You awake in what seems to be a graveyard for robots. Or, more of a room with piles of dead robots filling every corner, piled up to the ceiling. Your rescuers are among them, their bodies blending in with the countless others. This world has been run into the ground by a tyrannical overlord, and you, an anthropomorphised computer tablet known as the Chosen One, have been freed in order to save it. Your task is simple: find the Kunai, kill the evil robots, and steal some hats. Oh, and save the world.
It’s a story we’ve heard countless times before. Whether you’re the Dovakhin or the Wanderer, games love putting the player in the position as the “chosen one” to give you a reason for your quest. As tropes go, it hardly feels original, but Kunai’s pixel art opening sequence details the decline of a civilisation, putting some gravitas behind your mission. You’re one of the Resistance, and you’re ready to fight for what you believe in: hope.
After you break free of your oversized test tube, the first few levels start very gently. Getting those rusty joints moving again is a slow process, as you are drip-fed instructions and eventually, in the second level, the fabled weapons themselves, the Kunai.
The eponymous weapons allow you to move more quickly, freely, and ably but are essentially dual-wielded grappling hooks. You still use your robo-katana to dice up enemies as if they were sushi, and they can even drag enemies towards you. You can upgrade them further down the line, but it is an interesting decision to make the fabled “experimental weapons” that give the game its title aid movement and movement alone; the first boss doesn't pose a threat once you know how to use them.
However, it was during the trek through the forest that Kunai showed what the true nature of the apocalypse was. It’s not oblivion or tyranny; it’s mundane repetition. Checkpoints are few and far between, as is a habit in roguelikes, but dense vines make the platforming slow progress. Some you need to “swing” from – occasionally allowing a double jump, other times failing to register – but others you can simply cut down.
New enemy types appear and are defeated. Simple platforming puzzles are overcome. And then, usually, just before the next checkpoint (although that is unbeknownst to you), a seemingly impossible task appears that nothing has prepared you for. You'll fail and began the five-minute trek past easy enemies and paltry puzzles that you’ve navigated ten times already, beginning to truly understand the meaning of the apocalypse.
However, just as you’re about to call it a day, something clicks. It’s easy, how did it take you so long to master a little combination of Kunai-swinging and katana-slicing? And then, a checkpoint. And that little section is no trouble any more, even if you decide to backtrack and try again. This happens every time you feel stuck. As soon as you feel like all is lost, that the world will never be saved, you stumble across the necessary skills and soldier on, your robotic brain clinging on to one thing and one thing only: hope.
Thankfully, the pace soon picks up and you leave the most frustrating situations behind. As you’re running through levels, pixelated face grinning on your tablet screen, the music swells, pushing you forwards as much as the other members of the resistance. Suddenly, you understand this game. The Kunai are still only used for movement, but you’ve mastered the art now. Slingshotting yourself, swinging like a friendly neighbourhood Spider-tablet, or just dodging out of the way of enemies, your Kunai are a part of you now; an extension of your own arms.
Besides, you’ve now got other ninja weapons to deal damage. And once you’re out of the early levels, learning how to take on new enemies and utilise the tools at your disposal, you might actually win this. It’s all going so well, you’ve come so far, until – ouch. You’re dead, and you’ve got to start over. But this time, you might just do it. At least you’ve got hope.
Conclusion
The Switch is fast becoming the perfect home for roguelikes, and Kunai is in esteemed company. The game holds itself well and is great fun, even if it lacks any real innovation. The unique weapon combinations can make each run different and interesting, but the repetitive nature of each level means that Kunai's replayability could be in doubt.
Comments 24
Reviews seem to be pretty mixed for this one. It never jumped out at me as something I really need to play but if it goes on sale for low enough at some point I'll give it a chance.
I'm not finding the start slow at all.
Backtracking happens in every metroidvania, it's pretty much a criticism of the genre itself than the game. I thought Kunai was good, not amazing but definitely worth playing. It's not really long enough for any back tracking to become tiresome. I wouldn't say it starts slow either really, you get the awesome Kunais pretty much straight away. My only real complaint was that it never really tested you enough.
@Big_Fudge exactly. For a Metroidvania, Kunai feels very easy, not exactly a cakewalk, but easier than most others in the genre
I don’t want to 'sledge' reviewer, Ben, but KUNAI is way, wayyyyy better than a six. I loved it
When the comments give you more insight than the review.
Real talk though; I kind of expected this game to be more like what is being said though. Easy enough to plow through, but not hard enough to challenge you entirely and making your accomplishments feel more like accomplishments.
Not to say that's not a good thing. If this game is received well, there is obviously clear places to improve upon. I for one still plan on watching this game, and honestly wasn't aware of it til that review bombing.
"The Switch is fast becoming the perfect home for roguelikes, and Kunai is in esteemed company."
Eh? Kunai isn't a roguelike. The levels are fixed and death returns to you a checkpoint. It's also a solid 8. I'm really enjoying it.
Is this actually a roguelike? Or is that meant to be metroidvania?
The art for the environments is a lot better than the art for the avatar, that appears to be... a square.
Oh and for what it's worth, Hollow Knight had huge gaps between checkpoints, it was as hard as nuts, and yet that game is revered.
@The_Pixel_King Yeah man, it's definitely not a 6. I love it too!
Definitely not a roguelike at least from my understanding of the word. I will agree with 6/10, though. I love metroidvanias but this one was a struggle to remain interested.
This game is deff not a 6, I'll give it a 8.5/10.. Great gameplay, Smooth controlls, great battle mechanics, This game is great
Seen dozens of reviews giving this a 9/10. Im halfway through this game and dont agree with this score at all. The art style could use some colours, but other than that it's a solid 9/10 from me. The game feels great to play, controls are tight and responsive. Great variety in enemy designs. People here saying its too easy plays too much games in general tbh. I find the game hard enough and have died several times. Dont listen to this review, if the game interest you and you're a Metroid fan then buy this.
This is not a roguelike. It's also not a 6/10.
Yeah, it's...not a roguelike from the few hours I've played so far. However, it definitely is a Metroidvania.
Ah, no....Just no. This is not any where near a roguelite and saying that makes me question whether you actually played the game or not but congratulations, Ben. You've reminded us all why gamergate happened with your ignorance and shown us why written reviews can't be trusted.
I thought this was a great game! Had lots of fun. I prefer short games so I appreciated the length.
"The unique weapon combinations can make each run different and interesting"
Each run? Do the words in that sentence even vaguely resemble the actual gameplay of Kunai?
I started playing Kunai a few days ago, and I don't really agree with the points of this review. I'm a few areas past the forest, and I didn't find anything tedious about it. With each area, the game feels more interesting than the last. Movement is super fluid with the kunai swinging, and backtracking doesnt really bother me. I died once during a 5 minute segment by falling into a pit. However, with my next trek, I blazed through that section and caught up within a couple minutes. Combat is also very punchy and fun so far. I'm pretty sure this will be an 8 at the least for me. Maybe a 7 if it all starts falling apart, and a 9 in the best case scenario.
Very weird review. As said above, this isn't a roguelike, roguelike, or rogue anything.
Someone else should honestly rereview this one.
As other people already said: This game isn't rogue! Thank goodness!
Bad score though, but I might still check it out someday when it gets a good discount.
what does it say about the game's level design that he thought it was a roguelike? is what i would say if this game wasn't great and well worth your time.
Bought this on sale just because this review is so bad
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