Kamiko
- June 26, 2019
- Kan.Kikuchi
- 4h median play time
Kamiko's quaint, pick-up-and-play nature makes it a fantastic fit on Nintendo's versatile console.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Kamiko" is a fantasty hack and slash game with a twist, where you play as priestesses battling demons and solving puzzles in stages inspired by Japanese Shinto beliefs. With its splendid gameplay, beautiful visuals, and good music, players must find ways to break magically sealed gates in each stage to progress to the boss. Created by indie game developer SKIPMORE, Kamiko offers a fun and easy arcade action experience.
Nintendo Switch
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and a delightful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It's a short and sweet game, making it perfect for casual play and speedrunning, with three distinct characters that offer different gameplay styles.
- The boss fights are enjoyable and provide a unique challenge, making the gameplay engaging despite its simplicity.
- The game suffers from significant bugs, particularly with high refresh rates, making it unplayable for some users.
- Combat and puzzles can feel repetitive and simplistic, leading to a lack of depth and replayability.
- The game is very short, with most players completing it in under an hour, which may not justify its price for some.
- gameplay39 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple, straightforward, and reminiscent of classic titles, with a focus on speedrunning and short, engaging levels. While the mechanics are tight and enjoyable, many reviewers noted a lack of depth and replayability, as the game can be completed quickly and the character differences do not significantly enhance the experience. Overall, the audiovisual presentation is praised, but the gameplay itself is seen as repetitive and lacking in variety.
“The gameplay is tight and reminds me of old games that I played as a child.”
“It's cute, fast-paced, the combo game is great, and the music and gameplay feel satisfying.”
“The game has beautiful but simple pixel art, simple but effective gameplay, a lovely cast of characters each with their own unique attacks, and an amazing soundtrack to boot!”
“The game is not terrible; it just doesn't have much to offer gameplay-wise and support its audiovisual presentation, ultimately resulting in an unfortunate mediocre experience.”
“But the gameplay, while very short, fails to keep your attention through the journey and does not offer much replayability either.”
“Unfortunately, that's about it as far as mechanics go.”
- music26 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers describing it as beautiful, pleasant, and fitting for the game's aesthetic. The soundtrack is noted for being catchy and enjoyable, contributing positively to the gameplay, which is often described as simple yet effective. Overall, the combination of engaging music and appealing visuals creates a satisfying atmosphere for players.
“The music, the gameplay that allows speedruns, the graphics and the power-ups (along with the secrets in-game) are amazing, the theme of the game is also relaxing and beautiful.”
“This game is really cute, gameplay is tight, and the soundtrack is wonderful!”
“The game has beautiful but simple pixel art, simple but effective gameplay, a lovely cast of characters each with their own unique attacks and to end it off with an amazing soundtrack to boot!”
“I did like the music, but games aren't played for the music.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel artwork and nostalgic retro aesthetic, drawing comparisons to classic titles like "The Legend of Zelda." Reviewers appreciate the vibrant colors and smooth animations, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding the simplicity of the gameplay. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
“The visuals are very appealing and easily the thing I like most about this game, but the music is good too, and the gameplay is simple but effective and clean.”
“The graphics and music are absolutely fantastic and the bosses are pretty fun, albeit a bit easy.”
“Kamiko, symbolic of the Japanese indigenous religion 'kami-no-michi', undeniably takes its 2D inspiration from classics such as 'The Legend of Zelda', gloriously showcasing smooth pixel art and subtle weather effects that truly elevate the art style.”
“Simple artwork.”
“The gameplay graphics are outdated yet colorful and well done.”
“Don't judge a game by its cover: Kamiko is simple in its graphics and concept, yet it's very challenging and entertaining.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some value through multiple characters and achievements, many players find the short length (around 40-60 minutes) and repetitive gameplay limit its long-term appeal. Some users suggest it may be more enjoyable for speedrunners or achievement hunters, but those seeking a deeper experience may find it lacking. Overall, it seems best suited for casual play rather than extensive replay.
“This is a very short but very replayable game.”
“Replayability value is there mostly if you want to complete all the achievements (at this point I've only got one left before getting to 100%).”
“Though short, the additional characters add replay value, and the built-in timer features make clear that Kamiko was designed for speed-running.”
“But the gameplay, while very short, fails to keep your attention through the journey and does not offer much replayability either.”
“The gameplay is very repetitive, not to mention the game is only about an hour long with little replayability.”
“I would definitely recommend this game for starting speedrunners for its short length, minimal dialogue, and fast and fluent gameplay; but if you are a one-and-done type of person, you'll be finished with this in about an hour, and the three characters don't really offer much in replayability from the different movesets.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and repetitive, with players experiencing the same narrative across different characters and levels, leading to a lack of depth. While some find the straightforward and fast-paced gameplay enjoyable, the overall consensus is that the story is basic and can be completed in about thirty minutes, offering little engagement or lore.
“Really easily digestible and straightforward story, with very fast-paced Zelda-esque gameplay.”
“With the option to play the story again with three different characters, at most the player will expend two hours on the entire repetitious experience of Kamiko.”
“- ...having said that, the story itself can be accomplished in approximately thirty minutes.”
“Dialogue, lore, or even a story could have helped this game.”
“Playing as the additional characters follows the same story in the same levels and gives you the same ending, with the only difference being the weapon you are using.”
“Do note though that the storyline is almost completely non-existent.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when searching for numerous switches. Despite this, the overall gameplay remains satisfying and addictive, with many appreciating the game's reasonable price.
“It starts to become a tedious task while walking around the map to find the 50th switch you need to press.”
“It's easy, repetitive, and grindy.”
“Although the game is short (not including grinding all the achievements), its gameplay is very satisfying and addictive, and the price is very reasonable.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is highlighted by cute and appealing designs that enhance the overall aesthetic of the game, complemented by a good soundtrack and enjoyable mechanics.
“The character designs are incredibly cute and add a lot of charm to the game.”
“The art is delightful, complemented by a good soundtrack, and the adorable character designs enhance the overall experience.”
“The combination of cute art, a good soundtrack, and fun, simple mechanics makes the character development truly enjoyable.”
