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Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Natosha M

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Mar 29, 2022

It’s time to get ready, get set, and eat as much as you like with Kirby’s whole new adventure game! Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3D experience through many beautifully designed stages. The game provides the player with plenty of new discoveries, a few familiar and original enemies, and even some ferocious new bosses to defeat. On top of all the actions you’ll be engaging into, there are even many new things to collect, new transformations that are waiting to be tried, and lastly, some new objects you can take control of by using the mouthful mode.

As many may know, Kirby has always been a friendly and welcoming game, similar to Mario. The stages are always bright in color, well lit, and provide such a cute collection of characters to meet. Plus, it’s perfect for everyone; all ages can enjoy and feel welcome to play. Especially, with the mixed amount of difficulty and challenging obstacles, it’s a wild new adventure that is worth trying out!

Clips from the Game

What to Expect in the New Game

What’s New with Kirby

First off, I must start by telling you that the little video introduction was captivating and a perfect start to this new game. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a Kirby game and by the beginning intro, it just reminded me how much I love this little pink guy and how excited I am to start playing! Better yet, everything about Kirby in this game has been made very easy for anyone to understand how to control him and his abilities. Even if you had never played a recent or older Kirby game before, you’ll find him simple enough to move all over these 3D worldly stages and activate his powers with a simple press of a button.

That is actually the first thing I had to try when I got the chance to take control of Kirby. I had to test what he can do and if he still had his well-known abilities just in case something had changed. From my first test run with pressing each button, I’ve noticed nothing new has been added, but for his two abilities, they still remain. The first ability that I had tried, is his ability to take in plenty of air and begin floating. I must say that the change of how to make him stay afloat is way easier, without giving your finger a workout. He actually floats to a certain height without that continuously pressing of a single button and can still be moved while he floats. All one needs to do is just press down on one button and Kirby will flap his little arms to keep floating.

However, if you want to continue to press the button to reduce the height or feel as if you are making him fly, this is still possible too, but not necessary. Either way, this change is one thing I actually enjoy better and also see it as an improvement from older games. Yet, there is a limitation to how long he can stay floating, possibly to make Kirby feel a bit more realistic. Kirby begins to get exhausted after a certain amount of time being in the air, causing him to begin to land nice and light on the ground. So you are still granted enough time to reach a specific location when necessary and not have to see him fall flat onto the ground.

It makes total sense if you think of his intake of air and him holding his breath for some time, which in reality will cause anyone to faint. So it is a bit more realistic and honestly, I’m not unhappy with the change, it makes sense and is suited perfectly with the game and stages you’ll playthrough. The second ability that I was excited to try was the ability to absorb the items that Kirby would encounter on this journey. I’m surprised to say his strength in absorbing anything in his way is extremely powerful, especially when holding the button down for a long amount of time. It’s perfect for finding hidden treasures such as coins, food, other collectible objects from the surroundings in the world as well as devouring enemies. It can also be a great way to obtain something to use for shooting from his mouth, acting like a weapon, perfect for breaking open closed boxes filled with some hidden treasures.

In a way, if I had to tell you what it appears to look like, well it reminds me as if he has a tornado forming in front of him and the power of the suction is as strong as a supreme or superior vacuum. Honestly, with all that power, nothing will be able to escape! Plus, the graphical effects are truly awesome. It really makes for a very believable and intense power that Kirb possesses. Plus, as we all know, or at least some of us do. Kirby will be able to devour the enemies and most will allow him to transform so he can perform that enemy’s skill.

What Can You Transform Into?

Well, it all begins with the enemies you encounter in the game. There are a few familiar faces that you may recall from older games. However, if it’s the first time playing any Kirby game, well this is where you’ll get to learn the awesome ability which Kirby possesses, his transformation ability. Again, some of us may recall these enemies, but they are a little more updated from the older games. Especially cause they are in a 3D form and have a little more detail in their design and even color.

I can’t honestly compare this game to any of the most recent 2017-2020 games since I’ve never tried many of them. However, it’s quite easy to still see the similarities and make out the enemy as they were when they appeared as a 2D pixel back in the 90s. I also want to mention that these abilities which you’ll be able to transform into aren’t so similar as they were in the past or how I recall them to be. Many of them are now a bit more updated and appear more powerful than they use to be. It’s quite a wonderful change and honestly something I find more entertaining and exciting to use as a weapon towards enemies, objects, and other things that may need us to use them on.

Many of these are actually titled exactly as what skill and ability they allow Kirby to perform. The first one I’ve encountered was the Sword. It’s the ability to fight with a sword as a weapon, slicing and dicing enemies up with fantastic sword skills. Additionally, holding the action button down will cause the sword to get even more powerful and cause Kirby to spin for a while till you let off the button. This is nice to use for nearby attacks and hurting more than just one enemy at a time.

Now time for the Bomb ability. This allows Kirby to be able to direct the location of where you as the player want to toss a bomb or many bombs. It isn’t anything too different or unique, but it does have one additional difference. You can make Kirby direct a single bomb to a farther distance. Perfect to avoid the enemy from seeing you and defeating them ahead of time.

Next is the Cutter, which gives Kirby the ability to throw a boomerang. It’s sharp enough to not only defeat enemies but also cut through tall grass to reveal some hidden treasure and open large boxes. It is also a very powerful attack, which can defeat enemies as they come your way. What is different about this attack skill is that it can get larger, more powerful, and stay out as long as you want it to. Just by holding down the same action button used to throw the boomerang out. I honestly find this to be my favorite ability that Kirby can possess as it can reach enemies at a distance and stay there causing them to be defeated faster with fewer chances of getting hurt.

There are a bunch more and each with some really nice graphical effects when in use. The names for these would be Sleep, Fire, Ice, Tornado, Ranger, Drill, Hammer, Crash, and Lastly, the ability to learn is the Needle. Each with a chance to get them evolved even more at the weapon shop back in town, making them even more fantastic! Additionally, with the few I’ve explained fully, these have just as much power and a perfect uniqueness as one another to have in this game. Also, a fun way for defeating enemies at any stage, and to be honest, each of these makes for an awesome ability. Makes it very easy to get through the levels fairly quickly and easily.

Now in this game, there is more than just the ability to transform and use the enemy’s skill as your own. There are also a few objects you don’t really devour completely and transform into, but instead, you take control of them by having a mouthful. The real name for this is called the Mouthful Mode, in which you swallow an object halfway and these are usually glowing so you can tell what is acceptable. Afterward, you have full control of what they can do. It appears as if you are a pink sheet covering the object, taking its shape as your mouth is wrapped on a portion, and with a few the lower part is still hanging out.

A few of these new objects which you will be able to use the Mouthful Mode onto are objects such as the Car Mouth which is used to break through objects and race past enemies, a Vending Machine Mouth which shoots cans out of it, a Light-Bulb Mouth to light the way, Dome Mouth that unlocks something inside after twisting the top off, and the Cone Mouth that is a traffic cone and can break objects with the speed built up and its top point when coming down on the target.

