KAMUI

About

"KAMUI is a single-player shooter game with excellent music and innovative game mechanics. Players must navigate 6 stages of 2D arcade-style shooting action, piloting the KAMUI fighter craft over high and low altitude planes. A unique scoring system based on the auto-targeting Lighting Attack and bullet-destroying Light provide additional challenges."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Kamui offers a unique and engaging take on the shmup genre, with interesting mechanics and a beautifully dark soundtrack.
The game features unlimited continues, making it accessible for players of all skill levels, while still providing a satisfying challenge for those looking to master it.
Visually appealing with clear bullet visibility and a solid gameplay experience, Kamui is highly recommended for fans of classic arcade shooters.

The game suffers from a low maximum resolution of 800x600, which can detract from the overall experience and make gameplay feel cramped.
Power-ups are infrequent and the energy management system can feel unbalanced, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Some players may find the two-level enemy mechanic confusing and unfair, as it complicates the gameplay without adding significant enjoyment.

gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
The gameplay is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, including a unique lock-on system and dual-plane enemy interactions, making it both satisfying and challenging to master. While some players find the variety of mechanics overwhelming, many appreciate the fluidity and depth of the gameplay, which is reminiscent of classic titles like Rayforce and Raystorm. Overall, the game is considered a must-play for fans of the shmup genre, offering a well-crafted experience with excellent presentation and a captivating soundtrack.
- “Absolutely a must-have shmup in my opinion, just by how great it plays and quickly starts to challenge you to take advantage of the game's own mechanics. It's super satisfying to play and replay until you nail down all the stages and bosses.”
- “The lack of proper upscaling/high resolution is a bummer, but if you can get over that, you'll experience a very well-crafted shmup with crazy fun mechanics and a pretty challenging encounter design. Oh, and the soundtrack is amazing too.”
- “The game has nice and fluid gameplay, very enjoyable and fun.”
- “The main gameplay mechanic is that enemies appear on two planes, one on the same plane as your ship, which you can shoot with bullets, and the other plane below you, which you can shoot with your homing lightning attack.”
- “Kamui's gameplay is heavily inspired by the games Rayforce, Raystorm, and Raycrisis made by Taito Corporation.”
- “It is about a 30-minute gameplay, faster if you can do it on 1 credit.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
3%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and energetic quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some reviewers note that the game's graphics and sound may feel dated, the soundtrack remains a standout feature, with many describing it as "amazing" and "gorgeous." Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a treat for fans of the genre.
- “It's also got a beautifully dark and energetic soundtrack, and the visuals and presentation are incredible as well.”
- “Amazing soundtrack, cool gameplay, and excellent presentation overall.”
- “A gorgeous shmup with some heroic music to pew pew the night away.”
- “It shows its age obviously - the 240p graphics and MIDI music are unlikely to impress any newcomers.”
- “The music feels outdated and lacks the depth and variety that modern games offer.”
- “While the game has its charm, the music does not hold up to contemporary standards and can become repetitive.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
29%
19%
The graphics of the game are described as a mix of charmingly retro and practical, with clear visibility of bullets and enemies, which enhances gameplay. While some reviewers note that the visuals show their age, particularly with 240p resolution, others appreciate the artistic style and stage designs that evoke classic arcade shooters like Rayforce. Overall, the graphics may not impress newcomers, but they effectively capture the essence of the genre and maintain a nostalgic appeal for fans.
- “It's also got a beautifully dark and energetic soundtrack, and the visuals and presentation are incredible as well.”
- “Very good graphics and stage designs as well as big bosses and spot-on gameplay accompany this solid overhead shooter.”
- “Brilliant scoring system that weaves seamlessly into the survival aspects, lots of enemy and stage variety, bosses that change their attacks as you break apart their many segments, clear bullet visibility and hitboxes, good music, and visuals that still hold up for a 1999 game (if you can get used to how incredibly skinny the game window is without tate mode on).”
- “It shows its age obviously - the 240p graphics and MIDI music are unlikely to impress any newcomers, but it still does neat things within those constraints.”
- “The graphics itself isn't great by today's standards but wonderfully replicated the effects and graphics Rayforce had back then.”
- “A nice little game with several difficulty levels and poor (but very fast moving) graphics in the general shmup arcade game style of Alltynex Second or Raiden III.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The story is described as intriguing, complementing the game's satisfying gameplay and appealing visuals. Players engage with two kamuis, with one tied to the main narrative and the other unlocked through gameplay challenges, adding depth to the overall experience.
- “It's a very satisfying game to play and master, with pretty scenarios and designs, nice music, and an intriguing story.”
- “The story features two playable kamuis, one referred to as 'panaffil' and the other a mass production model unlocked by completing the game in all three difficulties.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is minimal, leaving many protagonists feeling one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or emotional impact.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily through the ability to unlock a second playable character by completing it on all three difficulty levels. Its affordability and low system requirements further enhance its accessibility for repeated play.
- “Two kamuis are playable, the one according to the story which I will refer to as 'Panaffil' and the mass production model encountered in the latter half of the game, unlocked by completing the game in all three difficulties, which I will refer to as the 'MP'.”
- “With some replayability, this game's major virtues are that it's cheap and easy to install and run on pretty much any computer.”
- “Two kamuis are playable, the one according to the story which I will refer to as 'Panaffil' and the mass production model encountered in the latter half of the game, unlocked by completing the game in all three difficulties, and which I will refer to as the 'MP'.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its impressive gameplay, captivating soundtrack, and fluid animations, all contributing to an immersive experience.
- “Amazing gameplay, soundtrack, animations, and atmosphere.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, citing nostalgia and a sense of comfort reminiscent of their childhood experiences with arcade games. This familiarity enhances their overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.