C. Kane
- January 25, 2016
- Super Walrus Games
Get on Steam"C. Kane" is a satirical turn-based RPG with minimalistic monochrome graphics, focusing on boss fights and character customization. The game features an original hip-hop soundtrack and a shark companion. This updated Steam release offers new and revised content from the original PC/Android version.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and entertaining take on classic RPG tropes, filled with humor and cultural references.
- The soundtrack is highly praised, with catchy and humorous tracks that enhance the overall experience.
- C. Kane is a short, engaging game that avoids random encounters, focusing instead on strategic battles and a fun narrative.
- The game suffers from repetitive music loops and a lack of graphical options, which can detract from the experience.
- Some players found the humor to be hit or miss, with certain jokes feeling forced or nonsensical.
- The game is criticized for its simplistic gameplay mechanics and a lack of depth in the story, leaving some players wanting more.
- music19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's music has received high praise for its unique and humorous soundtrack, which blends hip-hop and pop elements with comedic lyrics that enhance the RPG experience. However, many players noted that while the music is initially engaging, it tends to become repetitive over time, particularly during longer gameplay sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a standout feature, despite some criticisms regarding its looping and the monochrome aesthetic of the game.
“The black and white aesthetic inspired by its 1941 namesake is forgiven through its colorful narrative and humorous, anachronistic soundtrack.”
“The music of this game is a masterpiece, everyone should listen to it.”
“Contrasting with C. Kane's black and white aesthetic is a hip-hop/pop soundtrack with comical lyrics about walking around RPG towns or using the world map.”
“The game's soundtrack is another source of comedy; it's idiosyncratic to say the least.”
“The songs are hilarious at first, but quickly become repetitive -- especially during some of the longer fights.”
“However, it isn't a perfect play... I loved the fresh music, but it can get repetitive after a while.”
- story12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as fun and satirical, filled with pop culture references, but often criticized for being overdone or lacking depth, with some players finding it boring and unimportant. While it offers an interesting experience for a few hours, many reviewers feel it falls short compared to other games in the genre, lacking substance and relying heavily on fetch quests. Overall, the narrative is seen as a mixed bag, appealing to those who appreciate humor and satire but disappointing for those seeking a rich, engaging storyline.
“Only if you enjoy a good story, thought-provoking character dilemmas, and don't give a lick about random battles, except for those against mega sharks, zombies, walruses, and pure evil.”
“As a piece of art, it's still an interesting couple of hours, but I'd recommend 'Suits: A Business RPG' over it; it has a similar black and white style, also some satire, and a more interesting storyline.”
“The story is farcical and full of pop culture references, as well as skewed references to Citizen Kane itself.”
“I wish there was a little more substance to the story, as I felt like it had potential that it didn't use.”
“Felt like a bunch of fetch quests jammed into a tiny map.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its colorful narrative and anachronistic soundtrack, while others find certain jokes, like the "moral choices in video games" gag, outdated or nonsensical. While the humor resonates well with some, it can become repetitive and may not appeal to everyone, particularly if the initial trailer doesn't land. Overall, the comedic elements vary in effectiveness, leading to a polarized reception.
“The black and white aesthetic inspired by its 1941 namesake is forgiven through its colorful narrative and humorous, anachronistic soundtrack.”
“I love this game; the sense of humor almost completely coincides with mine.”
“Wickedly different little game with some varying humor and wth moments.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a deliberate black and white aesthetic reminiscent of its 1941 namesake, complemented by retro pixel art and greyscale visuals that serve an artistic purpose. However, the poor quality engine limits fullscreen display and lacks HD support or graphics customization, which may disappoint modern PC gamers. Despite these shortcomings, the humorous narrative and quirky soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
“The black and white aesthetic inspired by its 1941 namesake is forgiven through its colorful narrative and humorous, anachronistic soundtrack.”
“Contrasting with the black and white aesthetic is a hip-hop/pop soundtrack with comical lyrics about walking around RPG towns or using the world map.”
“In this case, some effort was expended in creating custom retro pixel art and greyscale visuals, the former being due to lack of budget/talent, the latter for artistic purposes to mimic the film the game is lambasting.”
“As a result of the poor quality engine, the game displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
“Graphically simple, but the sneaky writing and weirdo music were A+ stuff.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its minimalist RPG mechanics, which serve as both a humorous element and a foundation for strategic depth. Players will find a small party with distinct strengths and weaknesses, alongside bosses that introduce interesting challenges, all while uncovering more tactical possibilities than typically found in larger RPGs.
“The RPG mechanics are clear and present; your party is small, and every character has a decent amount of strengths and weaknesses (except Leland, who has no weakness). The bosses have some interesting gimmicks at times.”
“From a gameplay standpoint, the game stands out.”
“The mechanics are deceptively simple -- there are more tactical possibilities hidden in here than in most modern, big-name RPGs.”
“The RPG gameplay is minimalist to the point of its own minimalism being a running gag.”
“From a gameplay standpoint, the game stands.”
“As for gameplay, the mechanics are deceptively simple -- there are more tactical possibilities hidden in here than in most modern, big-name RPGs.”
