spooky atmospheric japanese game where you get to run around as not just one, but three lovely ladies what more can you really ask for? The combat is dumb, straight up bonkers but despite the flaws,,,,the game mesmerized me in such a way that it wasn't a turn off. Games have jank, and you just have to go with it. Steer into the skid type of situation. You're going to be walking all over the place, but you really start getting familiar with the landscape. It's cool that these virtuals worlds become navigable in such a way like your very own neighborhood. Im in a time of my life where im not beating games like I used to. Seeing this game through to the end was a pleasure and it feels good to finally beat a game after so long. Return to form boogiepop era? i sure hope so!
I like From Software, this game is a classic-cult survival horror, really creepy and i enjoyed it
A beautiful game even all these years later. The setting, the artstyle, the character models, the backgrounds and objects, the way the clothes and hair move all look stunning! I am fond of a historical Japanese setting so I am slightly biased but wowie the setting for this was a dream come true for me, and likewise so is the setup! I love horror as well as mysticism and Japanese Shinto/Folklore. Playing as an onmyoji was awesome, and the three characters interesting and distinct! Not just in their personality and motivations, but in the way they are played and move. Each have unique movesets, animations, weapons, etc. And the third character especially was very satisfying to end the game on. It did get slow a few times with tremendous amounts of backtracking but I was kept hooked on the plot and atmosphere the full way through. Big recommend! Also the Japanese voices come as an option on the disc which I loved! (And meant I wouldn't have to find an undub fan patch like the Fatal Frame games). Check it out!
Eventho the attack mechanic bit weird and hard to hit. The atmospheric and story very intriguing
Kuon is an obscure but really enjoyable survival horror game. While the gameplay itself is not at all outstanding, the story, setting, lore and characters are what makes it a memorable experience.
-Gameplay: the combat is very simple but unfortunately also pretty clunky and outdated. The player fights with a melee weapon and uses different spell cards (mainly ranged spells and summons) obtainable through looting. The fights can look great but they usually feel way too dumb. Between enemy encounters the player has to explore certain areas and progress through closed doors via ‘keys’ obtained in different ways. It gives a similar vibe to Resident Evil’s but on a much simpler level. The lack of puzzles does not help either. Kuon does have some great aspects however, like the ‘vertigo’ mechanic, which makes the player afraid of running and encourages a more careful playstyle.
-Atmosphere: Kuon has a really immersive, eerie, creepy atmosphere, thanks to the smartly used camera angles, a rotting, unsettling environment and the horrific enemies and sounds they make. Although the game is not too scary, it does a good job at creating suspense and always keeping the player on edge. The 12th century Japanese setting also adds to the unique vibe.
-Story: Kuon’s biggest strength is definitely the story it tells and how it tells it. The game can be played as one of two protagonists and after completing the game with both of them, a third character unlocks, whose playthrough includes the true ending. The first two playthroughs roughly take 4 hours each and thankfully there are enough differences (both in gameplay and story elements) to keep the experience fresh. While the first playthrough is enjoyable in itself, it doesn’t answer every question. For the whole picture, all three campaigns have to be finished. The third playthrough is less than an hour long and does a great job concluding the story. Kuon’s surprisingly rich lore is heavily inspired by Japanese folklore and therefore spawns a very ‘Japanese horror story’ with some twists, a great deal of mystery, many creepy moments and a cast of cool characters.
-Gameplay: the combat is very simple but unfortunately also pretty clunky and outdated. The player fights with a melee weapon and uses different spell cards (mainly ranged spells and summons) obtainable through looting. The fights can look great but they usually feel way too dumb. Between enemy encounters the player has to explore certain areas and progress through closed doors via ‘keys’ obtained in different ways. It gives a similar vibe to Resident Evil’s but on a much simpler level. The lack of puzzles does not help either. Kuon does have some great aspects however, like the ‘vertigo’ mechanic, which makes the player afraid of running and encourages a more careful playstyle.
-Atmosphere: Kuon has a really immersive, eerie, creepy atmosphere, thanks to the smartly used camera angles, a rotting, unsettling environment and the horrific enemies and sounds they make. Although the game is not too scary, it does a good job at creating suspense and always keeping the player on edge. The 12th century Japanese setting also adds to the unique vibe.
