Kalinur

About

Kalinur is a single-player platformer Metroidvania game, offering around 3 hours of playtime. Explore a great map with 11 areas, 31 enemies, and 9 bosses while upgrading your character to defeat the dark wizard Kalinur. With its low price, fun gameplay, and the opportunity to support a solo developer, Kalinur is a rewarding purchase worth recommending to friends.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

music3 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Kalinur is a solid entry into the Metroidvania genre, offering enjoyable gameplay with simple mechanics and a charming retro aesthetic.
The game features a good balance of exploration and combat, with varied enemy attack patterns and rewarding upgrades that enhance the gameplay experience.
It's a budget-friendly title that provides several hours of fun, making it a great choice for both newcomers and genre fans looking for a quick adventure.

The game suffers from a lack of healing options and save points, leading to frustrating backtracking and potential loss of progress after dying.
Some players found the combat and enemy patterns to be overly simplistic, resulting in a lack of challenge and engagement as the game progresses.
Technical issues, such as poor controller support and unresponsive controls, detract from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable for some players.

grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while grinding for coins can enhance character upgrades and make the game easier, it is not strictly necessary to progress. Some find the game cleverly places farming opportunities, particularly in specific zones, but others feel it can lead to repetitive gameplay and a lack of challenge. Overall, the balance between challenge and grinding is generally viewed as well-executed, allowing players to choose their level of engagement with the grind.
- “Wonderful microvania, maybe a little too dependent on some grinding the game cleverly puts right in front of you in the wizard zone.”
- “On the game itself, it has some problems that a first game will probably have: enemies and your weapon don't have knockback, so sometimes the enemy just goes 'inside' of you damaging you; the storyline has all the usual tropes; sounds get repetitive after a while (especially if you are grinding for coins); most boss fights are very similar.”
- “I think the balance is just right with how the game is challenging, but not punishing and if it's too hard and you are willing to spend your time grinding for coins, there are unlimited upgrades for health and damage.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, featuring basic mechanics like a horizontal attack that can be spammed for faster execution. While some abilities, such as double jump and midair dashing, may seem unremarkable, they significantly enhance exploration and overall engagement. Players appreciate the straightforward design, which allows for an enjoyable experience without overwhelming complexity.
- “It's all about the gameplay in this one and it's quite engaging.”
- “Useful abilities, like double jump or being able to dash while midair, may not seem special, but they are impactful for how they make the gameplay easier and allow access to places you couldn't otherwise reach.”
- “Simple mechanics and easy to play.”
- “The mechanics are simple with only a horizontal attack that can attack faster the more you spam the button.”
- “I like to believe I played a handful of metroidvania games, those with certainly more complex mechanics and deeper content, and some that are debatably more artsy.”
- “- simple mechanics and easy to play”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's story is considered good but simplistic, relying on familiar tropes and lacking depth, which some players found unsatisfying. While it serves its purpose, the narrative is not the main focus, with gameplay elements taking precedence over storytelling. Overall, the storyline is described as bare-bones and somewhat repetitive, mirroring the game's overall design.
- “Good storyline, but what will impress you is the gameplay.”
- “But it is already clear that the story is not the main focus of this game.”
- “The storyline has all the usual tropes.”
- “The story is a bit bare-bones, and it felt like I was missing something.”
- “The story is not the main focus of this game.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The graphics are characterized by a charming simplicity, featuring enjoyable 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics that contribute to the overall nostalgic feel of the game. While some players appreciate the retro design and accompanying music, others express mixed feelings about the control scheme that emphasizes a classic gaming experience. Overall, the visuals and audio are well-executed and enhance the game's appeal.
- “However, as simple as its graphics and tunes might be, there's a charm to them.”
- “Super fun, great 8-bit graphics and music.”
- “The graphics, world map, and music are all nicely done.”
- “The graphics are incredibly simplistic and lack detail, making the game feel outdated.”
- “While I appreciate the attempt at a retro aesthetic, the visuals are too basic and uninspired.”
- “The art style feels inconsistent and doesn't do justice to the game's potential.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the music in the game receives mixed feedback; while some players appreciate its charm and integration with the 8-bit graphics, others find it lacking or not to their taste. The sound design complements the fun exploration of the map, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “Super fun, great 8-bit graphics and music.”
- “The music is nice and it was fun to explore the map.”
- “The graphics, world map, and music are all nicely done.”
- “The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the music and sound design.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as hilariously simple, contributing to an overall fun experience for players.
- “This game is hilariously simple, but it's also kind of fun.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers some replayability for those seeking a quick metroidvania experience, but overall, it lacks significant incentives for repeated playthroughs.
- “Good if you are eager for a quick metroidvania game, but there isn't much replayability.”
- “The game is fun the first time, but there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “Once you finish the story, there's not much left to explore or do.”