Flat Kingdom
- April 7, 2016
- Games Starter
Flat Kingdom is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with a hand-drawn art style. You play as Flat, a 2D prince in a 3D world, tasked with defeating paper villains and solving puzzles to save the kingdom. The game features fast-paced combat and shape-shifting abilities that allow you to transform into different shapes for unique abilities.
Reviews
- Cute and unique art style that adds personality to the game.
- Interesting gameplay mechanics involving shape transformations that provide some depth.
- Fun and charming experience, especially for fans of indie platformers.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- The game is quite short and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more.
- Boss battles can be tedious and poorly designed, leading to a lack of engagement.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of interesting mechanics, such as shape-shifting, which offers unique interactions with the environment, but suffers from clunky controls and poor execution that detracts from the overall experience. While some players find it fun and engaging, others criticize it for being loose and padded, leading to a lack of polish and a frustrating combat system. Overall, the game shows potential but is hampered by its inconsistent mechanics and execution.
“Gameplay is fairly simple, and although a few of the controls are clunky, it's still fairly easy to pick up.”
“Gameplay-wise, the game seems to be inspired by Trine, and carries a bit of its charm.”
“Flat Kingdom is a very fun platformer with some unique gameplay mechanics that set it apart from the pack.”
“Controls and gameplay feel like ass.”
“The gameplay feels kinda loose, many visuals aren't super polished (specifically with puzzles) and although I kept coming back to play it eventually, there's a reason why I didn't beat it all at once.”
“I really believe this game had a lot of potential but the poor execution of the main mechanics really killed the experience for me.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming and unique paper art style that draws comparisons to the Paper Mario series, creating a colorful and engaging atmosphere. However, the visual quality is inconsistent, with some elements feeling less polished, particularly in puzzle design and resolution. Overall, while the artwork is praised for its creativity and appeal, it lacks uniformity in graphical execution.
“Love the artwork in this game.”
“The art style is very reminiscent of the Paper Mario series and it’s great.”
“The gameplay feels kinda loose, many visuals aren't super polished (specifically with puzzles) and although I kept coming back to play it eventually, there's a reason why I didn't beat it all at once.”
“This game is made out of paper, but it's a decent sheet of paper and the art style of this paper is the main feature of this paper game.”
“The graphical style has the paper-made-world idea set out pretty well and the music fits well with each stage, feeling cheery when traversing the colourful world and dangerous when fighting against bosses.”
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it generic and forgettable, others appreciate its fitting and cheerful nature that complements the gameplay. A few reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, particularly in the context of the game's art and atmosphere. Overall, the music is seen as a positive aspect by some, but lacks memorability for others.
“One thing I would like to note is that the artbook is mostly just what appears in the final game, and a decent chunk of it appears to be Google translated, so if you're getting the DLC, do it for the soundtrack (which is pretty good).”
“Great game, enjoyed the story, music, art, and the difficulty.”
“The graphical style has the paper-made-world idea set out pretty well and the music fits well with each stage, feeling cheery when traversing the colorful world and dangerous when fighting against bosses.”
“But the music is very, very generic and I don't remember a single song or tune from it.”
“- Generic music and setting.”
“A good platformer with fitting music, some annoying enemies and a lot of frustration for people like me who suck at platforming.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered short and somewhat lacking in depth, though it features interesting art styles and enjoyable music. While some players found the narrative to be mediocre, the diverse worlds and engaging platforming elements contribute to an overall fun experience. However, those not fond of the platformer genre may not appreciate the story as much.
“It has interesting art styles and interesting storylines.”
“Great game, enjoyed the story, music, art, and the difficulty.”
“It looks nice and the story works, but if you are not a fan of the platformer genre, then this game is not for you.”
“The story is pretty short, and I'd hope to see a game similar to this with more depth from the publisher in the future.”
“It looks nice, and the story works, but if you are not a fan of the platformer genre, then this game is not for you.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the stark contrast in interactions between different shapes, evoking feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness when a weaker shape, like a triangle, is easily eliminated by a stronger enemy. This dynamic creates a poignant sense of fragility and the fleeting nature of existence within the game world.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for its lack of smooth playability, unclear design, and persistent bugs, with no updates or improvements made over the years.
“Playability isn't very smooth; the game design is not very clear, and there are some buggy parts. It has not been updated or improved throughout the years.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers enhanced replayability through varying enemy layouts and attack patterns that adjust with difficulty levels, though some users feel these changes may not have been thoroughly playtested.
“The game offers a high replay value, as it changes enemy layouts and attack patterns based on the difficulty level you choose.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic changes in enemy behavior and level design.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes encourages multiple playthroughs, making it a game you can enjoy again and again.”
“The game does change enemy layouts and attack patterns based on difficulty levels, which adds some replay value, but I'm not sure they were playtested as thoroughly as they should have been.”
“Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back. The story doesn't change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
“While the game offers different difficulty levels, the core experience remains largely the same, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its fantastic artwork that significantly enhances the overall experience. The combination of visual elements creates an immersive environment that captivates players.
“The game features fantastic artwork and an immersive atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly rich, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and sound design creates a captivating atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with infrequent engaging boss fights and slow-paced movement, which may deter some but can be manageable for those who are patient.
“If you don't mind the kind of tedious grinding, and only occasionally engaging boss fights, and if you can bear with a whole world of really slowly swimming, this game's not bad.”
“The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I found myself spending more time grinding for resources than actually enjoying the gameplay.”