Kalaban
- December 29, 2016
- Harri Jokinen
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Kalaban is a survival horror game set in an alternate 1995 Finland, where hermit Bob fights to uncover the cause of a mutant outbreak. With top-down action, exploration, and a mini-sandbox world, players can enjoy a unique story filled with dark comedy and real depth. combat is fun and accessible as you kill monsters, gain loot, and heal yourself."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a great atmosphere and music, creating an immersive experience.
- The story is interesting and well-written, with unique characters and quests.
- The developers show good intentions and are responsive to feedback, indicating potential for future improvements.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay.
- Combat mechanics are frustrating, with enemies being overly spongey and controls feeling awkward.
- The game feels unfinished, with a short length and unsatisfying ending that leaves many plot elements unexplained.
- story17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its intriguing plot and atmospheric setting, which effectively convey a sense of survival horror. However, many players feel that the storytelling is undermined by gameplay issues, such as uninspired combat and unfinished elements, leading to a lack of clarity in certain plot points and a somewhat abrupt ending. Despite these shortcomings, the story's potential and engaging moments leave players hopeful for a sequel that could further explore its themes.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The game has great music, atmosphere, and story.”
“It has an interesting plot and a creepy atmosphere; you can tell the developers had a good vision that they really wanted to put into a game.”
“There's absolutely no story value to be gained while wading through dozens of uninspired combat areas and poor mechanics.”
“The ending I got for escaping didn't make a lot of sense to me; it didn't feel logical, plus some plot elements remained unexplained as if the game had suddenly forgotten about them.”
“As for investigating the causes of the mutant outbreak, I found answers, but when this part of the plot was completed, it was barely acknowledged in the game.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the combat mechanics frustrating and uninspired, while others appreciate the challenge presented by standard combat mechanics in Kalaban. Additionally, the inclusion of a food meter as a survival mechanic has been criticized for feeling insufficient in an action game context, leading to a desire for more comprehensive survival elements. Overall, while some aspects of gameplay are enjoyable, the mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
“Kalaban gives you a standard combat mechanic, yet the fights can still be challenging.”
“The gameplay is also enjoyable.”
“Lots of games try to be original but end up being frustrating because the mechanics are hard to grasp.”
“There's absolutely no story value to be gained while wading through dozens of uninspired combat areas and poor mechanics.”
“Lots of games try to be original but end up being frustrating because the mechanics are hard to grasp.”
“If I want a survival game, I need more survival mechanics than just a food meter.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized for being plagued by numerous glitches and bugs, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some players note that it runs without crashes on decent hardware, the persistent control and movement issues make it difficult to recommend. Overall, the game is seen as too janky and awkward, overshadowing its potential fun.
“It's so close to being something I'd recommend, but it's too awkward, janky, and buggy.”
“It has too many control and movement glitches to be enjoyable.”
“But the game is simply too buggy to give some decent fun.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively creating a survival horror experience that feels like stepping into a twisted nightmare. Reviewers highlight the careful design and integration of music, environment, and plot, indicating that the developers successfully crafted a compelling and eerie ambiance that enhances the overall storytelling.
“The atmosphere is really great and almost feels like stepping into some twisted nightmare!”
“But this game's atmosphere seems to have been carefully designed, with an interesting plot.”
“It has an interesting plot and a creepy atmosphere; you can tell the developers had a good vision that they really wanted to put into a game.”
“I felt it when I was trapped in the scary town with a classic survival horror atmosphere, and as the story progressed.”
“But this game's atmosphere seems to have been carefully designed, with an interesting plot.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to create a relaxing atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall experience and enhancing the storytelling. Players find it immersive and emotionally resonant, making it a standout feature of the game.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The game has great music, atmosphere, and story.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a rich horror aesthetic and a unique art style, but they are marred by numerous glitches and poor design choices that detract from the overall experience.
“The game features a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.”
“The graphics create a rich, horror aesthetic that immerses players in the atmosphere.”
“It has a neat art style, but it has too many glitches.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack realism.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story mode offers limited replayability, with some players revisiting it a few times, but it lacks the depth to encourage multiple playthroughs. While the concept of enhancing replay value is appreciated, it falls short compared to more replayable titles.
“The story mode itself does not have a lot of replay value, but I did go through it a couple of times.”
“It's a good idea to add replay value to the game, but it's not exactly Crimsonland.”
“The story mode itself does not have a lot of replay value, but I did go through it a couple of times.”
“Once you finish the game, there’s little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious and uninteresting.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be buggy, tedious, and ultimately pointless, detracting from the overall enjoyment and engagement.
“Buggy, tedious, pointless.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any meaningful reward.”
“It's just a repetitive chore that drains the fun out of the game.”
