Kingsgrave Review: Metroidvania with Engaging Exploration and Building

Exploring the dark and brooding realms of classic RPG adventure, Kingsgrave emerges as a notable entry in the gaming world, developed by the creative minds at Egg or Chicken Games and brought to market by Alawar. Modeled with a clear nod to seminal titles like “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past,” Kingsgrave conjures a blend of nostalgia and fresh mechanics that target both die-hard fans and newcomers to the genre. At its core, the game is a journey of reclaiming power and restoring a kingdom laid low by dark forces, offering players a mixture of exploration, puzzle-solving, and tactical combat wrapped in a pixel art style that is both charming and effective.

The essence of Kingsgrave is its gameplay, which is a robust mix of strategy, exploration, and combat. As players navigate through top-down 2D landscapes—from devastated villages to volatile volcanoes—the game encourages a level of autonomy and discovery that can be profoundly rewarding, yet admittedly grindy. Kingsgrave does not hold your hand; instead, it drops you into its expansive world with a smattering of tools and abilities that expand as you progress, unlocking new areas and challenges. Expect a variety of weapons from spears to magical staves, each offering unique advantages and requiring different tactical approaches.

Kingsgrave sets players on a dark, medieval quest, striving to reclaim a throne and restore a kingdom riddled with monsters and despair. The game’s premise is compelling, hinting at layered storytelling with potential character development and deep lore. However, it struggles to deliver a gripping narrative that engages players deeply. While the initial setup is interesting, the lack of richer storytelling elements prevents the game from reaching the emotional depth of classic RPGs it draws inspiration from, such as The Legend of Zelda series. This shortfall is primarily due to sparse world-building and minimal character dialogue, which could have enhanced the explorative experiences and made the environments feel more alive.

Kingsgrave’s pixel art aesthetic stands out, providing vibrant visuals that starkly contrast with the game’s darker themes, a stylistic decision that pays homage to the classics while maintaining a modern touch. The audio experience, albeit inconsistent, features some standout tracks that amplify the epic feel of the game, though the overall sparsity and mixing of sounds can at times detract from the immersive experience.

Offered at an accessible price point of $10, Kingsgrave promises around 15 hours of gameplay. This offers a solid value for money, considering the depth and replayability offered by its explorative and combative systems. The game’s approach to difficulty and progression is designed to cater to a broad range of players, with enough depth to satisfy more hardcore gamers, but also providing on-ramps for those less experienced with the genre.

In conclusion, while Kingsgrave might not reach the legendary status of its inspirations due to some gameplay and narrative foibles, it stands as a commendable ode to the classics with enough uniqueness to carve out its own identity in the crowded RPG and adventure game market.

Core Features

• Top Down 2-D Pixel Sprites
• Building and Resource Management
• Different Types of Unlockable Weapons and Abilities
• Adventure Through Diverse Landscapes From Ruined Villages to Volcanoes
• Metroidvania Feature of Utility-Gated Exploration
• Hundreds of Different Enemies to Slay
• Various Puzzles to Solve

In Kingsgrave, gameplay is centered around exploration and puzzle-solving, meshed with grindy yet rewarding resource management and combat. The open-world design allows players to discover new areas and uncover secrets at their own pace, which contributes to a feeling of grand adventure despite the occasionally slow pace caused by the grindy nature of resource collection.

Strengths of Gameplay

• Rewarding Exploration: Players find joy in uncovering new areas and using their collected resources to unlock further regions of the game.
• Puzzle Solving: The puzzles range from simple mechanical challenges to complex problems that require thoughtful resource application, providing a satisfying cerebral challenge.
• Artistic Design: The pixel art is not only charming but also serves to enhance the atmospheric depth of the game’s world, making exploration visually enjoyable.

The combat system begins a bit sluggishly with unreliable hitboxes but gradually improves as players unlock more weapons and abilities. However, the initial frustration might deter some players. Resource management is integral, urging players to balance their time between combat, exploration, and building up their kingdom.

Areas for Improvement

• Narrative Depth: The storyline is sparse, and the lack of a compelling narrative or character development makes the game feel somewhat hollow at moments.
• Early Game Combat: The early combat mechanics can feel clunky and unrewarding, which may test the patience of players not willing to grind through the initial hours.
• Grindy Gameplay: While exploration is a highlight, the requirement for extensive resource collection and management can lead to a monotonous grind, especially in the absence of a strong narrative pull.

Despite these issues, Kingsgrave presents a solid package that harks back to the beloved mechanics of classic adventure games, enhanced by modern design sensibilities. At a price point of $10 and about 15 hours of gameplay, Kingsgrave offers good value for money, especially for players who enjoy a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genre.

Conclusion

Kingsgrave stands out as a worthwhile addition to the library of any gamer who cherishes the nostalgia of classic titles like “A Link to the Past,” yet hopes for unique twists in gameplay mechanics. Despite its less polished narrative and certain grindy aspects, the game promises a journey rich in exploration, adorned with charming visuals and inventive puzzles that engage and challenge the player. For the modest price of $10 and roughly 15 hours of gameplay, it provides substantial value, considering the depth and replayability it offers. Although initial combat might deter some due to clunkiness and a dependence on grinding, persistence proves rewarding. With further updates and a bit of fine-tuning from Egg or Chicken Games, Kingsgrave could refine its potential and resonate even more with its audience. As it stands, for enthusiasts of the genre, this game is an enticing journey worth embarking on, characterized by an evocative pixel art style and an appealing, if occasionally frustrating, adventure into its dark and intriguing world.