Klaus
- January 23, 2019
- La Cosa
- 8h median play time
A solid debut title for La Cosa Entertainment, KLAUS looks good and tells its story very well. A bit too easy for seasoned players, which feels unrewarding, but still plenty to like about this quirky platformer.
Get on Steam"Klaus" is a single-player puzzle platformer with an interesting self-aware narrative and 4th wall breaking moments. As the player, you assist Klaus, a character who's discovering his identity while trying to escape a mysterious basement. The game features wonderful game mechanics, good graphics, and ingenious music, making it a unique and engaging experience. Klaus has his own personality and agenda, making the journey even more tense and emotionally engaging.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- Engaging story with interesting twists and a unique narrative style that unfolds as you play.
- Varied gameplay mechanics and level designs that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable.
- Great art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Controls can be unresponsive and awkward, especially when using a keyboard and mouse.
- Boss fights can be frustrating due to lack of mid-fight checkpoints and potential for soft-locking.
- Some players find the platforming mechanics to be rough around the edges, leading to inconsistent gameplay experiences.
- story42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and innovative delivery, seamlessly integrating narrative elements into the gameplay without interrupting the flow. Players appreciate the humor, philosophical undertones, and the ability to uncover the story through collectibles and exploration, making it a compelling experience. However, some reviews note that while the story is intriguing, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a deeply profound narrative.
“I started the game not expecting anything, but damn the story blew my mind.”
“The way the story unfolds is refreshing and the humor is very enjoyable.”
“They don't make games like Klaus anymore, it's the perfect mix between a compelling story and tight gameplay.”
“Story is meh.”
“The story was... ok, I guess.”
“My main criticism is that although the secret level portals are fairly well signposted, I felt I couldn't relax and enjoy a level until I found it, terrified that I'd miss it and miss out on a crucial bit of background story.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging and ever-evolving mechanics, combining story-driven elements with inventive puzzles and platforming challenges. Players appreciate the responsive controls and the introduction of new gameplay twists that keep the experience fresh and exciting. Overall, it offers a compelling mix of humor, aesthetics, and innovative ideas that enhance the platforming experience.
“The story is interesting, and it encourages you to find all the 'secret levels', and the gameplay has interesting changes in the secrets and in the regular levels to keep things fresh.”
“It plays well, has a sharp look with big fields of bright colors, and introduces new elements and mechanics at a fair pace.”
“Every level keeps shaking things up and introducing new mechanics to keep you on your toes, so when you think you are starting to get the hang of things, they throw you a curveball; it's really fun.”
“The one complaint I have at this time is the mechanic where you control gears with your mind.”
“There's no central gameplay gimmick but a variety of ideas: some Lost Vikings-style swapping between 2 characters with different abilities, platforms that can be manually moved or rotated with the right controller stick, bonus levels with surreal twists, and a plethora of platformer staples like lasers, giant fans, and the like.”
“On the gameplay department, the controls feel really good and responsive, the characters do exactly what you want, when you want it.”
- music14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its fantastic quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as engrossing and addictive, often elevating gameplay and immersing players in the game's world. While there are minor technical issues with volume settings, the music remains a standout feature that players feel is worth experiencing.
“An absolutely engrossing platformer with a killer soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is great and makes you want to keep playing.”
“Fantastic synthy soundtrack too.”
“It has a minor bug on the SFX/music menu; you have to pause the game to enable that option, but the developers said they'll patch it soon.”
“The only issue I've encountered is when I set my music and SFX volume, it forgets when I reach a new level, but just opening the menu makes it remember.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and aesthetically pleasing art style that is both simple and colorful, contributing to its polished presentation. Players appreciate the combination of great visuals with well-designed levels and an engaging narrative, making it a standout in the 2D platformer genre. Overall, the graphics enhance the gameplay experience, complementing the humor and mechanics effectively.
“If you like 2D platformers with an amazing art style, great music, fantastic level design, and an interwoven narrative, buy this game now.”
“It's a great concept, the levels and story are well designed, and the aesthetic and presentation of the game are really well done.”
“The art/graphics are really beautiful and colorful.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its enjoyable humor, which complements the interesting story and engaging gameplay. Reviewers note that the humor is refreshing and adds to the overall experience, making it both funny and intriguing.
“The way the story unfolds is refreshing and the humor is very enjoyable.”
“It's a pretty funny game at times, can get quite challenging, but never seems unfair.”
“Speaking of the story, it has a sense of humor and a little bit of mystery.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly during the final boss encounter, where bugs and glitches can cause softlocks, necessitating a restart of the fight.
“This was especially bad during the final boss, as it featured several bugs and glitches that softlocked the fight and forced me to restart.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of gameplay.”
“I encountered multiple instances where the game froze, requiring me to restart my console to get back in.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than engaging, as what should be climactic battles often feel repetitive and lack excitement.
“These fights ought to be climactic, but they wound up sort of tedious.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is generally well-received, as it enhances the gameplay experience with frequent updates and new twists, keeping players engaged without feeling overly pressured to spend.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional atmosphere and immersive experience, drawing players deeply into its world.
“The game has an amazing atmosphere and immersion.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating a truly immersive experience.”
“Every detail in the environment contributes to a sense of dread and wonder, making exploration feel both thrilling and unsettling.”
Critic Reviews
Klaus Review
Klaus is a good game that takes too long to become so. The commentary baked into its narrative bleeds into the gameplay resulting in mechanics that are not provided enough nourishment to grow and an exposition that will lose many due to its over-commitment to delivering a message. The initial impression leaves a bad taste, and in a world where first impressions matter, this is difficult to overlook.
60%KLAUS PS4 Review
A solid debut title for La Cosa Entertainment, KLAUS looks good and tells its story very well. A bit too easy for seasoned players, which feels unrewarding, but still plenty to like about this quirky platformer.
70%Klaus Review
88%
