Koboo: The Tree Spirit
- November 30, 2023
- Jerome Labelle
Get on Steam"Koboo: The Tree Spirit" is a 2D souls-like game with a focus on strategic builds and skillful combat, inspired by Dead Cells, Shadow of the Colossus, and Princess Mononoke. Traverse 7 branching worlds, collect seeds and animals to unlock upgrades and new weapons, and dual-wield weapons with unique upgrade paths. Utilize Animal Abilities and Relics to create your own playstyle and restore balance to the ancient ecosystem. Death is no longer the end; learn and improve for the next run. Character count: 225.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The combat system is intuitive and satisfying, with a unique critical hit mechanic that rewards players for targeting enemy weak points.
- The art style and music are visually and audibly appealing, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The game offers a variety of playstyles through different classes and weapon synergies, along with a good amount of replayability due to its metaprogression and unlockable content.
- The learning curve can be steep, especially when transitioning to more difficult areas, which may overwhelm some players.
- Boss fights and enemy encounters can feel repetitive and lack impact, leading to a less memorable experience.
- The game may feel short and limited in scope, with some players expressing a desire for more content and variety in enemy designs.
- gameplay13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet enjoyable combat system reminiscent of "Dead Cells," offering versatility and ease of learning. While the farming and fishing mechanics are considered basic and somewhat unengaging, they are necessary for upgrades. The game shines with its interesting weapon customization and rewarding critical hit mechanics, providing engaging and varied experiences that keep players entertained.
“All in all, the gameplay is easy to learn and enjoyable.”
“Beyond the moment-to-moment gameplay, Koboo features a very interesting weapon customization system that provides meaningful choices that actually change how weapons handle.”
“Very engaging gameplay and tons of content that is hidden just around the corner.”
“The farming mechanic and fishing mechanic are way too basic and don't really add much to the game in terms of distraction, but the favor points you get from these activities are definitely necessary for upgrades.”
“The farming mechanic and fishing mechanic are way too basic and don't really add much to the game in terms of distraction, but the favor points you get from these activities are definitely necessary for upgrades.”
- music11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game is praised for its quality and effectiveness, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of excitement and relaxation. While some players desire more dynamic compositions to evoke a wider range of emotions, many appreciate the old-school aesthetic and entrancing sound design that complements the pixel art beautifully. The music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable and engaging for players.
“Both the artwork and music are gorgeous, and I really like the rather old school aesthetic it evokes.”
“Perhaps more dynamic music could make the game take its players to various ends of the spectrum of emotions.”
“The music is relaxing and at the same time fuels you with energy for a fight.”
“The combat is fluid, the art and music are entrancing.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story is revealed gradually through exploration, with players encouraged to uncover its depth as they progress. Reviewers appreciate the engaging narrative elements, including intriguing dialogue and a blend of mystique reminiscent of classic storytelling. Overall, the storyline is praised for its richness and the meaningful messages it conveys, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“I love the storyline so much!”
“And all that is not even scraping the surface, or even touching the beautiful storytelling and wonderful message. Overall, if you like roguelikes, get this game now!”
“Even though the snarling demonic face shown in the library is quite far from the cute protagonist portrayed in the game, it really reminds me of the old storytelling that dressed the woodlands in mystique with tales of spirits and monsters hiding in the undergrowth.”
“I've played 2.5 hours of the game and while I've completed the main story, there are still achievements I have yet to unlock, bugs I have yet to catch, fish I still need to meet, and more weapons and abilities I need to learn.”
“It took me about 90 minutes to win my first run, but I have plenty of unlockables and what appear to be several additional story bosses to defeat.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art and charming old-school aesthetic, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the smooth controls and engaging character interactions, although some note that readability of attacks can be a challenge in 2D pixel art. Overall, the art style and music contribute significantly to the game's appeal, showcasing the potential of pixel art in modern gaming.
“Both the artwork and music are gorgeous, and I really like the rather old-school aesthetic it evokes.”
“Graphics are also super pretty with fun character interactions sprinkled throughout.”
“The controls are really smooth, the pixel graphics are amazing, the music is fantastic, and the characters have personality!”
“Having readable attacks is probably a pain point for 2D pixel art styles, especially for a small team, so I won't knock Koboo too hard for this.”
“The dialog is very entertaining when you meet certain characters/events, and the art style is such a vibe.”
“Art style is pretty sick too, another example that pixel art can make a game look great.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various permanent upgrades that unlock new areas and a secret final boss for a true ending. Additionally, the presence of metaprogression and diverse character builds enhances replay value, allowing players to experience different playstyles despite the game's relatively short completion time.
“You can find different permanent upgrades during your progress, which will grant you access to new areas, giving the game an extra touch of replayability, including a secret final boss for a true ending.”
“The game itself isn't that long to complete, but there's definitely replay value in how much one build can vary from another.”
“The game itself isn't that long to complete, but there's definitely replay value in just how much one build can vary from another.”
“There's plenty of metaprogression and character builds for replayability.”
“You can find different permanent upgrades during your progress, which will grant you access to new areas, giving the game an extra touch of replayability.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting the presence of amusing NPCs that enhance the experience and assist with metaprogression.
“You can find hilarious and quirky NPCs during your runs that add a fun twist to the metaprogression.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and amusing character interactions.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its gameplay, making every encounter a delightful surprise.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanics, such as farming and fishing, to be overly simplistic and lacking in engagement, yet acknowledge that the favor points earned from these activities are essential for upgrades.
“The farming and fishing mechanics are way too basic and don't really add much to the game in terms of distraction, but the favor points you get from these activities are definitely necessary for upgrades.”
“Grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“The amount of time required to grind for resources is excessive, leading to burnout rather than enjoyment.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its beautiful storytelling and meaningful message, contributing to a deeply emotional experience that resonates with players. It is highly recommended for fans of roguelikes who appreciate rich narratives.
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; it truly resonated with my own experiences.”
“The characters are so well-developed that I felt a genuine connection to their struggles and triumphs.”
“This game masterfully weaves together gameplay and narrative, creating moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.”