A few of the others that Kirby can use in Mouthful Mode are the Arch Mouth, Cone Mouth, Pipe Mouth, Ring Mouth, Roller Coaster Mouth, Scissor-Lift Mouth, Stairs Mouth, and the Water-Balloon Mouth. These all are necessary parts to the stage, aiding Kirby to get from one location to the next. Plus, discovering friends who need our help like the Waddle Dees, and even finding collectible items that are needed to complete the tasks being requested during each stage. I honestly can say that it is quite an amazing and amusing experience.

The shape you take when doing this Mouthful Mode is adorable as Kirby is naturally, and it’s also powerful with the ways it can be used as a weapon as well as a way to open secret locations. So transforming by devouring enemies or partially transforming from a Mouthful Mode is something new and fun to enjoy in this game.

The Many Stages of Kirby and The Forgotten Land

The stages are broken up into different locations on the main world map, which will have plenty of locations to visit. The first stage will be the Natural Plains and then moves on to Everbay Coast. However, each will be revealed after accomplishing each level from one section and the boss. This gameplay all occurs right after the first part of the game, which again I can say is that it’s an excellent introduction with a tiny video clip and a little gameplay before the real start. Allowing the player the knowledge of how to move and access Kirby’s abilities as well as what to be prepared for, when it comes to the stage design and obstacles. Additionally, it allows you to try the new mouthful mode for the first time, which is quite fun by the way!

This beginning also allows us to understand why Kirby is taking this journey, to rescue his friends the Waddle Dees. Each which have been captured, placed in cages, and is now scattered all over the Natural Plains in many different territories. Putting Kirby on this exploration to rescue each one of them as well as find hidden objects and learn new abilities.

Of course, this game is similar to many others. If you happen to forget something or even missed finding a friend on the stage. However, the only goal of these stages you playthrough is to get to the end and win, which will unlock the next stage. Plus, if you forgot anything, you’ll be able to return to find more coins or hidden treasures if you still need to or just to play around on the stage again. One tip, I found that some of the coins and items you might need are able to be discovered if you check under every rock, behind tall grass, other little objects, and around the edges and corners of the stage.

One good this is that if you get to a difficult area that needs you to restart. The automatic position saving; a checkpoint will allow you to begin closer to different areas in the world since there are a few of them. Therefore you can take your time and even accomplish the tasks requested for you to find during each stage. By the way, not everything in this game will be easy to find on the first run through or easy to destroy each enemy as the game does get difficult. No matter, if this is a problem for you, well then just adjust it to the easier setting, which can be done anytime you like. There is no restarting needed.

Now for the enemies and bosses, they all have a nice, realistic appearance just like the background of every stage and the objects you’ll encounter. The 3D graphics are perfect, even for a cartoon-style game like this. Slightly similar to playing a recent game of Mario or another type of platformer game that has an easy path with a starting and ending location.

Another feature in every Kirby game and even this one that I adore is at the end of the stage. Once you defeat the last enemy or anything you might see before concluding the stage. There is that fun and familiar tune with a dance that Kirby is known for, before hopping on his start to go back to traveling to a new stage. I honestly always loved that dance Kirby performs, really feels like the game has been completed and you’ve accomplished something. Plus, it also makes it obviously different than any other game, making it well known as it’s Kirby’s thing and not a copy from another source; A one-of-a-kind ending!

Now what I didn’t mention is the little friends we are rescuing, each of them is known as Waddle Dees and they are sent back to the main Waddle Dee Town. Plus, when you collect a certain amount, it will help you access the boss stage, so it’s important to find plenty of them at every stage or you won’t be able to move forward till you do. It is where we first started the game. This town is nothing and once we find these friends, rescue them from other locations. The town will evolve and get a bit more populated and built up. The more rescued, the more it gets built up and new locations to visit and checkout. Oh yes, and our new friend we met in town, Elfilin, which also flies in the star at the end when we take off will be there as well.

Lastly, I like to also mention that this game has many perks to be excited about. There are a few that I’ve yet to mention. The first one is that the game doesn’t have to just be played by Kirby alone, but an option to have a friend to play along with you. They can enter the game from the start menu, anytime during the game. They will end up being the character known as Bandana Waddle Dee with his trusty weapon the spear. I haven’t investigated this too much as I’ve played the single-player version of the game at the time of writing this review. Therefore, finding out what the second player is going to be a surprise to find out!

A second perk to this game is that you can play the additional treasure hunt games, which are accessible when you finish a few of the games. These are where you can be a specific transformation and use that ability to speed against time and try to get to the goal; the end. If successful you can score the treasure and of course play as many times as you like.

A third and final one is that you are able to use an amiibo character to play along with this game. It’s something I have yet to try, but it is available to the player. Something more to make an exciting game even more fun! Honestly with these three and what fun the game provides already, well it’s hard to be bored or want to stop playing.

Final Thoughts

What else can I say, except that Kirby is one of those games that never loses my interest, even after completing it! So in comparison to the many others I’ve tried and loved, I would play this game over and over again. Especially when I can play around with the many new transformations that Kirby can possess after absorbing and copying the enemies’ abilities. Oh, and before I forget, the other reason I love is that I can make Kirby float and fly around like a pink cloud, balloon, or bubble any time I want. There aren’t any restrictions when it comes to doing any of these or a time limit till you can perform the action again. Kirby’s abilities make the game so much fun and in all truth, I just love to have those unrestricted use of special abilities that are not found in any other game.

However, if I remove all the love and the attachment that I have for the many Kirby games I’ve tried in the past and only focus on this game. Well then, I honestly can say that Kirby and the Forgotten Land is worth having a try! Despite the fact that Kirby may not speak or appear as strong and fierce as many other heroes when you just glance at the little pink guy. Yet, what you do get with this game is so many exciting features, action-filled battles, plenty of items to collect, and a story that is way more entertaining than many other adventure games I’ve played this year so far! Therefore, if you are searching for a game that gives you the ability to play a bit more freely while adventuring into many beautifully designed, 3D locations with new enemies of all sizes to battle. Well then, this may be a game worth trying, especially since it’s friendly for everyone at any age to enjoy!

Review: No Place Like Home

Jonah Ehlers

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Mar 29, 2022

0

What Have We Done?

The planet’s a mess and everyone who could afford it has fled to Mars. Leaving fauna and flora behind to struggle among mountains of refuse and toxic rivers.

Humans have left a harsher Earth than the one they entered. A product entirely of their own making. But this game isn’t as sad as I made it sound. In No Place Like Home, you embark on a quest to get your new farm thriving again, breathing life back into the world in the process.

Can We Fix It?!

