Umihara Kawase Shun

About

Umihara Kawase Shun is a single player action game. It was developed by Studio Saizensen and was released on November 24, 2015. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Umihara Kawase Shun" is a challenging physics-based platformer game where players control a fisherwoman with a grappling hook. Traverse through various levels by running, jumping, and using the hook to grab onto surfaces and objects. The game features fast-paced action, puzzle-solving, and requires precise timing and quick reflexes. With numerous stages and secrets to uncover, players will face a variety of obstacles and enemies on their journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Umihara Kawase Shun features a unique and versatile fishing hook mechanic that offers a fun and rewarding gameplay experience, with a steep learning curve and high skill ceiling.
The game has charming visuals and a playful soundtrack that enhance its quirky atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate its distinct style.
Despite its challenging nature, the game provides a sense of satisfaction when mastering difficult levels and executing complex movements, appealing to fans of precision platformers.

The game suffers from a lack of quality-of-life improvements, such as a poor port with limited key mapping options and a frustrating continue system that can lead to lengthy play sessions.
Many players find the difficulty curve to be inconsistent, with some levels being excessively easy while others are punishingly hard, leading to frustration.
The bosses and certain level designs are often criticized for being tedious or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
Umihara Kawase Shun features a unique grappling hook mechanic that sets it apart from traditional platformers, offering a high skill ceiling and intricate gameplay. While some players find the multiple paths and boss challenges frustrating, the overall experience is praised for its fun, physics-based mechanics and engaging level design. The game successfully combines a charming atmosphere with solid gameplay, making it a standout title worth exploring.
- “Most fun, unique mechanics I've ever seen in a platformer!”
- “Wonderful atmosphere, and impeccable gameplay and kinesthetics that can be enjoyed as a simple platformer with a grappling hook, or as something you spend years mastering.”
- “Umihara Kawase is a unique platformer with a grapple mechanic that feels and plays amazing.”
- “Umihara Kawase Shun’s main and only mechanic is a fishing hook.”
- “Its multiple path mechanic never pays off, the bosses are so absurdly obtuse, and if you run out of lives you have to start the game.”
- “I don't know, I wanted that extra step to really distinguish itself besides the better visuals and tuned-up gameplay.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and enjoyable quality, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some note a reduction in the number of field themes compared to the original, the compositions remain engaging and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic gaming eras. Overall, the soundtrack is described as "top tier" and effectively complements the quirky platforming action.
- “A really fun and quirky platformer with an excellent soundtrack.”
- “It also has a very catchy soundtrack, where finally making it to the next well-designed level comes with the joy of getting to hear a new backing track as you grind out all of your lives before you have to try again.”
- “Music is top tier.”
- “Just don't expect any HD textures or any music that doesn't sound like it was from the SNES/PlayStation 1 era.”
- “The OST is nothing special, but it is really nice and comfy.”
- “It should be noted that versions of the songs used in this release all come from Sayonara Umihara Kawase.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The graphics of the game feature a mix of crude, clip-art visuals that evoke a playful, youthful aesthetic, though some find the design disjointed. While the transition from pixel art to drawn sprites and 3D environments adds liveliness and complexity, the "steam edition" does not significantly enhance the graphics or interface. Overall, the visuals are seen as both charming and simplistic, with varying opinions on their impact on the overall experience.
- “This time, 3D was incorporated into the graphics, making the fields more lively and the layouts more complex.”
- “Its clip-art visuals build upon this childishness, with the disjointness of its assets suggesting a youthful haphazardness.”
- “This 'steam edition' doesn't have changes in graphics or interface.”
- “The art style has transitioned from pixel art to drawn sprites and 3D environments.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly noting that while certain challenges, like the tadpole and double rematch, are not overly difficult, they still require repetitive effort that can detract from the overall experience.
- “Even if the tadpole is not that hard, it doesn't take away from the fact that it is very tedious, and the same goes for the double rematch.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its wonderful quality, enhanced by impeccable gameplay and kinesthetics that cater to both casual and dedicated players. Nostalgic elements, such as lower resolution and eye-catching art, further enrich the overall experience, making it a memorable platforming adventure.
- “Wonderful atmosphere, and impeccable gameplay and kinesthetics that can be enjoyed as a simple platformer with a grappling hook, or something you spend years mastering, or anything in between.”
- “I'd still say that my preferred way to play is the second edition, partly for nostalgia and partly because the little things like the lower resolution and the eyecatch art subtly contribute to the atmosphere.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The PC port of the game exhibits solid performance, but it suffers from rough edges in optimization, particularly with the user interface and limited keyboard binding options.
- “The PC port has a lot of rough edges with the UI and the lack of reasonable bindable keys for the keyboard, but performance is good.”
- “PC performance is pretty good.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story of "Umihara Kawase Shun" follows the titular character on her whimsical quest to traverse abstract landscapes using her elastic fishing line, capturing enemies to collect sushi ingredients. The narrative blends quirky humor with a unique premise, emphasizing the playful and surreal nature of the game.
- “Umihara Kawase Shun is the continuation of the adventures of the titular protagonist. Once again, she is on a quest to navigate abstract geometry with the aid of her elastic fishing line and abduct every enemy into her pink backpack because sushi ingredients don't have any rights.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by a sense of frustration, as players often feel overwhelmed by powerful enemies that can defeat them in a single hit, leading to moments of vulnerability and challenge. However, there are also unexpected elements, like certain enemies that provide a surprising sense of relief or ease, adding complexity to the emotional experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting the amusing design of the fish enemies and the unique gameplay mechanic of using a fishing rod for rappelling, which adds both challenge and comedic elements to the experience.
- “The unique system of rappelling yourself using the fishing rod is awesome and quite challenging, and the funny enemies (fish) scattered around the map are quite amusing and made me laugh.”