Cute Knight is a game by Hanako Games, who's mission statement includes "girl games with unicorns instead of prom dresses". Despite the distinctly feminine feel of most of their games, however, their depth and innovation can appeal to everyone. Cute Knight is their most recent, and best, installment.
Where to find:
A trial version of Cute Knight can be downloaded from Hanako Games. The full version of the game can also be purchased at the site, currently for $19.95 US.
Cute Knight is also available at various download sites such as Big Fish Games and Reflexive Arcade.
Summary:
Cute Knight is based off of the Japanese Princess Maker game series: by attending classes and working at jobs, you develop the character's skills to achieve one of multiple endings. There is an area where enemies can be fought with either weapons or magic as in more traditional RPGs, but combat is a means to specific endings instead of a goal unto itself. The true focus of the game lies in finding the proper balance of jobs to earn gold to pay for classes to build skills to succeed in certain festivals and unlock new endings.
The Good:
As said, the game play is refreshing in the "choose your fate" goal. While the main character is female and some of the overall feel a little girly, I can't see any but the least confident guys enjoying the game for what it is.
There are a many ways to keep busy with this game: a wide range of jobs to pursue, many items that can be made from crafting and potions from brewing, an interesting magic system through the use of "charms", and a randomly generated dungeon to explore if the need for basic "hack and slash" comes. The multiple endings make the game truly addictive, with each ending unlocked adding an image to the gallery accessible at the title screen. Some endings are as simple as building a specific statistic to achieve; others require completing specific tasks and quests.
The Bad:
Almost NO help is provided in game to explain how to proceed, how specific stats contribute, or even to explain controls. Several resets may be necessary at first as you get a feel for the game. Fortunately, the controls are simple, making the learning curve much easier. Unfortunately, some of these controls then change in the dungeon, requiring more trial and error until mastery is achieved.
(Indie Game World’s Cute Knight Wiki provides some hints and tips that will make playing the first time much easier until a proper help manual can be found. A Beta-tester Fan Site is also a good resource.)
The graphics are also highly inconsistent. Some I find amateur to the point of being off-putting, to be honest.
The game can be repetitive, particularly once you have achieved the necessary stats for a specific ending and are just trying to advance the game to the completion of the three years. Care must also be taken at this stage to not accidentally set up another ending, ruining your previous work.
Controls:
Strictly “point and click the option” for most of the game. You go to an area on the map in the bottom right corner, which triggers one of several options from jobs, purchasing items, attending classes, resting, and a few miscellaneous events such as festivals. Jobs and classes take seven days to complete, with jobs earning gold and classes costing gold. Both jobs and classes build specific stats, although classes are obviously faster means to this end.
The dungeon has a separate set of controls, with arrows to navigate (the keyboard can also be used in this area) and options for weapon fighting, using magical charms, or attempting to tame the enemy to leave you alone. Charms and items worn must be selected before battle, and the stat menu cannot be selected while in the dungeon.
Options can be selected by clicking the “close” button on the window, and include saving or loading multiple filesaves, music and sound effects, increasing animation speed, and turning on or off hints, as well as finally exiting or restarting the game.
Graphics:
As mentioned, the graphics are inconsistent at best, awful at worst, and decent use of sprite and pixel art in between. The look of the game can be seriously helped by either having either a more professional artist draw the ending images, or using the sprites that represent performing jobs instead of the character portraits. Preferably both, to have the game look as good as it is enjoyable.
Music and Sound:
Not too bad, but neither are they notable. Some of the job tracks, which appear to be randomly selected between several, can even grate on your nerves after a while. The game loses nothing having the music and effects turned off, in my opinion, but then it has never been one of my greatest concerns.
Any other areas you think I should address in a review? Any questions to help you decide whether to try the game or not?