Ellen, our protagonist has come to visit her grandfather one last time before she joins the rest of humanity on Mars. However, he’s nowhere to be found and his Farm is brimming with garbage. She can’t just leave things like this, so using her trusty drill and Vac-Pal she begins cleaning the place up a bit.

What begins as a search for her grandad ends up as a quest to clean up the lands around the farm and village. It’s a monumental task, seeing as you can’t take a step without trash blocking your way. Not to mention the murderous robots leaping at you from behind heaps of rubbish. Yet Ellen’s commitment to finding old gramps is something to behold. Granted, there wouldn’t be a game without that willingness to go further into the world, cleansing it along the way.

It’s a title with great subject matter. Taking a mistreated planet and doing something to help it recover. You may not be enough to heal the entire Earth, but you can make your slice of it a bit better. The gameplay revolves around cleaning up and recycling pollution, as well as establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with the natural world. It’s a fantastic way of reinforcing positive themes, with good deeds and cutesy animals.

Satisfying, But Stale

As you might imagine, this job of making her neck of the woods habitable again takes up the bulk of the gameplay. Vacuum up mountains of junk, and break down the old and hardened garbage with your drill to suck that up too. Along the way slap around a couple of hostile robots. It’s a very straightforward recipe that was surprisingly satisfying. Maybe it was watching all that waste get sucked up into my seemingly infinite vacuum pack. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that my actions were making a tangible difference in the digital world around me.

While it was a satisfying loop, it was also admittedly repetitive. If you’re looking for more action, this may get old a lot faster than for someone seeking a game to relax with. No Place Like Home does take steps at diversifying this section’s gameplay, such as rescuing/befriending animals or fighting robots. The combat was a little lame for me though. It just amounted to running from where their attacks would land, then spamming the attack button till it was over.

This game works best as a casual experience. For when you want a low-stakes, low-pressure time, farming, crafting, and hanging out with animals. And it does this fairly well, these aspects of gameplay also help alleviate the monotony of cleaning. Your farm is not only your base to rest at and decorate as you please. It’s also a good way to quite literally farm the resources you need.

Crops & Crafting

The harvest from your crops, and resources from other craftable structures like beehives, and chicken coops combined with currency is how you upgrade buildings and unlock crafting recipes. In order to harvest though, you need to sow the appropriate seeds. In order to diversify the plants you grow, you need to explore; which is only possible by cleaning up the pollution in the world. In doing so you discover not only more seeds, but also more books on food recipes and decorations, of which there are many.

It makes for a solid cycle of gameplay that has every part synergizing with one another; rewarding the player constantly and keeping them coming back for more. And you probably will, the gameplay loop definitely has the “just one more thing” effect. There’s always something to do. Whether it’s planting and nurturing a new kind of seed you found, or finally building something you’ve been working towards for a while. It’s imperfect, but pretty addictive gameplay overall.

No Place Like Home is nothing awfully special in its art style and visuals. If I’m being honest at times it even felt a bit ugly. However, I will make the counterpoint that some of it felt a bit intentional. The world covered in garbage is in sharp contrast to your farm and other clean areas. By the time you’ve added your personal touch to these spots, they’ll be unrecognisable. Filled with decorations, structures, plants, and an array of critters that add more life and colour to your surroundings. But even then, I could hardly call it a treat for the eyes.

It’s a flawed game that doesn’t always stick the landing. Yet still, there’s something endearing about the experience. Ellen’s core journey may be to find her grandpa. But as things progress the cleaning and healing of the world around her really becomes the star. It’s simple, but quite effective.

Review: Agent Intercept

Daniel Waite

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Mar 29, 2022

0

The world is under threat from an evil and destructive group. Subsequently, a hero is required to step up and save the day. This clichéd plot could be the theme of many cheesy and outdated movies. However, Agent Intercept is the latest game to utilise this well-trodden, but entertaining, core concept.

Developed and published by PikPok, this is an OTT arcade spy title. With garish colours, fast-paced action, and mindless violence, it has all the right ingredients. However, much of the entertaining plot is ridiculous and unrealistic. Subsequently, it must be taken with a pinch of salt! Therefore, you’ll experience dangerous stunts, massive explosions, and many goons and minions en route. Consequently, it plays out like an 80s spy program and I loved its dated and silly approach.

Agent Intercept is brilliantly stupid.

If you get Agent Intercept with the expectation of an in-depth and serious experience, you’ll be disappointed. Yet, if you want a fun and hectic racer full of missions and twists and turns, then this is for you. You are an elite member of the Agency, a top-secret organisation. Armed with the latest technology, you must protect the world from upcoming threats. CLAW is the latest superpower to hit your radar and you must stop them to save mankind. With your powerful Sceptre car, you must race across an array of landscapes, thwarting every plan that unfolds.

As you can see, it offers a familiar story with tried and tested mechanics. Yet, its characters and the array of weaponry make it stand out. The Sceptre is a transforming vehicle loaded with technology. It can race along roads, fly through the air, or float on water. What’s more, it’s armed with lasers, machine guns, missiles, and an emp. Subsequently, no enemy is too tough and no terrain will hold it back. It was amazing to decimate your foes as you whipped along the tarmac, battled rapids, or dodged mountains. Alongside this, you must contend with powerful foes, nuclear weapons, and satellites that shoot laser beams. The combination of these elements creates a brilliantly stupid affair that is moreish and tough to put down.

The Sceptre takes many forms, the jet is but one of them. — Soar through the sky and destroy Loki.

Arcade action at its core.

The missions are fun and exciting, but they play second fiddle to the arcade mechanics. Yes, it was enjoyable to stop another CLAW goon, but completing each objective was more important. Therefore, you spend your time trying to obtain a high score, drifting, jumping, or killing CLAW operatives. Fortunately, none of the tasks was too challenging, so everything feels achievable.

As you race along in each environment, you must pick up tokens, weapons and boosts for the Sceptre. Furthermore, every action you complete adds to your score multiplier. Consequently, you must boost to drift corners, jump to collect points and destroy everything in your path. By doing so, you’ll rack up the points and complete many of the objectives.

As I said, it’s easy enough to do. However, if you want to simplify it further, there are tools available to reduce the difficulty. You can add health, boost power, speed, and so forth. Word of warning though, you can’t compete on the global leaderboard with assists activated. Therefore, you may wish to use them sparingly as you familiarise yourself with each stage.

Use your boost power to keep up. — Use your booster to keep up.

Agent Intercept is dated.

I enjoyed the silly plot and arcade mayhem. Yet, the graphics disappointed me. Unfortunately, Agent Intercept is blocky and dated to look at. As you race across each environment, the details are somewhat lacking and sparse. The developers could have created exciting stages that tested you throughout. However, instead, you experience the same action repeatedly. Luckily, though, the cinematic was much better than the gameplay imagery. These striking cutscenes were vivid, detailed, and appeared like a comic book. I adored the idea and wish PikPok had been more consistent with its approach.

