Kokurase Episode 1

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 90 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Kokurase Episode 1 Game Cover
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The Kokurase gang, also known as Cupid’s Helpers, is out to help freshman Sakura woo Yoshimitsu, a popular senior with every other girl in school vying for his heart. Switch between members to bring these two lovebirds together in an intertwining tale.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews
story25 positive mentions
monetization7 negative mentions
  • The art style is unique and visually appealing, with charming character designs and expressive animations.
  • The gameplay mechanics of switching between multiple characters add depth and engagement to the story, making it feel dynamic and interactive.
  • The humor and quirky characters contribute to an entertaining narrative that keeps players invested in the matchmaking plot.
  • The writing quality is inconsistent, with some dialogue feeling broken or lacking depth, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including game-breaking issues that prevent progress.
  • The RPG Maker engine limitations result in a lack of polish in graphics and gameplay mechanics, which may not appeal to all players.
  • story56 mentions

    The story of Kokurase is characterized by its quirky humor, engaging character dynamics, and unique gameplay mechanics that involve switching between distinct personalities to progress the narrative. While some players found the plot to be typical or mediocre, many appreciated the charming characters and the clever execution of storytelling, making it an enjoyable experience overall. Despite its brevity, the game offers a captivating and entertaining narrative that resonates well with fans of high school romance and character-driven plots.

    • “Okay, the plot might sound typical, but it isn't - it's full of humor and interesting characters.”
    • “Kokurase is by far one of the most story-rich games I've ever played.”
    • “The gameplay focuses on character interaction and mission-based progression, ensuring a captivating plot despite the game’s brevity.”
    • “However, I can't help but feel the negatives with the story outweigh the positives enough for me to not be interested in purchasing the other chapters past chapter 1.”
    • “It's worse than time travel; you have to switch between multiple characters all the time to advance the story.”
    • “Plot: the story was very mediocre but different at the same time.”
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of character interaction and mission-based progression, reminiscent of a relaxed Danganronpa style, allowing players to select options without penalties. While some players found the objectives unclear and the mechanics initially challenging, the unique character-switching feature and charming art style contributed to an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game offers a captivating story and fun mechanics, despite some bland environments and RPG Maker limitations.

    • “The gameplay focuses on character interaction and mission-based progression, ensuring a captivating plot despite the game’s brevity.”
    • “The game mechanics are also quite fun - the ability to switch between characters brings some kind of 'simultaneous' feeling to the story that was pretty nice.”
    • “Amazing art, cute story, crazy characters, and nice switching mechanics.”
    • “Some of the directions/objectives aren't as clear as I wanted; in at least 2 or 3 scenarios, I had to look at someone else's gameplay on YouTube for instructions.”
    • “In my case, the keyword mechanic didn't work, and meeting at the statue didn't work.”
    • “1 is free; I definitely recommend giving it a try before you buy the 2-3 DLC, as the game mechanics may be frustrating for some players - there is a lot of switching between characters.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many praising the unique and charming art style that features quirky, cute character designs and appealing visuals. However, the limitations of the RPG Maker engine, such as lack of full HD support and generic in-game graphics, detract from the overall experience for some players. Despite these drawbacks, the artwork and music are often highlighted as standout features that enhance the game's charm.

    • “The art style is quirky and appealing, and the music is splendid.”
    • “Nice humor, amazing visuals with a unique art style and peppy music.”
    • “The artwork is absolutely gorgeous; it's sort of simple to call it 'anime' because it's incredibly stylized and has a nice edge to it.”
    • “Like all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options.”
    • “Finally, the unique downside is that the in-game graphics and movement mechanics are just plain lame, generic RPG Maker for sure.”
    • “Although the RPG Maker visuals might not appeal to everyone, the high price of additional content may seem steep for the visual style.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its funny writing, quirky characters, and entertaining scenarios. However, some critiques highlight that the humor can sometimes trivialize serious themes and relationships, leading to discomfort rather than laughter. Overall, while the game features amusing moments and a unique art style, its comedic effectiveness is inconsistent, with some players feeling it lacks depth and fails to deliver a satisfying narrative.

    • “Nice humor, amazing visuals with a unique art style and peppy music.”
    • “The writing is simple, effective, and funny.”
    • “For starters, it shows off a bunch of things that can be done in RPG Maker that have nothing to do with combat, RPGs, etc. Second, the members of Kokurase (a matchmaking club) are all interesting and quirky, which adds a lot of humor to the plot overall.”
    • “The trouble is that all of these things are spoilers, but in the vaguest sense possible, my issues with this game are the way it makes light of something incredibly problematic and dire, the overly forceful and creepy way it often treats relationships, and the fact that no one really learns anything (and it's not funny enough to make up for that).”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its delightful and quirky qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a jazzy feel that complements the unique art style. Each character's distinct musical theme adds to the enjoyment, making it a standout feature that players appreciate. Overall, the soundtrack is considered fantastic and calming, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music flows nicely, with a more kind of jazzy feel.”
    • “Love the art style and the music they used for each character.”
    • “Very enjoyable game with fantastic art and calming music.”
    • “The music was definitely a plus as well.”
    • “Music: quirky.”
    • “Nice humor, amazing visuals with a unique art style and peppy music.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization aspect of "Kokurase" has been criticized for misleadingly presenting itself as a full game when it is actually an advertisement for a demo, which detracts from genuine game developers and clutters the Steam catalog. This practice is seen as a harmful tactic to gain visibility without providing a complete product, ultimately undermining the gaming experience for consumers.

    • “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
    • “This advertisement is taking up marketing space and visibility that would be better made available to a developer that's done the right thing and created a full game.”
    • “Often developers may choose to incorrectly publish demo/advertisements as separate games as a cheap way to bypass paying Valve for marketing presence on the Steam front page, which may seem clever to them, but it's harmful behavior and it's not good for gamers.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development for its depth and detailed descriptions, highlighting the appealing character designs and art as a significant enhancement to the overall experience.

    • “I loved the character designs and art as well.”
    • “Very good character development and descriptions of each character.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
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