-Story: Kuon’s biggest strength is definitely the story it tells and how it tells it. The game can be played as one of two protagonists and after completing the game with both of them, a third character unlocks, whose playthrough includes the true ending. The first two playthroughs roughly take 4 hours each and thankfully there are enough differences (both in gameplay and story elements) to keep the experience fresh. While the first playthrough is enjoyable in itself, it doesn’t answer every question. For the whole picture, all three campaigns have to be finished. The third playthrough is less than an hour long and does a great job concluding the story. Kuon’s surprisingly rich lore is heavily inspired by Japanese folklore and therefore spawns a very ‘Japanese horror story’ with some twists, a great deal of mystery, many creepy moments and a cast of cool characters.
Asian Silent Hill Vibes <3
Between the lack of lipsync in the cutscenes, awful localization, slow and clunky combat, and spotty controls, it's not hard to see why this was deemed antiquated even in 2004. I hadn't been paying attention to the copyright date on the title screen, so I was shocked to find it wasn't one of FromSoftware's bajillion PS2 launch/launch window titles because it just exudes "generational transition" like Armored Core 2 and Eternal Ring did. I didn't exactly hate it since the level design was okay and the story and some of the mechanics were at least a little interesting, but it might have been up there with its contemporaries as a fantastic survival horror game if it were given the same polish.
I think Kuon is a fairly enjoyable game.
The Ying and Yang phases aren't really that different from each other outside of length and storytelling. There's not much going on in terms of variety, but the Yang phase features more combat. If anything, I think the best comparison to make is that it's like Resident Evil 2, but worse. There is a 3rd and final phase, but it's easily the worst part of the game.
I really do like this game's atmosphere. The positioning of the camera and sometimes seeing ghosts move is awesome. However, there is one thing I do not like and that's the flash jumpscares. It's a horrible mechanic and it's quite annoying. Kuon also has the honor of being one of the easiest horror games that I have played. You can practically solo every enemy with just your melee weapon, and it sucks because this game has cool spells that you can use. Another thing to note is that you can heal anytime you want w/o items, so there's not real point in using the healing items you find unless you feel that you're guaranteed going to die.
I think that's all I really have to say about Kuon. For being the most expensive PS2 game, I don't really think its worth getting unless you really love this game. I do think Kuon is worthy of a playthrough though despite its shortcomings.
The Ying and Yang phases aren't really that different from each other outside of length and storytelling. There's not much going on in terms of variety, but the Yang phase features more combat. If anything, I think the best comparison to make is that it's like Resident Evil 2, but worse. There is a 3rd and final phase, but it's easily the worst part of the game.
I really do like this game's atmosphere. The positioning of the camera and sometimes seeing ghosts move is awesome. However, there is one thing I do not like and that's the flash jumpscares. It's a horrible mechanic and it's quite annoying. Kuon also has the honor of being one of the easiest horror games that I have played. You can practically solo every enemy with just your melee weapon, and it sucks because this game has cool spells that you can use. Another thing to note is that you can heal anytime you want w/o items, so there's not real point in using the healing items you find unless you feel that you're guaranteed going to die.
I think that's all I really have to say about Kuon. For being the most expensive PS2 game, I don't really think its worth getting unless you really love this game. I do think Kuon is worthy of a playthrough though despite its shortcomings.
great
não tão bom quanto esperava mas ainda sim primoroso em muitos sentidos
I didn't like the final stretch but otherwise a good game and its aesthetics are beautiful needs a remake so hard tho
from software é melhor tu ficar só nos soulslike mesmo kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk (não que soulslike seja bom)
We live in a strange, bizzaro world where Metal Wolf Chaos somehow not only got localized and published in the U.S. 15 years after it dropped in Japan, but also gets remastered in HD, yet this languishes on the PS2.
Glad to know Fromsoft have their priorities straight, but I think it would be nice if they (probably get someone else to) do a remaster of this someday, too.
Glad to know Fromsoft have their priorities straight, but I think it would be nice if they (probably get someone else to) do a remaster of this someday, too.
Hashizoroe
Imagine fatal frame but in a historical setting and instead of the combating being arcade-style shooting it's a melee combat system and magic spells. I really liked some of what it did with the story and how the playable characters played into each other's stories, but generally this is pretty derivative and doesn't have much to offer to anyone but me (who is constantly craving more survival horror).