The audio was equally disappointing, as it was all too familiar. Sadly, nothing wowed me, and other than the hammy acting, it was flat and forgettable. Yes, the soundtrack is full of energy and the sound effects are loud, but they weren’t unique. I was desperate for something fresh and new, but it never materialised.

Agent Intercept demands you uncover all the intel. — So much intel and only one hero.

It’s easy to play.

The aforementioned aids to the gameplay make this really easy to play. Yet, it’s simpler still as the vehicle is self-propelled. Therefore, you are responsible for steering, speed, shooting, and little else. Consequently, this may be too straightforward for some, but I enjoyed the laid back approach. The control system allows you to focus on collecting points and destroying goons. Furthermore, it works perfectly when taking on the additional modes.

The extra content asks you to complete time trials, shooting games, and side missions. They are fun, challenging, and add another layer to the gameplay. What’s more, they increase both the replay value and longevity as you compete to top the global leaderboard or unlock intel. Alongside this, you’ll be tested by the large achievement list that makes you come back for more.

Agent Intercept is silly but moreish.

With OTT action, interesting characters, hectic missions, and plenty of side quests, this will keep you busy. However, this isn’t a game for serious gamers! Agent Intercept is silly, but moreish while being oddly competitive. Subsequently, I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you stop CLAW while topping the leaderboard? Drift, shoot and jump your way to victory and a high score.

Review: Ikai

Daniel Waite

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Mar 28, 2022

0

Folklore is a wonderful tool for creative minds around the globe. It allows writers to create surreal, scary, or beautiful worlds with little drawback. Ikai is the latest title to utilise Japanese folklore at its core. Subsequently, it creates a moody and dark game that is suspenseful. Moreover, it’s solely responsible for me soiling many pairs of underwear. (Disclaimer, no underpants were soiled during the reviewing of this game.)

Developed by Endflame and published by PM Studios, this is a psychological horror title. It is set across an array of short chapters that are full of eerie moments and classic jump scares. It will make you jump out of your skin as you are chased by otherworldly beings. What’s more, it’ll test your mind thanks to its array of logic-bending puzzles. In short, it combines many elements to scare you and test you from beginning to end.

Ikai is deliberately confusing.

Now, I’m not normally a fan of confusing titles. I find them to be frustrating and unnecessarily convoluted. However, I enjoyed the layers of intrigue and mystery found within Ikai. The action is set in a Japanese shrine and you view the world through the eyes of Naoko, a young priestess. A rumour of a new demon in the underworld is circulating around the local village. However, you cannot let this story stop you from completing your tasks. You leave the temple to travel to the river, but this was a bad decision. A foul and heavy odour fills the air and you collapse, only to wake and find your once holy sanctuary is now tainted.

The darkness and monsters you face form the key concept of this eerie and creepy story. Subsequently, the action is unnerving as you wait to be scared senseless. Sadly, though, most of the jump scares rely upon clichéd mechanics and well-trodden moments. Whether it’s a ghoul hiding behind a bush or a beast chasing you in the dark, it’s all very familiar. However, this shouldn’t put you off as it’s well constructed and matches both the theme and the story.

Ikai is full of creepy images. — What is this creepy thing?

Magical puzzles and horrendous monsters.

When I saw the “magical” elements of the gameplay, I sighed. I thought that it would be boring, OTT, and unnecessary. Yet, I was wrong. The developers have done a great job of balancing the folklore theme with the suspenseful layers and puzzling moments. Subsequently, there were times when panic and fear overtook logical thinking and this was fantastic.

The puzzles rely upon your observational skills and your artistic abilities. You will be asked to listen to clues, scan an environment, and then draw a magical symbol. If you can do all of this while avoiding the rampaging monsters, you’ll reduce the evil presence. However, this is easier said than done as each creature desperately hunts you down. Consequently, I was petrified as floorboards creaked or doors slammed. Moreover, Endflame delivered the perfect blend of fearful action and mind-boggling puzzles to keep you entertained throughout.

I’m a true believer that less is more. Yet, Ikai has other ideas. Yes, the world is sparse and dark, but the demons are anything but small. You’ll be chased by a hideous troll-like creature, an enormous man-eating worm, a deadly spider, and more. Furthermore, there are spiked heads that fall from the trees, mystical birds to chase, and flames to avoid. On top of this, you’ll come face to face with a blind zombie and walls that have eyes. Therefore, it’s fair to say that this is a little weird and bizarre. Though some may find the strange nature of this to be too far fetched, I loved its unusual ways.

Who is hiding in the cupboard? — I’d suggest running.

Ikai is a bit rough.

I may have adored the story and its mechanics, but its visuals were rough. Sadly, the developers haven’t built a game to test modern consoles or PCs. Subsequently, it’s dated and has some texture issues. Luckily, however, many of the rough edges have been hidden amongst the darkness and foggy scenes. This was a fine decision as it added to the mystery while hiding the unpolished finish.

Though the end product didn’t look fantastic, the stage design was great. I loved the blend of open areas and claustrophobic spaces. These horrible areas added to the suspenseful nature of the gameplay while increasing the fear factor.

Where Ikai truly excels is its audio. The blend of environmental noises and otherworldly beings will send shivers down your spine. Furthermore, the depth perception is tweaked to perfection when you use headphones. Therefore, you’ll hear each monster move as you draw each magical symbol. It was utterly terrifying to scrawl each pattern as you were being chased. Consequently, I equally love and hate the developer’s attention to detail and the fear it creates.

Classic Japanese surroundings. — Such classic Japanese surroundings.

Fiddly controls.

Much of Ikai’s action relies upon small movements and finer details. Therefore, the controls are a little fiddly and clumsy. Sadly, this is detrimental to the core elements of the gameplay. With panic and fear being key factors, you’ll make many mistakes as you are hunted. Subsequently, it was increasingly annoying when you were captured because you couldn’t draw quick enough. Other than this issue, I found the buttons to be responsive, easy to understand, and straightforward to master.

Working your way past every demonic force won’t take you too long. You’ll spend around 4 to 5 hours from beginning to end, and this was a little short for my liking. However, the collectables add to the replay value while forcing you to search every level thoroughly. I really enjoyed what I saw and yearned for a deeper story. Had the developers incorporated an NG+ mode, this would have been perfect.

Ikai is short but scary.

Ikai is wonderfully clichéd but woefully short. It walks a well-trodden path and offers few surprises. Yet, it’s still scary and will make you jump repeatedly. Furthermore, I liked the blend of puzzles and the stunning audio. Sadly, it won’t test veteran gamers, but it’s enjoyable, nonetheless. I liked it and I recommend you to buy it here! The world, as you know it is changing and not for the better. Therefore, do you have what it takes to remove the evil from your spiritual home or will it remain forever?

