Kowloon High-School Chronicle
- November 9, 2022
- TOYBOX
"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.
Reviews
- Kowloon High School Chronicle offers a unique blend of visual novel and dungeon crawling, providing a creative and engaging experience that stands out in the genre.
- The game features a rich narrative with intriguing twists and a diverse cast of characters, making it a compelling story-driven adventure.
- The combat system is enjoyable with a variety of builds and mechanics, allowing for strategic gameplay and exploration of ancient ruins.
- The game can be cryptic and obtuse, with poorly explained mechanics that may frustrate new players, leading to confusion during gameplay.
- The translation quality is inconsistent, resulting in awkward text and dialogue that can detract from the overall experience.
- Some gameplay elements, such as inventory management and dungeon navigation, are cumbersome and can hinder the flow of the game.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay features grid-based combat and exploration, but players often find the mechanics poorly explained and repetitive, leading to frustration, especially for newcomers. While the crafting system has its flaws, the engaging story and character development can compensate for some gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the game offers a unique vibe that may resonate with fans of the genre, particularly those who appreciate a blend of anime aesthetics and unconventional mechanics.
“This game has a vibe, and I encourage you to take a look at the gameplay, the characters, and if it strikes a chord in you, dive in.”
“If you like Persona but wish it committed more to the bit and felt less formulaic and more authentic, almost as if it were passionately sharing everything 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.”
“There's certainly a mechanics issue where the player can get knowledge-checked, such as the importance of action points in combat and just how crucial the mind stat is to character development, but these do not diminish the game much as it is a decent length, so if you feel you messed up your character, you can easily restart and fast forward through the dialogue at your leisure.”
“It's very easy to get stuck fumbling around with the mechanics at the start as they aren't properly explained.”
“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.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as a slow burn that gradually builds tension with numerous twists and turns, making it engaging and hard to put down. Despite some criticisms of the gameplay being repetitive, the narrative elements are deemed interesting and compelling.
“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.”
“While the gameplay is saddled with repetitive and half-baked ideas, at least the story parts are interesting enough.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it difficult to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving me feeling disconnected from their motivations and struggles.”
“The plot twists seem forced and predictable, undermining any potential suspense.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are noted for their unique blend of genres and styles, creating a distinctive aesthetic that stands out in the gaming landscape. However, the quality of the artwork varies significantly, with some elements being praised while others are considered less appealing.
“A very unique blend of genres, styles, and aesthetics that hasn't been replicated before or since.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is impacted by mechanics that require players to understand the significance of attributes like action points and the mind stat for effective gameplay. However, the game's reasonable length allows players to restart and quickly progress through dialogue if they feel their character choices were suboptimal, mitigating potential frustrations.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to shape their characters in unique ways that impact gameplay and story.”
“I love how the choices I make during character development not only affect my character's abilities but also influence the relationships with other characters in the game.”
“The ability to restart and adjust my character's development without losing too much progress makes for a more enjoyable experience, as I can experiment with different builds.”
“There's certainly a mechanics issue where the player can get knowledge-checked, such as the importance of action points 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.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story or gameplay. I expected more depth and complexity in how my character evolves throughout the game.”
“I found the character progression system to be frustratingly linear, with little room for customization or personal growth. It made my choices feel insignificant and detracted from my overall enjoyment.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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.
“The soundtrack perfectly captures the essence of the game, immersing players in its unique atmosphere.”
“The music enhances the overall experience, making every moment feel more impactful and memorable.”
“The combination of nostalgic sounds and modern beats creates a captivating audio landscape that keeps players engaged.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players initially find grinding to be engaging and puzzle-like, but it tends to become repetitive and tedious over time as encounters lose their challenge.
“Most encounters start as interesting puzzles, but they quickly become easier and more tedious as you repeat them.”
“The grinding feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“What begins as a fun challenge turns into a monotonous grind that detracts from the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, indicating strong stability across platforms.
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
“I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a nostalgic touch, with references that harken back to 2004, adding a quirky and amusing layer to the experience.
“The humor in this game is spot on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations that never get old.”
“The quirky characters and their funny interactions make every moment enjoyable.”