Trials of Kokoro
- May 23, 2023
- TD Games
Get on Steam"Trials of Kokoro" is an RPG adventure where a young man with amnesia and combat skills seeks to recall his past. The game features 54 weapons, 150 armor types, and 92 unique skills, as well as 60 hand-crafted battles with varying strategies. Status effects, bonuses, and penalties impact gameplay, and powerful spells require time to cast, with free actions allowing time-sensitive responses. Statuses and abilities are explained through mouseovers.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted story with well-developed characters that engage players emotionally.
- The combat system is strategic and well-balanced, offering a variety of challenges and allowing for different playstyles.
- The visuals and music are stunning, enhancing the overall immersive experience of the game.
- Some players found the menus to be cluttered and difficult to navigate, which can hinder the overall experience.
- There are limited customization options for character builds, which may reduce replayability for some players.
- A few story threads are introduced but not fully explored, leaving some players wanting more depth in the narrative.
- story59 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters, drawing players into a rich and immersive world. While it incorporates some familiar tropes, it manages to subvert expectations and offers a heartfelt message that resonates with players. The combination of a solid plot, beautiful visuals, and a tactical combat system makes it a standout experience, appealing to both fans of visual novels and RPGs alike.
“The story, like any good book, is engaging to the point of not wanting to put it down. I was fully immersed in what would happen next while also being hooked by the combat and RPG build crafting.”
“The overall story is standard, but heartfelt. Cliché as that idea is, the 14-hour story that follows is a magical ride with a deep storyline and plenty of character and world building.”
“The special highlight, however, is the super well-written story from beginning to end, accompanied by well-thought-out characters.”
“Overall, my only real complaint is that there are a few potential story threads that get brought up and then never expanded on (like what's up with the sol-ikati), but with the story that the game is telling, it makes sense that that stuff isn't covered.”
“The overall story is standard, but heartfelt.”
“It is billed as a visual novel type game, but it's a linear story, with the split between writing and battles/preparation feeling like 30:70.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its depth and polish, featuring engaging mechanics that evolve over time, including tactical turn-based combat with stamina and elemental management. Players appreciate the addictive gameplay loop of battling, character management, and story progression, complemented by unique boss battles and charming characters. Overall, the game offers a rich and fulfilling experience that balances traditional RPG elements with a visual novel format.
“Boss battles were fun and generally had unique mechanics to them as you would expect.”
“The gameplay loop is addicting...you battle, manage your characters (equip gear, skills, etc.), get some fulfilling story, and repeat...it's addicting because the pacing is fast and you always feel like you're progressing...it's kinda roguelite-ish but in a visual novel.”
“The gameplay is engaging and the characters are charming.”
“Do not get fooled by the first few battles; mechanics are slowly integrated as you play, leading to a static turn-based combat system with individual initiative, stamina/mana management, as well as cooldowns and elemental resistances.”
“The monster cast and their mechanics force you into using every skill/item available to get through, even on normal difficulty.”
“A fun way to kill 10-12 hours if you like the gameplay.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic quality, memorable tunes, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the diverse selection of songs, with many describing the soundtrack as peaceful and relaxing, making it a highlight of the game. Overall, the music complements the game's art and atmosphere exceptionally well, with some players expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack.
“The music is fantastic, and some songs are real earworms that will stay in your brain for a while.”
“Lastly, I’d like to state the music and sound selection is phenomenal.”
“Honestly, a good ten minutes of my playtime was just listening to the town's music because it's so peaceful and relaxing.”
“Honestly, a good ten minutes of my play time was just listening to the town's music because it's so peaceful and relaxing.”
“If there is a place to buy the soundtrack, I would do it and support the composer.”
“Audio - master, music, environment ambience, special effects and sound effects volume sliders.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Trials of Kokoro" are widely praised for their polish and visual appeal, with many reviewers noting the beautiful artwork and immersive details that enhance the storytelling. While the character poses may feel somewhat limited, the overall visual presentation is considered compelling and adds depth to the gameplay experience.
“And it looks much more polished; you can definitely tell that the developer put even more effort into making a quality game here: the visuals are very pleasing and work well together, the UI and other systems are more refined, and the mechanics have more depth to them.”
“The graphical and audio details really make the story immersive.”
“Beautiful visuals and the characters are really compelling and different from one another.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“The character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the game.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking the vibrancy and creativity seen in other titles.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game offers a compelling story, the reliance on a consistent team throughout limits its replayability. They acknowledge the inherent constraints of visual novels but feel that the potential for increased replay value was not fully realized.
“I understand that visual novels can have limited replayability and tend to focus on something else; it just felt like too good of an opportunity to not exploit it.”
“Despite the changes due to the story, you always play with the 'same' team, which leaves you wondering how else this could have been enhanced to actually increase replayability.”
“Also the fact that, despite the changes due to the story, you always play with the 'same' team, leaves you wondering how else this could have been boosted to actually increase replayability.”
“I do understand that visual novels can have limited replayability and tend to focus on something else; it just felt like too good of an opportunity to not exploit it.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its blend of fun gameplay and touching moments, creating an overall heartfelt experience despite a standard storyline.
“The overall story is standard, but heartfelt.”
“Game was a ton of fun, full of touching moments and fun fights.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is notably progressive, with dynamic characters that evolve throughout the game, including well-defined backgrounds for even the default enemies found in the bestiary. Early impressions highlight enjoyable character interactions and a sense of progression, enhancing the overall experience.
“Character development is progressive; no static characters outside default enemies, though even they have backgrounds fleshed out in the bestiary, which I found to be a neat feature and a good indicator of your progress in the game.”
“I'm still only a few hours in but am already enjoying what I'm seeing with the character development and party interactions.”
“Character development is lacking; I expected more depth and growth from the main characters.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and their arcs are predictable, making it hard to stay invested in their journeys.”
“While there are some interesting backstories, the overall character development feels rushed and underwhelming.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting that it avoids repetitive tasks and mindless button mashing, which enhances the overall experience.
“There is no grinding, no mindless button mashing.”
