Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster Reviews
If you’re looking for a pixel art side-scrolling action game, you’re in luck. But if you want anything more from the experience, you could be in trouble with Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster.
While it has an interesting premise and a clever gimmick, it doesn't do enough with those assets to stand out among other action-platformers, including those developed by Inti Creates in years past. With that said, it's far from bad. Thanks to snappy combat, four playable characters with unique talents, and appealing pixel art, it's a decent enough diversion.
While Kingdom’s Return isn’t a bad game, at Inti Creates, “not bad” simply isn’t good enough.
Do you have what it takes to restore the fallen Kingdom to its former glory?
Not everyone will appreciate the deliberate combat in Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster but if you go in with an open mind and learn how to effectively fight, you'll be impressed with how skillful you can dispatch your foes while emerging unscathed. 🏰
Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster is a 2D action RPG with a management streak that does not try to dominate the scene, but to intelligently carve out its own space.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster was completed in about seven hours after all missions were finished, so it is by no means a time-consuming experience. The combat system is accessible, and the city-building mechanics are equally uncomplicated. However, this also means that some players may miss a sense of depth, and the story itself remains more of a thin framework with minimal presentation. The pixel art style is appealing, while the music, unfortunately, did not leave a lasting impression. Overall, Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster is a pleasant title for in-between sessions, but it could benefit from a greater sense of depth.
Review in German | Read full review
The one-dimensional world, scarcity approach to strategy, and an underwhelming city-building experience make for a very lacklustre time in Kingdom’s Return. Although it has the trappings of an excellent action-strategy RPG, it is disappointing to see simplicity squander its potential.
Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster ultimately feels torn between wanting to do too much and not enough. It brings up some interesting ideas but doesn't fully explore them. As a result, it's an experience that might appeal to people who want a simple hybrid RPG but will let down those hoping for the depth or intensity usually found in Inti Creates' action games.
Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster delivers a competent action RPG with good gameplay and four unique heroes to play, each with specific moves and abilities. All this in a beautiful pixel art world. However, these qualities don't support an uninteresting narrative, repetitive tasks that quickly become monotonous, and a lack of personality in the champions that makes them uninteresting and uncharismatic.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While it may not do enough to make for a groundbreaking experience, its mix of elements has charm, though you’ll likely need to be ready to grind
I would define Kingdom's Return as a very cozy game. It's very comfortable to play, its art style is very cute, and though its soundtrack isn't that emotional, its systems are simple. Players looking for something more relaxed to add to their libraries, and to play at their own pace, should definitely give it a try. But for those seeking a challenge, an exciting story, or perhaps a hidden gem, it might be better to look elsewhere.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review