Kingsvein
- December 31, 2023
- Rad Codex
- 25h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreKingsvein is a single-player Warfare Turn Based Strategy game set in the weird, subterranean realm of Graven. As the Wisp Slayer, investigate the lost city of Kingsvein, battling evil forces and customizing your team with 16 different classes. With dynamic combat, upgradeable abilities, and an intriguing story, Kingsvein offers a marvelous and challenging gameplay experience accompanied by wonderful music.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- Kingsvein features refined aesthetics and a fantastic soundtrack, making it the most visually compelling game from Rad Codex to date.
- The combat system emphasizes tactical depth with a focus on battlefield control, allowing for creative strategies and meaningful class combinations.
- The game encourages exploration with numerous secrets and environmental interactions, providing a rewarding experience for players.
- The simplified turn order and reliance on delayed abilities can make combat feel less dynamic and limit player agency in battles.
- Some players may find the color palette visually oppressive, making it difficult to distinguish between characters and environmental features.
- The narrative, while engaging, may feel underdeveloped compared to previous titles, leaving players wanting more character interactions and story depth.
- story162 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its improvements over previous titles, particularly in character development and pacing, while others feel it lacks depth and narrative weight. Players appreciate the engaging characters and moral choices, but some criticize the limited dialogue and a more linear structure that sacrifices exploration for a focused narrative. Overall, while the story is enjoyable and intriguing, it may not be enough to carry the game for everyone, especially those seeking a more complex plot.
“Enjoyed the characters and how the story developed; will definitely check out more games by Rad Codex.”
“The storytelling is straightforward but effective, with snappy dialogue and engaging characters.”
“The story is enjoyable with quite a few moral choices, some of which are actually impactful (one even surprised me).”
“It opens with a sequence which fails to establish a status quo, a motivation for the protagonist, or any other major story elements, and everything seems to fall apart even further from there.”
“I think I'm only halfway through the game and the story is barely there.”
“I feel like the developer didn't challenge themselves when it comes to the overarching plot and themes that tie their characters to their game world, other than a small game filled with battles that barely carry any narrative weight or impact.”
- gameplay98 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Kingsvein" has been refined through simplification, focusing on exploration, combat, and tactical mechanics that emphasize terrain manipulation and class interactions. While the game offers a satisfying tactical RPG experience with polished mechanics and engaging combat, some players noted a lack of sufficient explanations for character classes and skills, as well as a simplified turn order that detracts from strategic depth. Overall, it is recommended for fans of tactical RPGs who appreciate a gameplay-driven experience with intriguing mechanics and exploration elements.
“The gameplay loop is closer to Voidspire than the other two games in the series - just exploring, finding secrets, looting, and fighting stuff.”
“Every detail feels perfectly polished, the combat mechanics are rock solid and make you feel like a genius, the exploration and map design sit comfortably with the best I've ever seen, and the story and setting are creative and full of twists that made perfect sense only as they happened.”
“Gameplay here is a tactical RPG where each class has its own specialties, active skills, passive abilities, and stat boosts.”
“Mechanical elements such as character classes and skills are presented without sufficient explanation, and with no narrative context whatsoever.”
“The delayed healing mechanics are unforgivable.”
“Significantly reduced content in all facets, and gameplay downgrades across the board.”
- music76 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the fantastic soundtrack composed by Kevin Phetsomphou, which enhances the game's immersion and nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the variety and quality of the tracks, noting that both exploration and battle music are engaging and memorable, contributing significantly to the overall experience. The polished aesthetics and cohesive integration of music with gameplay further elevate the game's appeal.
“The game's battle music is superb, and extremely varied, ranging from upbeat tunes that punctuate the violence of weapon thrusts and magical incantations, to far-out synthesizer harmonies that evoke more mellow, poignant emotions.”
“Exploration music provided a cheerful background to my hapless exploration of Kingsvein's underground domain, and the tracks are so catchy that I rarely found myself getting tired of any of them; in fact, I often found myself humming them unconsciously while taking a break from the game.”
“Hiring composer Kevin Phetsomphou was a great move and the impact the soundtrack had on the believability and immersion of the game is outstanding.”
“The soundtrack of the game pretty much mimics it, which is not a bad thing.”
“Chilling music.”
“Really high quality music, sound effects, and animations, despite its 'megadrive' art style.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Kingsvein" showcase a mix of polished aesthetics and charming low-fi pixel art, with some players praising the detailed sprites and animations. However, there are notable criticisms regarding readability and clarity, with some finding the visuals muddy and less engaging compared to previous titles. Overall, while the art style has its nostalgic appeal, it may not meet the expectations of all players, particularly those who appreciated the depth and clarity of earlier games.