Much is to be said about not just encouraging, but forcing players through a near-identical second run in order to conclude its story. Critiques for this are completely valid, if not a little misled. This is not thee first game in its genre to pull this stunt, albeit not as well executed as others. But where its repeat run lacks in content, it makes up for it by recontextualizing tone. Not thee tone of its story, nor its horror, but in your tone. You know this house, you know these doors, you know (most of) these weapons. Your first run ends in tragedy, but you remember these halls, these puzzles, these answers, & maybe you can fix it. A silver coin might be silver all around, but each side yields a different answer; a potentially different fate.
Aesthetically perfect, mechanically stilted as good horror ought to be. A one-button heal-all can't exactly be excused, negating urgency of life. However, I urge you not to use it, if possible.
Aesthetically perfect, mechanically stilted as good horror ought to be. A one-button heal-all can't exactly be excused, negating urgency of life. However, I urge you not to use it, if possible.
for a game quite flawed (and unbelievably short), i loved it so much. i wanted more of it
Not as bad as I thought it would be. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving more ps2 survival horror and you've already checked out Silent Hill, Obscure, Resident Evil, and Fatal Frame.
The game is very good, if you need a horror game on the ps2 that isn't Silent Hill 2, this is the one.
WIKTOBER LOG #0030 - KUON
If you're a gamedev reading this, and you ever had the thought of "I think my survival horror game needs to be played through twice on the exact same map with the exact same puzzles to be beaten", please do us all a favor and take up another profession
The map (and art in general) in this is insanely detailed and beautiful, which makes it all the more sad that playing it feels like FromSoft was trying to exorcise me through my controller. There's also a huge problem with Japanese ps2 horror games, namely that Japanese ghosts are really only scary if you are a Japanese woman - if this is you, please DM me if you are older than this videogame
If you're a gamedev reading this, and you ever had the thought of "I think my survival horror game needs to be played through twice on the exact same map with the exact same puzzles to be beaten", please do us all a favor and take up another profession
The map (and art in general) in this is insanely detailed and beautiful, which makes it all the more sad that playing it feels like FromSoft was trying to exorcise me through my controller. There's also a huge problem with Japanese ps2 horror games, namely that Japanese ghosts are really only scary if you are a Japanese woman - if this is you, please DM me if you are older than this videogame
Sekiro if it was good
es raro
lovely visuals and audiodesign paired up with the most laughably easy survival horror game i've played with infinite healing and overabundance of saves
Overall, it's quite enjoyable, although occasionally feeling a tad cheaper and lacking in polish. The second campaign could have benefited from more variety as well – it felt somewhat akin to replaying the other campaign. Incorporating a system similar to the zapping mechanic in the original Resident Evil 2 would have sufficed. Nevertheless, if you're someone who, like me, holds a deep fondness for classic survival horror, it's a worthwhile experience.
“Oh no it’s a Gaki over there!” and it’s literally Roger from American Dad
Hashizoroe
This game is right in the middle of a venn diagram between:
- gamers who like Fatal Frame
- people who like folk horror
- weebs who like Jujutsu Kaisen.
I won't be too harsh with the gameplay since it's a PS2 game. I could finish the game just fine without feeling like it's a total chore. The plot is interesting enough (I'm a sucker for any horror games set in the ancient time). There were some good scares.
The game is really hard to find now, but it is definitely still out there somewhere on the interweb.
- gamers who like Fatal Frame
- people who like folk horror
- weebs who like Jujutsu Kaisen.
I won't be too harsh with the gameplay since it's a PS2 game. I could finish the game just fine without feeling like it's a total chore. The plot is interesting enough (I'm a sucker for any horror games set in the ancient time). There were some good scares.
The game is really hard to find now, but it is definitely still out there somewhere on the interweb.
sei lá, esse jogo é esquisito.
não é ruim mas não é bom.
não da pra explicar direito e eu nem sei se eu recomendaria pois eu mesmo não pretendo voltar a jogar, sei lá, mas a mecânica de combate é interessantezinha até.
não é ruim mas não é bom.
não da pra explicar direito e eu nem sei se eu recomendaria pois eu mesmo não pretendo voltar a jogar, sei lá, mas a mecânica de combate é interessantezinha até.
Does Kuon deserve its cult status?