Review: Beholder 3

James Refelian

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Mar 26, 2022

0

Is Beholder 3 worth it? Very simply. Yes. It’s a rarity when a non-AAA title game feels so polished, detailed, and original that it contends with the best of the best.

Set in a dystopian totalitarian state reminiscent of science fiction TV shows, books like 1984 and sadly some real countries you play Frank. Frank is unfortunate. He was framed for crimes against the state and spared ‘the mines’ or worse by becoming a state informant and spy. Inserted into a regular apartment building Frank now must maintain the building, ensure his tenants are following the laws of the harsh regime and make sure his handler’s enemies are taken care of. You spend time in the apartment building and in the Ministry Offices.

Gameplay

As Frank you can move around the apartment building and offices, but much like in real life there are places you aren’t supposed to go. As Frank is a reluctant spy, however, he can peep through keyholes, break into to offices and apartments and plant hidden cameras just about in every room. Most objects are searchable and will reveal mundane items, items that help you build profiles or contraband that you can use, or plant, to get those dissidents arrested. The story driven narrative takes you on a journey as you complete perilous tasks for money.

That money gets used for paying building bills, fines and buying items that you need. You also must balance this alongside a job at the Ministry that unlocks early on, and family issues. Outside you can find a vendor and a black-market seller. Useful in your quest to control the narrative. Of course, as the game develops you can turn from simply surviving to full out thriving as you take advantage of what you can get access to. For the most part, this is a point-and-click adventure with puzzles to complete along the way as you get missions from the State or side quests from residents.

Quests

The quests in Beholder 3, more like little story chapters than a ‘mission’, are well varied despite running back and forth in the same locations. These quests are often time sensitive with time ticking away as you play. This is the same with paying bills – don’t pay, it’s game over. Bankrupt its game over. Fail a mission for the state it also mean game over. While not difficult per-sae, there is enough challenge to keep them interesting. You can also get creative. In one scenario I used the drugs from my daughter’s room to frame another tenant because the State wanted them gone. I felt uneasy doing it, but the game demanded such.

Sometimes you will need to break in and plant a hidden camera, others you will need to interrogate people and in some you may need to search for incriminating evidence. While these naturally take up a lot of time, don’t forget to take care of the chores, pay the bills, look after the tenants needs and your family. Choices matter though, and some quests will be unavailable to you if you act in haste to get objectives complete. This type of gameplay is interesting as it means with each playthrough there are new paths to take. It also means you must be tactical in your approach to completing things.

Graphics

The world is wonderfully drawn and cartoony in nature. The use of shadows for people is especially telling for some visual representation of living in the shadow of a totalitarian regime. The game, like the theme, is bleak. Lots of washed-out colours, brutalist grey architecture and darkness. Even during the day, it felt oddly dark. While this suits the game perfectly, it isn’t exactly an inspiring visual treat for the eyes. It does, however, fit the game perfectly and would have been jarring had it looked any different.

Beholder 3 has some issues…

Now, Beholder 3 is not perfect. It’s rare when a game is to be honest. There are bugs, NPCs will sometimes get stuck. The game also lagged for me in places for no real reason. It isn’t exactly graphically challenging, and my gaming pc can handle recent AAA titles just fine. In addition, I did experience one crash during my playthrough. Outside of the bugs the dialogue can be a little dry in places. It’s all very bleak and in some cases obvious.

My biggest complaint, however, is when mission objectives randomly just vanished from my HUD and I had to track them down, usually while breaking into someone’s apartment, which didn’t exactly help evade being caught. Hopefully these are all easy fixes that can be patched soon.

Is Beholder 3 worth playing?

Beholder 3 takes the best bits of the first two games in this series and blends them together to make a fun, dark, morally challenging point-and-click adventure. While slow in pace is still thoroughly enjoyable. If you like dystopian fiction, if you like puzzle-based point-and-click adventures, if you like strong narrative then Beholder 3 might just be the game for you. It’s one I will be playing again and again.

Review: WWE 2K22

Daniel Waite

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Mar 26, 2022

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No matter who you are, you want to be entertained! Whether it’s a fantastic book, enthralling and dramatic play, captivating TV series, or an enticing video game, you don’t care. All you want is to be amused and distracted from start to end. However, there is one genre that blends many of these elements to deliver an OTT and exciting spectacle. I am, of course, talking about wrestling! Men and women put their bodies and livelihoods on the line to amuse their many spectators. So, what better way to expand its fanbase than by releasing an associated video game? WWE 2K22 is the latest instalment of scantily clad men and women fighting one another for your entertainment.

Developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games, this is a real to life sports simulation title. Its predecessor WWE 2K20 was a failure and flopped within moments of being released. Furthermore, it was a buggy mess that disappointed many players. Therefore, I’m hopeful that both publisher and developer have learnt from the past, and this latest instalment is a marked improvement.

WWE 2K22 brings a lot to the table.

Let’s cover the elephant in the room and accept that there are bugs and glitches. Sadly, there are lots of them, but they are mostly harmless and amusing. The majority focus on visual issues and rarely do they impact the gameplay. However, they shouldn’t be there and this is something that will be patched out…I hope.

Performance issues aside, WWE 2K22 brings a lot of action to the table. The amount of detail, depth, and options are almost overwhelming. Subsequently, fans will be spoilt for choice as they take on traditional modes, become a GM, create a wrestler, and so forth. There is also a fantastic training section, online play, couch co-op, and more. Furthermore, you can select from the modern roster of athletes, legendary wrestlers, and upcoming stars. Alongside this, there is also the inclusion of custom wrestlers to add spice to the recipe.

I spent an unhealthy amount of time designing my fighter, but it amused me nonetheless. I designed the beautiful and childish It Che Frush, who was deadly and irritating. She was a solo fighter, as she was always thwarted in tag team matches by the Can Es Ten Duo. Right, enough about my immature approach. Let’s get on with this!

The custom mode is fantastic. — It Che Frush is a thing of beauty.

Take on a career or enjoy quick tournaments.

What makes WWE 2K22 particularly great is its depth. Whether you are playing for an extended session or jumping in for five minutes, it has you covered. Furthermore, this is easy to play online against friends and strangers. Therefore, it’s accessible as well as community-focused. Unsurprisingly, though, the lobbies are a tad childish and this can be tedious. The “banter” can be ignored or avoided altogether, so it’s a minor issue.

I’m not a massive wrestling fan, so the slow-paced elements of the GM mode were lost on me. However, if you love finer details, and organising every element of a show, then you’ll adore it. You must hire a roster of superstars, organise the fights, and wow the crowds. On top of this, you’ll have objectives to hit, finances to balance, and a rival to overcome. You can also take part in every battle, or simulate them to speed things up. Subsequently, it’s the perfect option for a wrestling superfan. You’ll finally get to manage the team of your dreams while becoming the most popular GM on the planet.

It offers everything you’d expect and more.

