Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report

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Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by 「notes.」 and was released on March 22, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Explore a surreal world inspired by Kowloon Walled city in this turn-based RPG inspired by Japanese games from the Dreamcast and PS1-era.

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Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 201 reviews

story14 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The game features a unique and surreal atmosphere, reminiscent of classic PS1 titles, with engaging visuals and a captivating soundtrack.
The writing is humorous and filled with quirky characters, providing a mix of absurdity and depth that keeps players entertained.
As a free prequel, it offers a surprising amount of content, including side quests and replayability, making it a worthwhile experience for players.

The movement system can feel clunky and disorienting, making navigation through the game's world tedious at times.
Some dialogue and writing choices may come off as awkward or overly reliant on pop culture references, detracting from the overall immersion.
Technical issues, such as bugs and glitches, can disrupt gameplay and hinder the experience, raising concerns about the game's polish.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The game's story is praised for its unique narrative filled with unexpected twists, engaging character arcs, and a rich world that encourages exploration through side quests. While some players found certain dialogues off and side content underwhelming, the overall storytelling, particularly the main plot involving characters Tony and Sergio, resonated well with many, creating a compelling experience that blends surreal aesthetics with a thought-provoking narrative. However, some players noted inconsistencies and glitches in the story progression, indicating room for improvement in future updates.
- “It speaks for itself, there's a unique story here with unexpected twists and turns yet familiar dialogue to keep you grounded as the list of 'what comes next?' piles on.”
- “I've had Lost Report in my library since launch and only just played it last night. The queer story of those existing against capitalism to try and fight to remember the memories of themselves before they could be hurt or repressed is beautiful.”
- “The story is expanded and fleshed out, which really made me resonate with the characters and the game a lot more, and the added side quests and bigger areas actually give you a reason to explore now.”
- “While I thought the vibes and visuals of the game were great, the somewhat monotonous gameplay mixed with a very minimal story made me very unenthused as this is meant to be a prequel to a larger game.”
- “Having said that, the 'new game +' portion of the story completely just fell apart in my hands; on day 2 I managed to skip past meeting up with Sergio, use the mahjong tile gotten from Amane to go into the parlor, and then had Sergio randomly appear in some cutscenes, but be missing from the game world.”
- “Each of these things ends up having one single use in the short linear plot of the game (mostly cutscenes), and you're a fool if you try to do anything other than the next plot point on your screen.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its surreal, offbeat, and often absurd nature, with many players finding the dialogue and interactions both hilarious and engaging. Reviewers note that the writing is a mix of clever, internet-savvy jokes and absurd scenarios that resonate well with players, creating a unique charm despite some concerns about the overall depth of the world. While the humor is a standout feature, it sometimes overshadows other aspects of the game, leading to mixed feelings about its balance with more serious themes.
- “This is a hilarious PS1-style JRPG game!”
- “Amazing surreal vibes, hilarious dialogue and combat, cool choices, interesting world and groovy music.”
- “The technical mess was not nearly enough to detract from the enjoyment I got from the weird and wonderful setting; the writing made me laugh and there was even a decent amount of mystery and drama considering the short length.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
48%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay, with many reviewers describing it as a collection of "mood-enhancing bangers" and "killer soundtracks." The soundtrack's catchy and engaging tunes contribute significantly to the overall experience, making encounters enjoyable and immersive. However, some players noted that moments of silence felt disappointing, suggesting that the game could benefit from more consistent musical presence.
- “The atmosphere and vibe is great, the music complements it very well and the humor is also really good.”
- “The soundtrack overall is nothing but mood-enhancing bangers and somber atmosphere-enriching jams.”
- “Everything about this game just emits substance and passion not just for the media that inspired it, but also on its own merits with the surrealistic world-building, racy but very charming dialogue, and a soundtrack with vibes that cannot be matched.”
- “There are many moments where the game would greatly benefit from some gentle, creeping tones or music and it's just completely silent.”
- “The sound design is very minimalistic; you'll have city sounds and some dialogue, but for the most part, you'll be hearing this sexy soundtrack delivered by the Kowloon sound team.”
- “The music and art direction are not what I’d call 'refined', but given this game’s retro-futuristic, dystopian setting, they feel very tonally appropriate.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their atmospheric and surreal low-poly PS1-inspired aesthetic, effectively capturing the gritty vibe of 90s cyberpunk. While some players appreciate the unique visuals and worldbuilding, others note that the retro style may not resonate with everyone and can feel rough by modern standards. Overall, the combination of charmingly low-res graphics, engaging art direction, and a fitting soundtrack contributes to a distinctive and immersive experience.
- “Firstly, like everyone else before me, I have to praise the visuals and atmosphere.”
- “The graphics themselves have a very lo-fi PS1-esque look, with some characters being 3D models while others are 2D art of people.”
- “It's like a strange dream world with PS1-styled graphics, dripping in slick ooze that could come out of the Yakuza series, combined with a dreamlike corporate nature.”
- “It has its humor, but the graphics and movements are rough for today's standards.”
- “The surreal visual aesthetic of this game seems pretty distinctive until you find out that it's just wholesale copying Kowloon's Gate, a 1997 PS1 game.”
- “Regardless, the execution of the style is good, but serves as an unfortunate proof that graphical style absolutely cannot carry a game.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun turn-based combat and unique mechanics, while others criticize it for being monotonous and lacking depth. The grid-based movement and exploration elements are appreciated, but many feel that the RPG mechanics are shallow and underutilized, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential. Overall, while the visuals and atmosphere are praised, the gameplay may not fully engage players, making it feel more like a demo than a complete experience.
