Kowloon High-School Chronicle
- November 9, 2022
- TOYBOX
Get on Steam"Kowloon High-School Chronicle" is a hybrid RPG, adventure, and first-person simulation game where you play as a treasure hunter posing as a transfer student at a Tokyo high school. Your mission is to discover a mysterious ruin hidden beneath the school and uncover the secrets of a super ancient civilization, while dealing with traps, monsters, and the school's student council. Build relationships with friends, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies to uncover the treasure buried beneath the school.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- A unique blend of genres, styles, and aesthetics that offers a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
- Engaging episodic structure with interesting characters and a captivating story that keeps players invested.
- The game features a distinct presentation and atmosphere, enhanced by a great soundtrack and intriguing world-building.
- Gameplay mechanics can be obtuse and poorly explained, leading to confusion for new players.
- The translation issues and some problematic content from its original release may deter some players.
- Repetitive combat and tedious exploration can diminish the overall enjoyment, making some encounters feel less engaging over time.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay features grid-based combat and exploration, but many players find these elements repetitive and lacking depth. While the mechanics can be confusing and poorly explained, the engaging story and vibrant character interactions provide some redeeming qualities. Overall, the game has potential, but it would benefit from a more polished approach and a higher budget to truly shine.
“This game has a vibe, and I encourage you to take a look at the gameplay, the characters, and if it strikes a single chord in you, dive in.”
“If you like Persona but wish it committed to the bit more and felt less formulaic and more authentic, almost as if it were passionately sharing everything that the creators loved in a beautiful fusion of early 2000's anime and dungeon crawler with unique mechanics, then this game is going to make your year.”
“Now, if someone wanted to remake this game with a real budget and fixes/changes to its gameplay, you could have a real hit on your hands.”
“The core of the gameplay rests on grid-based combat and exploration, but unfortunately those aspects get old fast.”
“While the gameplay is saddled with repetitive and half-baked ideas, at least the story parts are interesting enough.”
“It's very easy to get stuck fumbling around with the mechanics at the start as they aren't properly explained.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are noted for their unique blend of genres, styles, and aesthetics that stand out as original and unreplicated. However, the quality of the artwork varies significantly, with some elements being described as interesting while others are considered unfortunate.
“A very unique blend of genres, styles, and aesthetics that hasn't been replicated before or since.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as a slow burn that captivates players with its intriguing twists and turns, making it engaging despite the gameplay's repetitive nature. Overall, it stands out as a compelling aspect of the game.
“I'd say the story is more of a slow burn, but there are plenty of twists and turns that help it ramp up into something that's hard to put down.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is influenced by mechanics such as action points and the mind stat, which can lead to knowledge checks that may challenge players. However, the game's reasonable length allows players to easily restart and adjust their characters without significant frustration, making the overall experience manageable.
“The character development in this game is incredibly engaging, allowing players to shape their characters in meaningful ways that impact gameplay and story.”
“I love how the game encourages you to think about your character's growth and choices, making each decision feel significant.”
“The depth of character customization and the way stats influence interactions really enhance the overall experience.”
“There's certainly a mechanics issue where the player can get knowledge checked, such as the importance of AP in combat and just how crucial the mind stat is to character development. However, these do not diminish the game much, as it is a decent length, so if you feel you screwed up your character, you can easily restart and fast forward through the dialogue at your leisure.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia, effectively complementing the retro aesthetic of the 2004 setting. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience with its engaging and memorable tunes.
“In a way, this helps center the game in the past of 2004 with its bizarro laptop tablet with text message capabilities and delightfully 'cheap' pictures as background, backed with an amazing soundtrack.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players initially find grinding to be engaging and reminiscent of solving interesting puzzles; however, as encounters are repeated, they tend to become easier and increasingly tedious.
“Most encounters start as interesting puzzles, but they quickly become easier and more tedious as you repeat them.”
“Grinding feels forced at times, turning what could be engaging encounters into a monotonous chore.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly highlighting its smooth performance on the Steam Deck.
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its nostalgic references, particularly through emails and notes that amusingly harken back to 2004, adding a quirky and lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“Funny enough, the emails or notes still reference 2004.”