Other than the GM mode, you’ll experience the normal custom/exhibition matches, the much-loved Sandbox world of “Universe”, Showcase, MyFACTION, and MyRISE. The latter two are new to the franchise and bring it in line with other sports simulation titles.

MyFACTION is similar to Fifa’s Ultimate Team, and it allows you to create a special roster of wrestlers. Here you’ll unlock rare cards, find superstar wrestlers, and more. You’ll build up a stable of athletes and take on the world.

MyRISE is your go-to story mode for your created character. Here you’ll experience a unique plot depending on your sex. Furthermore, you must start rivalries, build friendships, and experience many twists and turns.

Finally, the game’s key mode is Showcase! Here you take on the role of Rey Mysterio and relive his fabled career. It is a narrative-driven affair with objectives to complete and characters to unlock.

WWE 2K22 keeps you going in its MyFACTION mode. — Showcase brings all the great wrestlers together.

Plenty to do, but is it worth it?

It’s not unusual for a sports title to go all out with its features. So, what we really want to know is, is it worth it? Well, yes, it is. The action far surpasses anything previously seen in the franchise. Obviously, there are the aforementioned bugs and glitches, but these won’t bother you. You’ll adore the high-energy matches, the variety of rules and regulations on offer, and the intense rivalries. Moreover, if you follow modern wrestling, you’ll enjoy the familiar characters and storylines.

On top of this, the transition between offline and online action is seamless. The gameplay flows beautifully thanks to the well-designed UI. Also, the cross-play features allow every player to enjoy the full customisation options normally reserved for PC gamers. This was a nice touch from the developers and one that expanded its appeal exponentially.

WWE 2K22 looks amazing.

Wrestling is all about the show and the razzmatazz. Luckily, WWE 2K22 captures this perfectly! Its graphics are bright, crisp, flashy, and in your face. What’s more, it looks great, plays smoothly, and is a treat to look at. I loved the real to life images of each wrestler, and the bizarre looks of every custom creation. For me, sports titles don’t come better than this.

To enhance the drama further, you’ll enjoy a curated soundtrack from Machine Gun Kelly. The eclectic blend of tracks has some world-famous artists performing their hit songs. Consequently, this adds to the showbiz nature of the gameplay. Alongside the badass tracks, you’ll enjoy some crunching sound effects and OTT commentary. Neither of these elements is surprising, but they add drama and were wonderful to listen to.

WWE 2K22 is brutal and amusing. — You were asking for it.

An excellent tutorial.

I always worry that wrestling games will be complex and annoying to play. There is always a niggling doubt that the developers will overcomplicate matters. Luckily, however, WWE 2K22 has a phenomenal tutorial. Subsequently, within minutes, you’ll be grappling, punching, and kicking your way to victory. The controls are also extremely responsive and this saves you from mashing the buttons. Yes, there are some detailed elements that require time to master, but it’s pretty straightforward and great for newcomers.

Thanks to its deep career paths, online and offline action, and amusing customisation options, this will keep you entertained. Moreover, you can waste hours creating a super roster of wrestlers or take minutes to battle a mate online. Consequently, this has masses of replay value and longevity.

WWE 2K22 is a wrestling fan’s dream.

I wouldn’t go as far to say that I now love wrestling again, but this did amuse me. WWE 2K22 is perfect for the avid wrestling fan while also offering enough to entertain those sitting on the fence. There is something for everyone and this ensures you won’t tire of it easily. I enjoyed it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you defeat every contender and become a champion? Or perhaps you’ll become a world-renowned GM. Whatever you decide, this is one wrestling title that has you covered.

Review: MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth!

Alex Chessun

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Mar 25, 2022

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Review: MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth!

Fair or not, expectations can make or break a video game. Crushingly large expectations can fell one as big as Call of Duty or, on the flip side, can give a title a lot of goodwill when it comes out of the indie wilderness such as A Short Hike.

Admittedly, my expectations where not particularly high when I received a code for an Italian cartoon adaption from a publisher (Gammera Nest) whose 6 games I’ve reviewed have an average score of 5.33/10, but thankfully I’m not too old to be surprised as MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth! defied my expectations with its colorful 2.5D aesthetic, landmark-filled backgrounds and soothing soundtrack creating a relaxing environment in which mistakes are forgiven and responsive platforming is easily enjoyed.

The TV show – Meteoheroes – is basically a more kid-friendly version (no episodes about aids or overpopulation) of the 90s cartoon Captain Planet where a team of superheroes take on environment issues to save the world. As a team with differing powers, the game has you run around 8 cities across the world that are in need of depolluting. From Harbin to Seattle, you platform over rooftops, barnyards and bridges – all with famous landmarks in the background – collecting items and making it to the end of the stress-free levels.

Unfortunately, the visuals don’t exactly shine in the screenshots, but they do look great in-game.

There is some very basic choice-based troubleshooting to bridge unreachable gaps, giving you the opportunity to see each character’s powers and there is also an overall goal at the end of each level that is completed automatically, but this is a very simple platformer that lets you take your time with it. It also looks great, with a bright textureless aesthetic that combines works well with the cities it recreates and is a style that I really can’t get enough of.

Enemies known as the Maculans (controlled by the evil Dr. Mekina) frequent each level aiming to halt your progress. There are a few different ones, but my favorite being the suicidal pollution penguin that runs after you and blows up. Apart from a final stage boss that you need to defeat 3 times though, there are few challenges here as the very easygoing levels aren’t aiming to frustrate.

For anyone remotely experienced with how video games work, MeteoHeroes also won’t last any real length of time, clocking in around an hour or two as the game mechanics are shallow and the levels are minutes long.

Look carefully for this pollution penguin’s weapon of choice – a black pollution hammer. But, of course!

It’s possible to critique this title till the suicidal pollution penguins come home but its intended pre-teen and younger audience probably won’t care about anything beyond its strengths.

One area that probably should have been improved, however, is the lack of an accompanied story for the superhero group, as those younger players who aren’t familiar with the show may not quite get what’s going on. Scenes where you could learn more about the team and why the enemies are attacking, even just lifting scenes straight from the cartoon itself to explain itself better, would have been appreciated.

Perhaps I’m showing my age here yet again, but when did we decide that scoreboards weren’t cool anymore?

All the in-game stats are removed in favour of PS trophies here, but with no visual confirming how far you’ve progressed or what you’ve actually achieved thus far, it’s hard to know how close you are in achieving them.

MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth! has no right being a decent game, but manages to pull off a visually appealing and relaxing environment for kids and adults alike. A lack of overall content is immediately apparent, but for what it’s aiming to achieve – a pretty platformer with casual environmental messages as accompanied media for the TV show – it’s mission accomplished.