- “The gameplay is a turn-based limited open world RPG where you can walk around the three districts of Kowloon City, talk to a variety of strangers, engage in hidden side quests, browse the internet, and honestly so much more.”
- “The battles are fun, and probably the freshest writing in the game, with text and mechanics that winkingly lean into the silliness inherent to SMT-style RPG combat encounters with a genuineness that is a breath of fresh air among all the irony poisoning.”
- “Whenever you have these weird games, more often than not there is a disconnect between the art and the gameplay, you try new things at the cost of making the game less enjoyable to play, but not this time, I felt like the game was paced really well from start to finish.”
- “While I thought the vibes and visuals of the game were great, the somewhat monotonous gameplay mixed with a very minimal story made me very unenthused as this is meant to be a prequel to a larger game.”
- “The RPG mechanics are so shallow; calling them barebones would be putting it leniently.”
- “As such, I think it's best to view Lost Report as a demo of sorts, one that introduces the general mechanics, tone, and setting of the world while not exploring any of it in-depth.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
23%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating visuals, unique low-poly graphics, and a rich, immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the surreal and bizarre settings, complemented by witty writing and a blend of humor that adds depth to the environment. While some critiques mention a lack of complexity in gameplay, the general consensus is that the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of story-driven, cyberpunk themes.
- “The atmosphere and vibe is great, the music complements it very well and the humor is also really good.”
- “It's packed full of witty writing, interesting worldbuilding, unique visuals and a variety of atmospheres from relaxing to disconcerting.”
- “The game has a really good sense of atmosphere, there is just such good attention to detail and so many things that catch my senses.”
- “Not a fan of the writing, or the grid-based first-person movement, but I still think what the game overall offers (low-poly, neon-lit atmosphere with strange characters, gritty alleys, and a dream-like OST) is pretty good and worth checking out.”
- “Disappointingly aimless with its alright atmosphere.”
- “The jankiness does not undermine the captivating atmosphere and writing on display.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of lags or major issues, while others have encountered numerous glitches and technical problems, including buggy menus and potential softlocks. Although some glitches have been addressed, many users still find the game feels unfinished, particularly in its demo state, leading to concerns about its overall polish and reliability.
- “I like what I played, but I can't play much because of a few glitches, and I'd rather not start a new save (at least any time soon).”
- “Technical issues are plentiful, from minor UI and collision glitches to full softlocks, but frequent autosaves mitigate the latter.”
- “Glitches - clock puzzle can break, pause menu can break, battles can break, using PC can break, camera can break, ending can break.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game offers a mix of replayability with numerous secrets and side content, appealing to players who enjoy exploring different aspects of the game. However, some users feel that the requirement for multiple playthroughs to achieve max stats detracts from its overall replay value, suggesting that the game may not sustain interest for all players.
- “It also has tons of secrets, replayability, and weird lore.”
- “There's a lot of replayability and secrets to find, and basically all cutscenes, animations, and designs are amazing.”
- “Short but has a lot of side content and replayability.”
- “The 'max out stat' achievements require three entire additional playthroughs exclusively focused on min-maxing one stat, and the game simply doesn't have the replay value to carry that.”
- “Short but a lot of side content and replayability.”
- “Since I mentioned playthroughs – replayability!”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in its emotional depth, offering a touching and engaging story that resonates with players through its exploration and character interactions. Despite its short length, it delivers a range of feelings, blending humor with poignant moments, all while showcasing impressive polish.
- “Apart from the stats, the few combats, and the movement reminiscent of a dungeon crawler, it's more focused on exploration and interaction with the incredibly bizarre world and the fascinating and touching story and characters.”
- “This game made me feel a lot of things.”
- “It's short and sweet but has a lot of emotional moments in it, and a surprising amount of polish.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the slow movement system and the expansive world, which can make exploration and backtracking feel repetitive after multiple visits to the same areas.
- “The movement system is a bold choice and one I do respect, but traversing a world this big like that can become a bit tedious once you’ve already been to some areas a few times.”
- “This design choice, combined with the slow movement, makes exploration and backtracking quite tedious.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization aspect of the game is not directly criticized, as the focus is on its artistic connections rather than gameplay exploration. However, the expectations set by the advertising may lead to mixed feelings about the game's content versus its promotional claims.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is enhanced by a unique blend of time periods and surreal fantasy elements, featuring a diverse range of character designs that contribute to a dream-like atmosphere. This eclectic mix allows for intriguing and imaginative character arcs that captivate players.
- “The mash-up of time periods is further enhanced by surreal fantasy elements, including occult magic and character designs that range from 'normal human' to 'big fleshy worm with a mask.' The world feels incredibly dream-like.”
- “The character development is rich and immersive, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “Each character evolves in unexpected ways, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging throughout the game.”

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Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report is a role playing game with horror theme.

Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report is available on PC and Windows.

Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report was released on March 22, 2023.

Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report was developed by 「notes.」.

Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Kowloon's Curse: Lost Report is a single player game.

Similar games include Lunacid, Heartbound, Project Kat: Paper Lily Prologue, YIIK: A Postmodern RPG, Kingdoms of the Dump and others.

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