“The aesthetics are more polished across the board - the soundtrack by Kevin Phetsomphu is fantastic and the more limited color palette leaves a striking impression.”
“Kingsvein takes it to a whole new level though; its super-low resolution graphics make it difficult to see exactly what is going on at times, but they are very charming, and the animations are excellent enough that it's not really a problem.”
“The graphics are surprisingly detailed given the lo-fi aesthetic: characters bounce and wiggle in ways that make even simple animations feel impactful.”
“The small dungeon encounters feel a little bland and the readability of the graphics is much worse than previous games.”
“The graphics are muddy and illegible, with textures too complex for the pixel art.”
“A good deal of the crunch that was in the earlier games is missing, the tactics are less nuanced, there's fewer character options than in the past, environments are a lot less interesting to look at, enemies are far less varied, exploration is quite a bit less interesting, your characters are limited to a single race with a really ambiguous blobby art style that makes it hard to tell where their faces begin and their chests end.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players find it tedious and unrewarding, others appreciate the opportunity for grinding as a means to enhance their experience and prepare for challenges. The combat is generally enjoyable, making some grinding feel less burdensome, and players can choose to progress without it, although some aspects may require a bit of grinding to optimize builds. Overall, the necessity and enjoyment of grinding seem to depend on individual playstyles and game choices.
“If this all sounds really tedious, that's because it is, and it did not feel rewarding for me to play this way.”
“It's easy to think 'I think I'm supposed to be here, but my build is underleveled/bad, so I'll spam the random battles for XP.' It can get grindy if you make mistakes while leveling, and that needs correcting.”
“Some parts were a bit grindy, such as getting stats up to prep for key fights, but once you have your team's cohesion down, the skill trees really flourish.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of replayability, with some players noting its depth and multiple endings that encourage revisiting. However, others feel that the replay value is limited, primarily hinging on initial choices and unlocks after completion. Overall, while there are elements that promote replayability, some players suggest alternatives for a more extensive experience.
“Great depth and replay value.”
“The game also has different endings and decisions you can make, so there is definitely a level of replayability.”
“Limited replay value, so the unlocks after beating the game could be initial choices.”
“If you want a game with an extremely similar tactical overlay but more length and replayability, you could consider Horizon's Gate.”
“Nearly finished at 20 hours with some level of seeming replayability.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its effective environmental storytelling and a darker tone that enhances the narrative impact, making it more engaging than previous titles. Players appreciate the balance of atmosphere with exploration and light puzzling, which keeps the experience interesting. Overall, the atmospheric depth significantly contributes to the game's storytelling.
“The atmosphere and story that it builds are so great.”
“I love the darker atmosphere compared to previous titles, and the story hit harder and faster in this one.”
“Just enough atmosphere and environmental storytelling keep things interesting, interspersed with lightweight puzzling and exploration.”
“+style - I love the darker atmosphere compared to previous titles, and the story hit harder and faster in this one.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as largely positive, with players finding the experience wholesome despite some minor setbacks related to new mechanics and abilities. While there is potential for deeper emotional engagement as players progress, initial impressions suggest that certain features may not yet resonate strongly.
“However, it's a minor setback in an otherwise wholesome experience.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates impressive stability, running smoothly even on low-end hardware and under Proton for Linux users, with only minor slowdowns in densely populated areas. Reviewers highlight its reliability as a standout feature, especially for an indie title priced at $20.
“The game runs smoothly even on my older laptop, with only minor slowdowns in a few crowded areas.”
“It performs excellently on Proton for Linux users, showcasing impressive stability across various systems.”
“It's criminal for a $20 indie game to be this good when $100 million dollar projects turn out bland, buggy messes.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and amusing, with players noting that it elicits laughter through its unique and unexpected comedic elements.
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a strong point, with charming design and relatable characters that resonate emotionally through well-crafted dialogue options. The overall experience is enhanced by phenomenal music, contributing to a compelling narrative that feels both familiar and fresh compared to other titles in the genre.
“The character design is charming, the dialogue options tug on the heartstrings, and the characters are both relatable and well-designed.”
“The music is phenomenal, and the gameplay, while somewhat different from other Rad Codex titles, was not too much of an adjustment.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find that character optimization significantly enhances their performance in battles, allowing them to defeat bosses in just a few attempts. However, the game maintains a level of challenge that prevents players from making mistakes without consequences.
“Once I optimized my characters, I found that I could tackle challenges more effectively, making each encounter feel rewarding and engaging.”
“The optimization options available allowed me to tailor my characters to my playstyle, enhancing my overall experience and making battles more strategic.”
“Even the bosses rarely took more than a couple of tries on my first runthrough, and once I'd optimized my characters, I generally got through fights, though never so easily that I could afford to make mistakes.”