Review: The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature

Daniel Waite

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Mar 25, 2022

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Review: The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature

https://youtu.be/a1cwi2-5CsA

Trying to find your place in the world can be a daunting task! Subsequently, you will experience a range of emotions, from heart-wrenching lows to euphoric highs. You quickly realise that you have little control over what is to be, and whatever life has in store for you, you mustn’t lose faith. Destiny and fate play their part, and you must go with the flow no matter what the world throws at you. This is the concept behind The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature. It is a dark, romantic tale set in a beautiful and fearful world.

Developed by La Belle Games and published by ARTE Experience, this is a decision-based adventure title. It is a touching tale that highlights the best and worst in humanity. Furthermore, it is set in a beautiful pastel world that unfolds to the most striking of soundtracks. Moreover, if this game doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, then I’m sure you are the monster and not the creature whom you control.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature is full of dark imagery. — A cruel reflection of yourself.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is wonderfully cathartic.

No matter what way you look at it, The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature will resonate. Consequently, at least 1 of the 20 chapters will be an eye-opening cathartic experience. You will witness the innocence of children, the fear of mankind, and the beauty of nature. On top of this, your decisions will have far-reaching ramifications that impact the protagonist’s mediocre existence. Therefore, it is wise to think before you act as a considered approach may improve the outcome of this dark tale.

You play as Frankenstein’s creature, a monster so hideous that his creator has abandoned him. You have no memory of who you are or why you exist. What’s more, you do not understand why the surrounding world is so cruel to you. Through exploration, harsh encounters, and moments of fleeting fortune, you forge your path in life. However, no matter how hard you try, you cannot get over the feeling of abandonment and solitude. Will you accept your empty existence, or will you fight to create a little piece of happiness?

Some beautiful moments.

Where this tale excels is its emotive plot and minor gameplay elements. The action revolves around 20 chapters of the creature’s evolution. As the game progresses, he becomes wise to humanity’s ways, but also tired of their hatred. During each segment, you must wander small but beautiful environments, searching for clues and completing minuscule tasks. Whether it was playing a musical instrument, completing remedial tasks, or helping at a carnival, the objectives were never challenging.

Yet, there are some moments that stand out for their creative or gruesome elements. I adored the basic puzzling elements that added some depth to the simple adventuring mechanics. You are expected to collect items, search for clues, and use some rudimentary logical thinking. However, if this isn’t your thing, then worry not as you may love the gruesome ideas. Solitude is enough to drive any creature mad, so if no one will be your friend, you may need to take drastic measures. Whatever these are, I won’t spoil them for you, but they’ll make you wince while wondering what the heck is happening.

So many varied landscapes. — So many stunning landscapes.

Visual novel mechanics.

What took me by surprise was how the developers incorporated their decision-making elements. It was strange that every branch of the plot relied on dialogue choices. Subsequently, I found it bizarre that an adventure title would rely so heavily on visual novel mechanics. Normally, I’d expect progress to be made through actions rather than words, yet The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is stuck in its ways.

Every key moment pauses the action while you consider your options. Do you flee from a high-risk encounter, or fight your aggressors? Alternatively, will you pursue happiness or accept your destiny to be a lonely outcast? Whatever you choose will change the course of any playthrough. Consequently, you are left with an incredible amount of what-ifs! This would have been fantastic if a chapter selection had been added. As it is, to witness every possible outcome requires an awful lot of repetitive gameplay. Sadly, this undermines its slick nature and reduces the enjoyment considerably.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is like a watercolour painting.

The protagonist knows not of who they are or why they exist. Therefore, it was apt that the opening chapters unfold as he beings to explore. Furthermore, the world is a fascinating and dangerous place that reveals itself as if by magic. I loved the surreal nature of the imagery that was presented like a watercolour painting. The blend of pastel tones and warm backdrops juxtaposes the cold and callous way the creature is treated. Furthermore, striking colours and the use of shadow add drama to some of the darker scenes.

The atmosphere was enhanced further because of the amazing audio. The use of stringed instruments and sombre tunes capture the creature’s desperate state of mind. On top of this, there are lighthearted moments when luck is on your side. These breaks in the depressing nature of the plot were a welcome relief. Alongside the fascinating soundtrack was tough to swallow sound effects. Screaming humans, dogs barking, and the sound of fear are all used to heighten the hatred felt towards the lead character.

Will religion be your guiding light? — Will you choose religion to comfort you?

It’s easy to play.

Though much of the action takes place in surreal locations, it is still easy to follow. Thanks to a shimmering hue, you always know how to proceed. Alongside this, any mini-games or tasks are simple to understand. Each requires some basic skills to overcome and none will challenge you or prevent you from progressing. With little instruction, you will be able to play this with ease while enjoying the bizarre nature of the plot.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature has a disappointingly small story. With only 20 short chapters to experience, this is seriously lacking in longevity. However, if you wish to see every ending and unlock all the achievements, then you must replay it several times. Therefore, there is replay value if you are a completionist.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is a wonderful reimagining of a classic tale.

Whenever I see developers reimagining classic tales, I get a little worried. Yet, I had no need to fear as The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is wonderfully tasteful. It completely flips the story on its head and demands that you see the world from the creature’s point of view. Furthermore, the aesthetics are truly stunning, as are the brutally dark moments. Subsequently, I adored it and I recommend that you buy it here! People fear what they don’t understand, yet you don’t know where you fit in. Can you carve your own path, or are you destined to be cursed by isolation and solitude?

Wunderling DX

Natosha M

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Mar 24, 2022

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Have you ever wanted to sit back and play a puzzling adventure game that provides plenty of levels varying in difficulty? Possibly one that will keep you eager to see what challenge awaits next, right after finishing the one before? Well then, Wunderling DX would be a wonderful game to try!

This is a game that is not only adorable in its graphical appearance but it provides a very cute story with a unique twist. We are actually the weak enemy and not the hero, Carrot Man. So to take the place as one of the enemies that Carrot Man is trying to defeat on his way to save Princess Pea is something new and interesting. Plus, with a neverending path of puzzling levels that range in difficulty, but since it continues one after another, the hardest part is putting the game down.

Entertaining and Hours of Nonstop Fun!

There are so many puzzles to play through and so many challenging-level designs. The obstacles that get in the way can range from pointy objects, locations you need to leap to, or even such things as bubbles that will make you go back to where you just came from. Regardless, it’s always a blast to discover the best route to get from beginning to end. Plus, a few hidden treasures to discover along the way as well.

In addition, to its entertaining gameplay, I really have only good things to say about Wunderling DX. Especially since its levels are well-designed and created to provide plenty more to do in the game than aiming from start to finish; a one-path puzzle. Plus there is a pleasant tune that plays in the background. Making not only the characters and the levels friendly and inviting to play, but the music is perfectly complementing the game as well!

One thing that may only appear to be a challenge is the levels, but when you really play a level or a few, there are much more to discover and difficulties that arise. This is where the brain will need to work a little harder and help you figure out a plan for the level. Most of the time, it needs to be done correctly the first time, as the only option to do what is needed is to find secrets hidden in each level. However, replaying the level over and over is another option.

