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Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer Review by OneManArmy


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This review doesn't contain any spoilers, so feel free to read.

 

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/kikokutop_zpswleixcdd.jpg

 

Description

This story takes place in an alternative future of Shanghai where money and power rules the city. Mafia groups hire Kung Fu masters and dominate the society.

 

There are two types of Kung Fu masters, those who mastered their internal qi, and those who mastered their physical skills. The qi masters are able to output a stronger energy coming from their life itself, but it took a long time to master it. It was easier to just train their physical skills, but there was a limit to how strong a human body can be. So there were a balance of many average physical skill masters and few strong qi masters. However that balance broke when cybernetics came into play. Kung Fu masters would replace their body with robotic parts and attain a strength that a normal human can never achieve. That's how no one tried to become qi masters anymore when they can easily become powerful by using cybernetics, and qi masters decreased in numbers.

 

The main character of the story Kong Taoluo, a qi master, used to be the top assassin of the leading mafia group. He was betrayed and killed, or at least he was supposed to be, but now he returns to city of Shanghai for revenge and for his sister...

 

 

Art

The art is good. There are nice looking CGs but also weird character sprites. The style itself is rather dark but it obviously fits the setting of the game. The male characters are looking extremly rough because they were drawn somewhat edgy.

 

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Music

I've to admit that I didn't like the music at the start. I've no idea why though. The game doesn't contain a lot of memorable tracks but nearly all of them fitted the depressing/dark atmosphere. It's not a game you're playing for the music though.

 

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Characters : Kong Taoluo

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/kongoh_zpsf6j9ybpj.jpg

The protagonist of the game and actually pretty badass.

I really liked this character and especially his first CG.

His personality was rather plain though, revenge, revenge, revenge.

Oh well, I usually like such characters.

 

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Kong Ruili

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/ruili2_zpskumlue4m.jpg

The sister of the protagonist and the person he's searching for.

Can't say anything about her because of spoiler reasons.

She had a very small amount of screen time anyway.

 

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Liu Haojun

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/liuf_zpsjiu6da9v.jpg

He's the main villain of the game and does a pretty good job with being an asshole.

Yeah, I liked him.

 

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Ruili

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/ruili_zps2ndcuzl0.jpg

She's something like a companion of the protagonist and is just there.

No seriously, she is...just...there.

 

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Petrushka

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/pertrushka_zpsxtwx3pcq.jpg

Hottest girl of the game!

...

She had 5min screen time...

 

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Story

The story is pretty much about revenge and fighting. Also, the game doesn't contain any humor (maybe one scene). To be more accurate, the game is depressing and sad from the beginning to the end. There's also a huge amount of fighting scenes, they were surprisingly very exciting. Actually, the story can be summarized in one sentence. The protagonist is fighting his way to the end boss where stuff will be revealed.

 

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Score

Let's keep it short. I liked the game (not the silly ending though). It was depressing, sad and full of sword fighting scenes, definitely my cup of tea. The game actually reminded me of Hanachirisu, it's made by the same developers after all. Seriously, don't play the game if you don't like swords or fighting in general. Was there any character development? Uuuhhh, I don't think so, but the game was pretty short anyway. So what will I give this game? Let's see...

 

 

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc486/OneManArmy369/wonderfulmemories_zpsu3ycubgc.jpg

 

 

7,3/10

Edited by OneManArmy
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  • 5 years later...

Oh man, Kikokugai The Cyber Slayer coulda been so much better than it was. A man on a mission and a nefarious organization standing in his way (cliched as heck, anyone?). My main gripe with the story is the hero's goal, which is understandable given the technology of the setting, but it robs the story of a lot of its potential emotional appeal. Ruili (the gynoid) would've been better as her own character.

 

It's a very good visual novel and I recommend it to anyone who appreciates action elements in visual novels.

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