Kiai Resonance

About

Kiai Resonance is a single player and multiplayer arcade simulation game. It was developed by Absorb Reality and was released on April 23, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Kiai Resonance" is a rhythm-based fighting game where players duel in sync with traditional Japanese music. Using motion controllers, players execute precise strikes and blocks, strategizing to counter their opponent's moves. Immerse in the absorbing reality of intense duels, where mastering the rhythm of battle is key to victory.

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful art style reminiscent of traditional Japanese ink paintings, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
The combat system is simple yet deep, focusing on timing and strategy, making each duel feel intense and rewarding.
The challenges and local multiplayer provide engaging gameplay, allowing for fun interactions with friends.

The game suffers from a lack of content, with only a few characters and maps, leading to a limited replay value.
The online multiplayer is nearly non-existent, making it difficult to find matches and diminishing the competitive aspect.
Some players find the gameplay mechanics clunky and the AI unchallenging, which can lead to a repetitive experience.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The gameplay of "Kiai Resonance" is centered around precision and timing, creating tense encounters that emphasize strategy over aggression. While the minimalist design and artistic elements are praised, many players find the gameplay shallow and lacking in depth, with limited mechanics and content that may lead to boredom after mastering the basics. Overall, it offers a unique experience for those who appreciate its artistic vision, but may not satisfy players seeking a more complex fighting game.
- “The gameplay is built entirely around precision and timing.”
- “This mechanic transforms every encounter into a moment of extreme tension, where stillness is often more powerful than aggression.”
- “While simple, the gameplay is definitely not simplistic, forcing you to observe your opponent, strategize, and precisely time your attack.”
- “Despite its artistic ambition and unique mechanics, Kiai Resonance is not a large or complex game.”
- “The gameplay, albeit technical because it relies on reflexes and mind games, is slow (on purpose, I assume, to fit with the zen atmosphere of the graphics and the music) and becomes boring quite fast.”
- “The mind game and the quick twitch are there, but the variation in gameplay and content are lacking.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous and atmospheric art style, reminiscent of traditional ukiyo-e aesthetics, which enhances the overall experience. However, some reviewers note that the visuals, while beautiful, lack depth and variety, with limited graphical options and content. Overall, the art style is a highlight, but the game's graphical capabilities may not meet modern standards.
- “Just to state the obvious, the graphics are gorgeous, as well as the soundtrack.”
- “The aesthetic is sparse but atmospheric, allowing players to focus entirely on the duel rather than the spectacle.”
- “The visuals are beautiful, how some parts of the maps are animated, and some others are in a front layer, not all in the background; it really looks like a 'living painting' with the warriors fighting.”
- “There is promise here; both in concept and art style; but there is barely enough here to constitute a flash game with controller support.”
- “The graphics are mediocre, and its pretty shallow gameplay.”
- “Graphics: the graphics of Kiai Resonance are not 'impressive' according to the current standard.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a soundtrack that complements each map and contributes to a zen-like experience. While some players appreciate the simplicity and mood-setting qualities of the music, others note that the menu theme can become repetitive during long waits. Overall, the combination of art and music is considered a standout feature, creating a captivating ambiance that resonates with the game's aesthetic.
- “The music is simple, and helps set the mood.”
- “The game has a fantastic ambience to it, traditional Japanese music and backgrounds: you do feel like you are playing hand-drawn characters on cloth - I think the presentation for what is really a simple premise of a game is excellent.”
- “The art and music alone make me love this game.”
- “Maybe more traditional Japanese music included, or maybe something related to Japanese history or mythology would be nice.”
- “The gameplay, albeit technical because it relies on reflexes and mind games, is slow (on purpose, I assume, to fit with the zen atmosphere of the graphics and the music) and becomes boring quite fast.”
- “- serious lack of graphical and audio options, all you get is fullscreen: on/off, sounds: on/off and music: on/off.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The reviews indicate a notable absence of a traditional story mode in the game, with players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative and campaign features. While the single-player mode serves primarily as practice, it lacks a cohesive storyline, leaving players wanting more depth in the game's narrative structure. Overall, the game's potential is seen as greater if it included a dedicated story mode alongside its existing gameplay elements.
- “All in all a great game that would be even more awesome if there were more features, maybe a campaign or story mode, and a working multiplayer.”
- “There is also a section with challenges that will assist in your quest to follow bushido and become the ultimate samurai - these challenges are actually quite challenging.”
- “Maybe if they focused on a story or even more gameplay elements when the bare bones of the in-game structure were really well made.”
- “The singleplayer mode is for practice, since there is no story mode.”
- “There's no kind of story mode that one might traditionally find in a fighting game.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a sparse yet immersive aesthetic that emphasizes the tension of samurai duels, fostering an intimate experience during local play. While the gameplay is technical and intentionally slow to align with the zen-like ambiance, it effectively captures the essence of classic samurai films, prioritizing atmosphere and art over spectacle. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to create a compelling and atmospheric environment, despite some concerns about pacing.
- “The aesthetic is sparse but atmospheric, allowing players to focus entirely on the duel rather than the spectacle.”
- “In local play, especially when sharing the screen with a friend, it transforms into an intimate duel of wits that perfectly captures the atmosphere of a tense samurai standoff.”
- “The gameplay, albeit technical because it relies on reflexes and mind games, is slow (on purpose, I assume, to fit with the zen atmosphere of the graphics and the music) and becomes boring quite fast.”
- “Ultimately, kiai resonance stands as a thoughtful experiment in game design—one that values atmosphere and restraint over spectacle.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The lack of upgrades or unlocks significantly diminishes the game's replayability, as players feel there are few incentives to revisit the experience.
- “There's no kind of upgrades or unlocks, which doesn't exactly help its replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of varied endings or choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally reliable, with accurate controls and movement; however, occasional glitches can lead to unexpected outcomes in gameplay.
- “Most of the time the controls and movement are accurate, but very seldom something glitches out, resulting in either you killing them or them killing you in an abnormal way.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the challenges to be entertaining and light-hearted, making them a fun prelude to online gameplay. While they are quick to complete, the comedic elements enhance the overall experience, suggesting that tackling these challenges first is a worthwhile recommendation.
- “The challenges are funny and entertaining, and they don't take much time. I recommend doing them first before playing online, but that's up to each player.”