible.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Black Legion?
The Black Legion is Mephisto's disciplined army of demons, drawn from his realm of Hatred to invade Sanctuary. Unlike a chaotic horde, these forces are organized specifically to spread corruption and enslave humanity through the Zakarum faith.
What types of demons make up this legion?
Its ranks include formidable units such as Brutes, Succubi, and Blood Lords that serve Mephisto's will. Notably, Sirens are not part of this specific canon lineup in Diablo II, despite common misconceptions about demon variety.
What is the Black Legion's primary goal?
Their main objective is to march across the lands of Sanctuary to corrupt the Zakarum order and subjugate the human population. They act as a tool for Mephisto to extend his influence beyond Hell without relying on a unified army from all demonic realms.
How does their story conclude?
The Black Legion is ultimately defeated during the events of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction when the Hero confronts and destroys Mephisto. This victory halts their campaign of corruption and breaks their hold over the Zakarum priests.
Why are they important to the lore?
They represent a unique threat because they utilize religious manipulation rather than just brute force to achieve demonic goals. Their existence highlights Mephisto's specific strategy of using hatred and organized discipline to undermine human society from within.