Kaku: Ancient Seals – Unveiling an Underrated ARPG Gem

Kaku: Ancient Seal Review – An Indie ARPG That Charms and Entertains

Hailing from China, the indie developer Bingobell may be a small studio with a modest portfolio, but their 2020 release, Kaku: Ancient Seal, marks a significant leap from their previous 2017 VR title. After several demos, iterations, and an Early Access phase, Kaku: Ancient Seal has emerged as an unexpected delight.

Visual Style and Gameplay

Kaku: Ancient Seal draws inspiration from a variety of games, echoing the visual appeal and mechanics of titles like Tak and the Power of JuJu, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and even Pokemon, with the addition of Piggy, a charming flying sidekick. The blend of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving is reminiscent of classic PS2 platformers, now revitalized with modern graphics and an expansive scale.

Story and Characters

Players assume the role of Kaku, a young protagonist on the quest to follow a mysterious flying creature. After a chance encounter with an elderly man, Kaku is unwittingly embroiled in an age-old prophecy, a familiar narrative of the chosen hero. To save the world, Kaku and Piggy must explore the four realms in search of the Elemental Temples, which safeguard crucial artifacts. The game’s structure bears a resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, albeit without the financial backing of a giant like Nintendo.

Gameplay Elements

The game’s narrative is somewhat less compelling, with Kaku and Piggy being more engaging than the one-dimensional supporting cast. The absence of voice acting contributes to the overall forgettability of the characters. Despite this, the game’s world is richly designed, with four distinct realms to explore, each divided into smaller zones accessible through magical portals.

Graphical Consistencies and Mission Design

The game’s graphics are a mix of high-quality environments and inconsistent animations, a testament to its small development team and budget. The levels, while large, sometimes feel empty, filled with scattered enemies and basic side quests that don’t fully utilize the space. The mission design is repetitive, often following a pattern of meeting new characters, confronting local antagonists, and embarking on a series of predictable quests.

Combat and Difficulty Balancing

The gameplay is generally enjoyable, despite its limitations. Kaku wields a club and a catapult, offering a mix of close and long-range combat options. The introduction of a special attack that depletes enemies’ Poise meters adds depth to the combat system. However, the difficulty balance is uneven, with some enemies being too easy to defeat through button mashing, while others absorb damage to an annoying extent.

Puzzles, Platforming, and Leveling Up

The game includes light puzzle-solving and platforming elements, featuring classic mechanics like double jumps and elemental stones. The elemental temples provide a focused experience for jumping and puzzling, with a variety of old-school challenges.

Leveling up Kaku is not done through menus but by entering an underground system of runes, where special crystals and resources can be used to enhance abilities and unlock new moves. Health and stamina improvements are achieved through Ruin Keys, which open platforming and combat challenges in a tower-like structure.

Companions and Gear System

Piggy, the game’s adorable companion, also grants Kaku unique abilities, such as walking on water or making long leaps. The game introduces a gear system with a variety of armor, clubs, slingshots, and runestones, each offering special perks.

Conclusion

Kaku: Ancient Seal’s primary issue is its size relative to the content it offers. While the game claims to offer over 30 hours of content, the gameplay does not entirely sustain this duration. The expansive environments are often empty, and the combat system lacks evolution. The mission structure is repetitive, and the basic quest design does not change significantly throughout the game.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Despite its shortcomings, Kaku: Ancient Seal is a commendable indie title that offers an enjoyable experience for fans of the ARPG genre.