The Japanese think they're really on to something with their survival horror games that have been well received recently. So it's only fitting that there's going to be the odd miss among the hits. Kuon is one of those misses. It doesn't miss the target by a lot but enough to knock it firmly down into the "rental" category.
Kuon is not a very deep game. It's repetitive, short and suffers from some control issues which gives the enemy an unfair advantage despite your best efforts. On the plus side, it's creepy, bloody and fast paced. The fact that you can play through the game in one day (albeit a very long day) and the lack of replay value forces me to recommend renting this one. Hey, this game has been around since last year. If you haven't heard of it by now you have to ask yourself why.
Girls, girls, girls. What's the fixation with Japanese girls and haunted mansions? As Japanese tradition would dictate, in this horror game you get to play as a girl. Make that two. Utsuki and Sakuya are the two main playable characters. Both are compelled to investigate the mysterious disappearances of the residents of Fujiwara manor. Utsuki is accompanied by her ill sister, while Sakuya brings in a group of priests, going for that religious angle. Set in the past, there are no modern conveniences such as electricity or flashlights. Both girls make their way through the mansion with low illuminating lanterns which do little to reveal the horrors that lurk among the shadows.
Magic and weapons are your only defense against a creature known as the Gaki. They are a flesh-devouring species that look like tortured and deformed humans. You will find magic cards throughout the mansion which will give you access to various spells. Magic is best used for ranged combat. You can fire projectiles such as fireballs or summon spirits to fight for you.
Weapons such as swords make perfect ranged weapons. You can essentially "hot key" your magic attacks and weapons to the face buttons for easy access. Unfortunately there are some delays between commands and execution. Using magic takes longer than it should. You can only lock-on to the enemy when you're facing a certain angle and even then commands are delay by fraction of a second. You'll find that the weapons have a more immediate feel to them although you will also take unnecessary hits since the characters are very slow to turn around.
Aside from the ghouls you'll also have to look out for tempests which are negative energy vortexes that will rob you of your health, stamina and sanity. These areas are like traps and may cause you to run when confronted with horrific images. The screen will become blurry as you begin to lose energy. Possessing the ability to meditate, you can heal yourself and regain your composure when subjected to such situations.
Once you complete one character's story you have to play through the same chapter as the other character. You will encounter a few new NPCs and some different paths and clues but for the most part you will encounter the same enemies at the same places at the same times using the similar spells and weapons. This makes for a very redundant game. Only after you complete the two girls' story can you move on to the third chapter which is somewhat different.
The blood does flow and there are plenty of chills and thrills to experience. Despite a haunting nursery rhyme that serves as the theme the game is void of music which adds to the tension and highlights the sound effects of footsteps and ungodly noises in the distance. Voiceacting is performed in both English and Japanese, with the English actually good enough to listen to.
I'm not blown away by the graphics but they are consistent. Consistently shrouded in darkness I should mention. The mansion, the costumes and the mannerisms of all portrayed manage to whisk you away to another time. The monsters aren't horrifying but they beg to be sliced and diced.
Kuon isn't going to make anyone's list for Game of the Year. Even if the controls were perfected the gameplay would need at least another five to eight hours of fresh content - and some features to extend the replay value would be a welcome addition.
here are some gamplayes:
youtube.com/watch?v=Okwe2lAeHvY
youtube.com/watch?v=uKIfPlKrvl4&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=X-v99NEPJ2o&feature=related
note: i played this game on ps2 i dont know if there is on pc...
note: can you bro's please get this suggestion to pewds? it would mean so much for me!
thanks for reading ()()()()()()()BROFIST()()()()()()()
Kuon is not a very deep game. It's repetitive, short and suffers from some control issues which gives the enemy an unfair advantage despite your best efforts. On the plus side, it's creepy, bloody and fast paced. The fact that you can play through the game in one day (albeit a very long day) and the lack of replay value forces me to recommend renting this one. Hey, this game has been around since last year. If you haven't heard of it by now you have to ask yourself why.
Girls, girls, girls. What's the fixation with Japanese girls and haunted mansions? As Japanese tradition would dictate, in this horror game you get to play as a girl. Make that two. Utsuki and Sakuya are the two main playable characters. Both are compelled to investigate the mysterious disappearances of the residents of Fujiwara manor. Utsuki is accompanied by her ill sister, while Sakuya brings in a group of priests, going for that religious angle. Set in the past, there are no modern conveniences such as electricity or flashlights. Both girls make their way through the mansion with low illuminating lanterns which do little to reveal the horrors that lurk among the shadows.
Magic and weapons are your only defense against a creature known as the Gaki. They are a flesh-devouring species that look like tortured and deformed humans. You will find magic cards throughout the mansion which will give you access to various spells. Magic is best used for ranged combat. You can fire projectiles such as fireballs or summon spirits to fight for you.
Weapons such as swords make perfect ranged weapons. You can essentially "hot key" your magic attacks and weapons to the face buttons for easy access. Unfortunately there are some delays between commands and execution. Using magic takes longer than it should. You can only lock-on to the enemy when you're facing a certain angle and even then commands are delay by fraction of a second. You'll find that the weapons have a more immediate feel to them although you will also take unnecessary hits since the characters are very slow to turn around.
Aside from the ghouls you'll also have to look out for tempests which are negative energy vortexes that will rob you of your health, stamina and sanity. These areas are like traps and may cause you to run when confronted with horrific images. The screen will become blurry as you begin to lose energy. Possessing the ability to meditate, you can heal yourself and regain your composure when subjected to such situations.
Once you complete one character's story you have to play through the same chapter as the other character. You will encounter a few new NPCs and some different paths and clues but for the most part you will encounter the same enemies at the same places at the same times using the similar spells and weapons. This makes for a very redundant game. Only after you complete the two girls' story can you move on to the third chapter which is somewhat different.
The blood does flow and there are plenty of chills and thrills to experience. Despite a haunting nursery rhyme that serves as the theme the game is void of music which adds to the tension and highlights the sound effects of footsteps and ungodly noises in the distance. Voiceacting is performed in both English and Japanese, with the English actually good enough to listen to.
I'm not blown away by the graphics but they are consistent. Consistently shrouded in darkness I should mention. The mansion, the costumes and the mannerisms of all portrayed manage to whisk you away to another time. The monsters aren't horrifying but they beg to be sliced and diced.
Kuon isn't going to make anyone's list for Game of the Year. Even if the controls were perfected the gameplay would need at least another five to eight hours of fresh content - and some features to extend the replay value would be a welcome addition.
here are some gamplayes:
youtube.com/watch?v=Okwe2lAeHvY
youtube.com/watch?v=uKIfPlKrvl4&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=X-v99NEPJ2o&feature=related
note: i played this game on ps2 i dont know if there is on pc...
note: can you bro's please get this suggestion to pewds? it would mean so much for me!
thanks for reading ()()()()()()()BROFIST()()()()()()()
