Kandria
- September 5, 2021
- Shinmera
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Kandria" is a single-player, open-world Science Fiction action game with pretty visuals and a fantastic soundtrack. As the powerful android The Stranger, explore a ruined world, fight rogue robots and malcontent humans, and venture into caverns to battle epic bosses. The game offers a mix of wall-climbing, puzzle platforming, and hack and slash swordplay, with the freedom to choose missions and dialogue.
Reviews
- Kandria features a unique narrative and engaging exploration, with a captivating post-apocalyptic story and a beautifully crafted open world.
- The platforming mechanics are smooth and rewarding, reminiscent of games like Celeste, providing a satisfying challenge for players.
- The pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall experience, creating a visually appealing and immersive environment.
- The combat system lacks depth and variety, often leading to repetitive encounters where spamming attacks is the most effective strategy.
- Some platforming sections can feel overly challenging and frustrating, with mechanics that may not always feel precise or fair.
- Navigation can be confusing due to unclear objectives and a subpar map system, making it difficult for players to track their progress and find hidden areas.
- story41 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of Kandria is described as a captivating and immersive post-apocalyptic narrative filled with mysteries and sympathetic characters, which encourages exploration of its richly detailed world. While some reviewers noted that the characters could be flat and the plot somewhat predictable, the overall experience is engaging and fun, with a blend of humor and intriguing quests that keep players invested. Despite its low-budget presentation, many players appreciate the story's depth and the desire to uncover more about the game's lore.
“The story and the fictional world are immersive; you want to know what happens next, and the characters are sympathetic.”
“A lovingly crafted game with excellent sound, a rich, detailed, and expansive world full of neat touches, and a great story with just the right amount of humor thrown in.”
“The platforming feels super smooth, and I'm already hooked on the story - want to explore this little universe some more!”
“This was very surprising and unsatisfying, because I wanted to see more of the story and world.”
“There are some surprises, but they are not totally unexpected, the characters are mostly flat and the story wouldn't win literary awards, but it's good enough to be fun and kept me playing through the weekend.”
“I think there is some missed potential of making the story more cinematic with more character portraits, scripted in-game sequences, etc., but this is a reflection of the game being low budget; I hope future games of the developer will improve on this front.”
- music23 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is impressive, often surpassing that of larger AAA titles, and contributes significantly to the game's vibe and immersion. While some mentioned occasional abrupt changes in the music, the overall sentiment is that it complements the gameplay beautifully, making it a standout feature of the game.
“On top of the gameplay comparisons, these characters and world are such good fun. Plus, if you're one of the rare and elusive 'vibe-based gamers', this game's world and soundtrack are an incredible vibe.”
“Seriously, I am blown away by how good the soundtrack is in this indie platformer; most AAA games don't have soundtracks as good as this.”
“It absolutely nails so much of what makes a metroidvania platformer work - the art style looks as good as I remember my first 16-bit games looking, the music is of a quality and atmosphere that is a step above what's usually seen in smaller indie games.”
“Some rooms are challenging but quick retries, the calm music and -- as a last resort -- cheats available from the menu keep the frustration in check.”
“It absolutely nails so much of what makes a metroidvania platformer work - the art style looks as good as I remember my first 16-bit games looking, the music is of a quality and atmosphere that is a step above what's usually seen in smaller indie games, and the feel of moving through the world is tight in ways that put most other games to shame.”
“The art, music, dialogue, and even the UI fit the theme of the game.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring smooth platforming mechanics and an engaging world complemented by a great soundtrack. However, players have noted issues such as shallow combat variety, clunky mechanics, and a lack of clear guidance on gameplay elements. While the exploration and traversal aspects are praised, technical issues and inconsistent mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
“Intriguing story, great mechanics, very responsive platforming.”
“I'm enjoying Kandria a lot - really smooth Celeste-esque platforming with tight combat mechanics mixed in, and great music, art, and an engaging story to go with!”
“Kandria is much more than that and holds its own, style-wise and gameplay-wise, offering something different yet comfortingly familiar in a refreshing way.”
“There's also stuff that could be a bit more refined here and there, like the map for example isn't very good and I really do not need to know how many times I died on that screen with spring boards. As far as mechanical issues go, I'm playing with a controller and I cannot figure out how to reconfigure it. Maybe this is a me issue, but the remapping just doesn't seem to work properly for the controller, so I'm left moving around with the joysticks, which is icky.”
“[b]shallow combat:[/b] lack of variety in combat mechanics.”
“Its challenge sections attempt to be like Celeste, with poor mechanics that aren't predictable. In some cases, doing the same thing results in different outcomes, and doing different things results in the same.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their impressive pixel art, detailed visuals, and stylish design, creating a distinct and immersive world. Players appreciate the beautiful atmosphere, with particular highlights on the light effects and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 16-bit games. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing both exploration and gameplay experience.
“The pixel graphics are absolutely wonderful in-game, in my opinion.”
“[b]Impressive pixel art:[/b] Detailed and expressive visuals create a distinct world.”
“It absolutely nails so much of what makes a metroidvania platformer work - the art style looks as good as I remember my first 16-bit games looking, the music is of a quality and atmosphere that is a step above what's usually seen in smaller indie games, and the feel of moving through the world is tight in ways that put most other games to shame.”
“The graphics are stylish, but they lack the depth and detail expected in modern games.”
“The art direction is cozy, but the overall graphics feel outdated and uninspired.”
“While the pixel art is impressive, it sometimes overshadows the lack of variety in environments.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall theme and experience. The open world is described as varied and beautiful, complemented by impressive graphics and a nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic 16-bit games. Players appreciate the tight movement mechanics and the immersive exploration that contribute to a captivating atmosphere.
“The open world is atmospheric and varied.”
“I love the exploration, atmosphere, and story.”
“It absolutely nails so much of what makes a metroidvania platformer work - the art style looks as good as I remember my first 16-bit games looking, the music is of a quality and atmosphere that is a step above what's usually seen in smaller indie games, and the feel of moving through the world is tight in ways that put most other games to shame.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and occasionally unfair, expressing a desire for more variety in challenges beyond just avoiding spikes.
“Grinding feels repetitive and lacks any real sense of progression.”
“The amount of time required to level up is excessive and makes the game feel like a chore.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the world of Kandira to be more relaxing and enjoyable to explore compared to the challenging completion of all levels in Celeste, indicating that the game has significant replay value.
“Exploring the world of Kandira is more relaxing than trying to get all the B- and C-sides of Celeste, so I think I will be coming back to this game. It definitely has replay value.”
“The variety of choices and paths in the game makes each playthrough feel unique, encouraging me to dive back in and experience different outcomes.”
“With multiple endings and hidden secrets, I find myself wanting to replay the game to uncover everything it has to offer.”
“But I admit that exploring the world of Kandira is more relaxing than trying to get all B- and C-sides of Celeste, so I think I will be coming back to this game; it definitely has replay value.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly noting that some skins feature clever and amusing references that enhance the overall experience.
“Some of the skins are really good and feature funny references.”
“The dialogue is filled with clever puns and hilarious one-liners that keep you laughing.”
“The game's quirky characters and absurd situations create a consistently humorous experience.”
