Kingdom Of Arcadia Review (PlayStation 5)
Sam is just a normal kid who likes video games. Likewise, his father has a passion for old games, but when Sam tries out his dad’s arcade machine, he’s suddenly pulled inside, where he finds himself starring in his own pixelated adventure. But can he get back home? Help Sam remove the spell cast on Arcadia and return safely before it’s too late.
Pros:
- Decent pixel art graphics.
- 124.8MB download size.
- Platinum trophy.
- CRT filter-on/off.
- Action-platformer gameplay.
- Fast loading times.
- Simple hack and slash combat.
- Levels have multiple routes.
- Secret elements to find.
- Coins-find and collect from enemies.
- Shop-upgrade armor, damage and get new weapons.
- Can quit to the shop from the menu.
- Levels are called floors and you do each one in turn then a boss fight to go up a tier.
- Clear easy to read Hud.
- Pick up ammo for projectiles.
- Keep coins upon death.
- Bubble/shield pickup so you can take one hit for free and not take damage.
- Treasure chests everywhere.
- Hidden areas and rooms.
- Coins are worth different amounts.
- Can use analog or d-pad.
- Can farm levels for coins to use for upgrades.
- High risk-reward atmosphere.
Cons:
- Coins disappear fast after dropping.
- Basic level structure.
- No checkpoints so death is a full-level restart.
- Music is not that great.
- Only one button layout.
- Got stuck a few times on platforms or underneath them.
- Slow pace to it all.
- Gets repetitive.
- Graphics - 8/108/10
- Sound - 7/107/10
- Accessibility - 8/108/10
- Length - 7/107/10
- Fun Factor - 8/108/10
Summary
The Kingdom Of Arcadia is a platformer with hack and slash combat, it is a mix of hardcore platforming and an ever so slight RPG element to the upgrading of weapons and stats. Levels are spacious and house secret rooms and alternate routes through them. As you play more enemy types appear but also more mechanics come into play like having to find levers for doors or having to find the ever so hidden exits. The Kingdom of Arcadia really is a deceptive little beast as on the surface it’s a Cutesy basic platformer but underneath it’s a hard-as-nails platformer. You only have a handful of hearts and health is hard to come by and death is a level restart, yes you keep the coins but you have to start the level over and when levels get longer and bigger it gives the whole game an air of tension that is gripping as much as it is stressful. I wish it had more variety as it is basic in its structure and leveling up weapons/health is slow but for a fun challenge it has it in spades and despite the flaws, it is a fun little game.