On the other hand, another challenge that we must always be aware of is that our little enemy, the character we are playing as needs something to keep him thriving. Like a real plant, you can’t just play and think of living without obtaining fuel to keep moving. Therefore, even as a weak character, our little yellow heart needs to be fueled by collecting the little yellow objects we see along the path heading from entry to exit. They help us stay alive in the level, but if you venture a different path or have to catch up from a fall, it may cause us to start seeing that little heart slowly disappear, and finally causing us to die if we don’t fuel ourselves up constantly. This just gives the game an additional way to be defeated and another challenge to remember is a part of the game.

Oh yes, and the game does have one last fun feature I’d like to point out. Those little treasures we can find in certain levels are actually objects we can equip to personalize our character. Since as this yellow plant dude we might not have much to look at, even if we may appear cute already. However, those treasures we collect in the game can be added to our collection and be used as soon or later if desired. That’s just another reason to find every treasure in each level, that may be hidden.

There is only one negative problem I noticed during gameplay. I realized that sometimes the jump button wouldn’t allow me to leap as high as normal. It happens occasionally, causing the chances of winning at that time a bit difficult, and it leads to restarting the level. It would barely give me a full jump; the height of the jump is half the normal amount. Yet, after a restart or as the game continues it doesn’t continue with the same issue, just once in a while, it happens and is very uncontrollable when to know it will happen.

Lastly, after completing the game, I can tell that the game is very much entertaining to play and even play through the levels again to see if I can beat the time made from the recent time playing them. The game gives you a chance to earn a faster time by making it to the end sooner and faster. Therefore, the game continues to be fun to play, even after you completed a level or the entire game. Making it another challenge by being quick to beat your time or a friend’s and see who can do it faster.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing I would change about this game, it’s absolutely perfect! Maybe there is a little jumping issue, but the game itself is not something I wouldn’t mind restarting once in a while to play. Since it does bring that challenging gameplay with a cute and fun visual appeal. Perfect for sitting back, picking up the Nintendo Switch console, and enjoying some fun puzzling levels without difficulty learning how to play. Everything is very clear and easy to understand, possibly why there is no tutorial stage.

Plus, the levels aren’t super long, but come with a bit of difficulty and need you as the player to discover the clear path through. No matter who plays this game, it will always provide the player with so much more entertaining and hard to put down levels that continue one after another. Wunderling DX is just an awesome adventurous puzzle game with so many items to collect, and challenging fun levels to play through!

Review: The Cruel King and the Great Hero

Alex Chessun

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Mar 24, 2022

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Review: The Cruel King and the Great Hero

Escaping from your nearest fairytale to release on the PS4 and Switch is The Cruel King and the Great Hero, a side-scrolling RPG with hand-drawn picturesque visuals and a charming narration that reads to you like a bedtime story.

Judging this book by its cover, you’d expect to find this title in the bestseller section, with a story confident enough in itself to overtly hint at its end from the very beginning and with its cinematic feature visuals. That is until the game’s RPG elements overcrowd the shelves with filler gameplay, taking away from the world-building and potentially enjoyable action.

You join the story of a young girl named Yuu, who dreams of becoming a hero just like her late father. Her guardian, the Dragon King, wanting desperately to do whatever he can for the girl, decides to train her to defeat the Demon King, humanity’s mortal enemy and who wreaked chaos upon the land originally until Yuu’s father put an end to it.

There is no denying how great the characters look.

The pair’s strong bond is put to the test in a both heartwarming and sad story with tension that builds right up to the moment of its reveal. Both an emotive fairytale soundtrack (think Undertale) and the storybook chapters that progress over a period of days give the game a great platform to work from – or at least, it should.

There is so much potential here for a bustling world of fascinating characters and interactivity with its brilliantly expressive hand-drawn designs, but the main areas are barren horizontal NPC ‘hubs’ where everyone is spread out all over the place. The few interesting characters that do exist are given mew lines based on the point in the story – as well as being included in the side quests – but they can’t justify the distance it takes to travel between them. It would have been far better to include some verticality and density in the town’s features, where you could perhaps visit multiple characters in one area, but it’s design choice they stick with throughout.

Interactions like this are not as frequent as I would have liked.

You could argue that the developers have gone for a ‘simple is best’ approach here, but it barely feels like it’s scratching the surface in some cases. For example, with the beautiful backgrounds and calm fairytale audio tracks, you’d expect that exploring this title would be fun, but the vast majority of the game is just random encounter ‘dungeons’ disguised as routes from each of the main ‘areas’ and it is in these sections that the game coughs and sputters to an unceremonious stop.

While easy on the eyes, the highly repetitive backgrounds and empty dungeons mean you are often just holding the analog stick in one direction without variation, like a very slow endless runner waiting for the next inevitable random encounter. Furthermore, due to a complete lack of quest indicators, you’ll have no idea of your current location or where you are headed forcing you to constantly check the game’s highly unintuitive map after every battle, which I would always regret as everything would be an eye-rollingly long distance away.

This is yet another example of an underutilized feature, as this – along with a couple of other questions – has zero consequences.

Between this and the high random encounter rate for the easy turn-based battles, I caught myself dozing off in front of the TV more than a few times. Simply put, developer Nippon Ichi Software found the boring RPG archetype and implemented it, as the overextended running time exposes its lack of depth and makes the game a slog to play.

The RPG battle system and mechanics don’t add a great deal more to the mix either – at least for adults familiar with the genre – as items lack basic details, customization of equipment is as generic as it comes, and fights can often be brute-forced, with only one battle that you really need to prepare for – the very last one. This essentially means the game’s grind is not in trying to level up your characters to defeat challenging enemies but is just making it from A to B without giving up in boredom.

Joining Yuu on her journey are 3 other characters that she can team up with, providing a different selection of moves and perks to complement your moveset.

If you don’t mind the grind, however, the story and animation are worth it, assuming of course that you also like innocent bedtime stories that your parents would read to you when you were younger.

Some of my favorite moments are small details in the animation, like Yuu thinking that she is setting her sword alight when she raises her sword in the air during a battle, but it’s actually the nearby dragon, breathing fire on it before she strikes. When the dragon isn’t nearby, however, a question mark pops up above Yuu’s head as the flames fail to appear. Even the idle animation of enemies is detailed enough to sit and enjoy – it’s just a shame this level of detail was absent elsewhere.

Finally, while the narration is excellently read in Japanese, the English subtitles sometimes mistranslate certain nuances in important sections of the story, which won’t cause any confusion, per se, but are unnecessary mistakes.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero‘s storybook narrative and great designs are a classic that arguably never should have left the page. With too many shallow gameplay and world elements, it’s hard to feel invested in anything but the main story cutscenes, but that said, as the game is aimed at a far younger age group, if you are in the market for an RPG for kids, you could do far worse.