I've payed for it, I'm dumb enough, but I'm a sucker for horror from the PS era, so here are my two cents:
The Oh Yes:
–The AESTHETICS: They can remind you of Fatal Frame and they're really cool. Beautiful cut-scenes and scenarios. Good loking game.
–It can be GUROTESUKU (grotesque): Specially some bosses, they can surprise you in that aspect.
–The PLOT: It's really original and you can follow it without a problem (and we know that Japanese narrators can have some problems telling understandable stories).
–JUMP SCARES: It has some of that and I think they're nice.
The Meh:
–MUSIC: Sometimes cool and tense, but not a lot of variation or different themes.
–PUZZLES: You can't call them that. Take this here, take that there. Disappointing.
–The DUBBING: I actually liked it, but I would have chosen to listen to the Japanese actors if I could.
The Oh No:
–COMBAT: Not as bad as Rule of Rose, but pretty clumsy and predictable. Smashing buttons most of the times.
–The MAIN ENEMIES: The Gakis are the main enemies and they're not scary at all. They're pretty stupid and predictable. They can kill you easily, but I actually liked that.
–To BEAT THE GAME: You practically have to do the same three times. But I've got to say that the part with Sakuya in the mountains is the best part of the game, pretty tense and scary. Surprising and gory instadeath there, be careful.
–EVERYTHING IS AN OBSTACLE: You play as some cool exorcist powerful girls in the three scenarios. They're tough and pretty, but they can't avoid ANYTHING in the ground. If you'd like to stop them, you'll only need to place a broom on the floor. To put a real example, a corpse in a hallway: you can't pass through it. It's stupid. They also are like gigantic and can't pass between obstacles unless the space between is two times their size at least.
–The character FONT: I know, I know, but it's awful. It's cheesy, like trying to be traditionally Japanese looking.
––
Overall, I don't regret playing it, but I did it mainly for the story. Silkworms, man. Lots of clues and texts as usual in survival horror, and they're delightful. But it's not really fun to play. Would watch the movie, though.
It reminds me to Rule of Rose in that aspect: cool story (bro) but not a great videogame. But in this case, the story is not as good but also it's not remotely as painful to play as Rule of Rose is.
I've payed for it, I'm dumb enough, but I'm a sucker for horror from the PS era, so here are my two cents:
The Oh Yes:
–The AESTHETICS: They can remind you of Fatal Frame and they're really cool. Beautiful cut-scenes and scenarios. Good loking game.
–It can be GUROTESUKU (grotesque): Specially some bosses, they can surprise you in that aspect.
–The PLOT: It's really original and you can follow it without a problem (and we know that Japanese narrators can have some problems telling understandable stories).
–JUMP SCARES: It has some of that and I think they're nice.
The Meh:
–MUSIC: Sometimes cool and tense, but not a lot of variation or different themes.
–PUZZLES: You can't call them that. Take this here, take that there. Disappointing.
–The DUBBING: I actually liked it, but I would have chosen to listen to the Japanese actors if I could.
The Oh No:
–COMBAT: Not as bad as Rule of Rose, but pretty clumsy and predictable. Smashing buttons most of the times.
–The MAIN ENEMIES: The Gakis are the main enemies and they're not scary at all. They're pretty stupid and predictable. They can kill you easily, but I actually liked that.
–To BEAT THE GAME: You practically have to do the same three times. But I've got to say that the part with Sakuya in the mountains is the best part of the game, pretty tense and scary. Surprising and gory instadeath there, be careful.
–EVERYTHING IS AN OBSTACLE: You play as some cool exorcist powerful girls in the three scenarios. They're tough and pretty, but they can't avoid ANYTHING in the ground. If you'd like to stop them, you'll only need to place a broom on the floor. To put a real example, a corpse in a hallway: you can't pass through it. It's stupid. They also are like gigantic and can't pass between obstacles unless the space between is two times their size at least.
–The character FONT: I know, I know, but it's awful. It's cheesy, like trying to be traditionally Japanese looking.
––
Overall, I don't regret playing it, but I did it mainly for the story. Silkworms, man. Lots of clues and texts as usual in survival horror, and they're delightful. But it's not really fun to play. Would watch the movie, though.
It reminds me to Rule of Rose in that aspect: cool story (bro) but not a great videogame. But in this case, the story is not as good but also it's not remotely as painful to play as Rule of Rose is.
"We have Fatal Frame at home"