The Cruel King and the Great Hero Reviews
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is my current contender for GOTY 2022; although it’s only April, I just don’t see this changing. With its wonderfully whimsical aesthetics, glorious soundtrack, blossoming world-building and character development, and delightful turn-based combat combining action and slight brainteasers, it cannot be overstated how phenomenal The Cruel King and the Great Hero truly is. It’s probably the only game I’ve ever consciously desired to give a standing ovation, tears welling up in my eyes as the credits rolled. The sum of a thousand tiny details done correctly, The Cruel King and the Great Hero achieves greatness through the lens of a bold and brave young girl, following her heart and her dreams, with her supportive dragon dad by her side.
If your main focus is a highly polished, big-budget arrangement with lots of action — and there’s nothing wrong with that — this game will likely be underwhelming for you. But if your priorities lie in story, a more nuanced perspective and an experience beyond just the game within a game, then The Cruel King and the Great Hero is worth picking up.
I rarely fall in love with games at first sight, but The Cruel King and The Great Hero captured my heart from the very first time I laid eyes on this fantasy RPG. Mind you, it does have its flaws (and quite the frustrating ones), but they can be forgiven. Just focus on the enchanting melody and the aesthetically pleasing visuals and you’ll be golden! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my bedtime story.
Despite the tedious trophies, annoyingly numerous random battles, and lack of damage/experience information, The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a gorgeous and emotional experience that all turn-based RPG fans should pick up. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the main narrative but the numerous side-missions and random conversations you have with the friendly creatures who live within the world, leaving me with the desire and want to help out everyone, rather than making it feel like a chore. Certain trophies were a pain, yet it was incredibly satisfying to work out the solutions and complete them, requiring a little thought and thinking outside of the box.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a wholesome, endearing JRPG fans of all ages will find both fun and meaningful.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a heartwarming adventure game told in a children's storybook style. Follow Yuu on her quest to become a great hero, just like her father. Whether she's helping the monsters in her kingdom, doing good deeds for those around her, or fighting enemies to keep her kingdom safe, her tale is always charming and fun.
A beautifully handcrafted JRPG, The Cruel King and the Great Hero is more great than cruel.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a pure charmer of an RPG. The playful storybook art and lovely soundtrack strike an adventurous tone, and all the characters from Yuu and the Dragon King down to the random monsters are adorably designed.
It may not be the deepest RPG but The Cruel King and the Great Hero is certainly one of the most heartwarming. In fact, I adored its story and cast of characters so much that I highly recommend it to anyone with a soft spot for unconventional lighthearted tales.
The Cruel King and The Great Hero is as classic as JRPGs get, but its little touches of modernisation truly shine through. As the gorgeous art style and chirpy soundtrack complement the thought-provoking battle system with grace. Some story and character moments are left wanting, and there are a few missteps with the general gameplay. But overall, The Cruel King and The Great Hero is a timeless 15-hour adventure that demands at least one playthrough.
The Cruel and the Great Hero is a delightful RPG to play for those looking for a relaxing, wholesome story. The game feels more like a small adventure than a large-scale epic like Final Fantasy, but that’s totally fine. Grab your twig and venture forth, soon-to-be-great hero!
It’s been a long time since I played an RPG that I enjoyed as much as The Cruel King and the Great Hero. The mix of charming storybook visuals, memorable characters and sweet plotline is simply wonderful. In combination with a rapid-fire combat system and some quirky (if never groundbreaking) mechanics, and a host of interesting enemies, this was an experience that pulled me along from start to finish and I had me smiling all the way - I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a simple game, but it has a lot of heart. The characters here are wonderful, and they tell a great story with messaging I think we can all appreciate today. I think this one is well worth the $29.99 asking price, even with my few minor complaints. The physical Storybook Edition of this one is great as well. It will set you back $59.99, but it comes with a nice hardcover artbook, a soundtrack download and very cute Yuu Plushie. The artbook is really neat because it has a great design and contains the illustrations you can unlock in game. I am very glad I decided to review this one. I had a lot of fun here, and this wonderful story will stick around with me for a while. If you’re fan of storybook adventures, RPGs or just want a good to experience a good story, this one is well worth your time.
A beautiful and charming game about a young girl on a quest (with the help of her dragon dad) to achieve her dream of becoming a hero. If you love story book art, definitely give this one a try!
I really love the relationship between the King and the Hero. From the very beginning, you understand how much he loves the little girl. As you take Yuu out into the dangerous world, the dragon can be seen in the background watching over her. He even helps in battle, unbeknownst to Yuu. As a father, this really hit home with a four year old. Wanting your kid to go out on their own, but also watching from the shadows and doing what you can to help, whether they know it or not resonated deeply with me. There are twists and turns to the relationship, and it’s really something worth checking out if you’re a parent.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a sincere production, which aims neither to distort the canons of the turn-based role-playing game, nor to amaze with who knows what technical innovation.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This RPG feels as if you’re reading an illustrated fairy tale. The story is heart warming and full of cutesy little characters. But something feels off in terms of the recommended consumer pricing in comparison to the very short play time the game provides. Either if the price could be lowered or an extended play time may be required to justify the current pricing.
Review in Korean | Read full review
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a fine example of Nippon Ichi Software's creative ability. It's a small-scope, low-budget RPG, but its consistent design makes it an engaging fairytale. The title is especially recommended for fans of simpler RPGs and children's narratives that present beautiful moral discussions.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a lovely RPG, carefully hand drawn, that presents us with a story of supplanting and growth. The players are presented with an exciting experience, even though quite elementar towards it's mechanics. The final sensation is that we are facing a fairy tale that is presented to us in a magical way. Despite the tedious random battles, the experience tends to reveal itself as captivating throughout its duration. Essentially, we consider a title that deserves to be passed by everyone at least once.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s great that this far into the Switch’s lifespan there are enough RPGs that even genre fans don’t necessarily have to be upset that every title coming in the space isn’t something they’d dig...