KAKU – Ancient Seal Review

A good action-adventure title has you hooked despite any shortcomings. KAKU – Ancient Seal ticks this box with its vibrant world, interesting audio, and energetic plot. However, the combat is too simple and many of the base assets are used repeatedly. Accordingly, it doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

Bingobell has developed an interesting, fun, and easy-to-understand fantasy romp. Furthermore, it is a single-player, third-person experience that blends melee, ranged, and magical combat to great effect. On top of this, there are new weapons to find, skills to unlock, and a large host of bosses to slay. As such, though it isn’t the most challenging game I’ve tackled, I enjoyed it regardless.

KAKU – Ancient Seal is a journey of balance and order.

I adore fantasy stories, and KAKU – Ancient Seal delivers a familiar yet impressive plot. You control Kaku, a young boy who is a hell of a fighter. He lives in a world where Creator Saga balances the 4 worldly elements. Sadly, a mysterious force from a dark realm begins to take control, and Saga is missing. Consequently, the guardians turn to Kaku to right the wrongs and save the day.

The story unfolds at a brisk pace, introducing new characters, quests, and objectives to achieve. Each of the 4 world elements is represented with a unique biome. As you explore every area, you discover interesting problems to overcome. Furthermore, every zone has a roster of different monsters to tackle.

Though there are some differences, the core gameplay remains the same. The quests are usually fighting or fetch tasks that demand some platforming and puzzle skills. Additionally, you’ll have to master each combat element if you wish to be successful.

Collectables and combat.

As you wander across each biome, you will find chests, special keys, fast travel points, and other minor bits. These mechanics are nothing new for the genre, but they work well and are generously spread across each zone. Exploration is made easier by your pet, called Piggy! Piggy is a flying pig who casts magic. Subsequently, they are essential if you wish to cross deep water, leap chasms, or enter the underworld to improve your health and stamina.

As you venture across the magical world, you will encounter endless monsters. The hero is armed with a club, a slingshot, and a magical ability. The fighting was enjoyable, but the computer lacks intelligence. You can be standing feet from a monster, and it’ll let you hit it repeatedly without defending itself or retaliating. This was ridiculous and something I experienced, no matter the difficulty setting. Therefore, this is an area that the developer needs to improve.

KAKU – Ancient Seal looks great, but it’s flawed.

KAKU – Ancient Seal has a brilliant cartoon style. Moreover, the cutscenes have some nice and funny moments. Many of the transitional scenes are short, smooth, and easy to digest. Additionally, there were limited bugs as I explored a vast open world. However, the menu has a horrible knack of hanging. Accordingly, it is frustrating to navigate the map and your abilities. The audio is upbeat, exciting, and full of drama. Piggy will make you chuckle with its weird noises. Furthermore, the combat is loud with an enjoyable fantasy edge. Although it isn’t original, it works extremely well.

Though the controls are good, it took me a little time to master the control layout. Thankfully, a thorough tutorial and clean UI help you on your way. Despite the simplicity, I wouldn’t expect younger gamers to excel. Therefore, parents will need to be on hand if young explorers wish to tackle this. The huge open world is a joy to explore. There are plenty of chests, secrets, and items to discover. Consequently, if you are a completionist, KAKU – Ancient Seal will keep you busy for hours.

KAKU – Ancient Seal is a decent indie game.

KAKU – Ancient Seal will not be on everyone’s radar. This indie game doesn’t get everything right, but I enjoyed it regardless. The story is great and the characters are lively, interesting, and likeable. Furthermore, the open world is a treat to look at. Although the combat is too easy, I liked the pace, the setting, and the brilliant atmosphere. Accordingly, I think it is good and I recommend getting a copy from the Xbox store!