Koi Reviews
KOI is the type of game of which the stumbles sting the most.
Koi is a beautiful, soft and serene game that doesn't quite manage to fulfil the ideas and message it is clearly trying to convey.
Despite the feeling of catharsis I achieve when playing Koi, it still lacks many of the fundamentals that make a video game compelling. Add in the fact that the experience only lasts around two hours, and the result is a game that feels incomplete. Perhaps a future installment could add weekly downloads that would help players achieve peace on a daily basis without being repetitive.
I have no doubt that we will one day enjoy marvelous console games out of China. But this, sadly, isn't one of them, and it's lamentable to see this exchange begin on such an inauspicious note.
As is the case in any creative medium, games with noble artistic aspirations aren't all created equal.
KOI is a game that almost went somewhere. While it has a pleasing aesthetic, and peaceful ambiance, what’s on offer is woefully short. So the score earned here, for the first game developed in China and released for Western audiences on the PlayStation 4, should serve as a sign for any other developers in China to strive for something more. KOI stands as a good start, but with a bit more development time, we could have seen a longer story mode, and perhaps some sense of what was actually going on in the world above the little fish.
KOI relies more on its look and sound than its gameplay, and the overall lack of difficulty and the shortness of the game really makes it hard to justify buying for most PS4 owners.
Koi’s simplistic approach is ultimately its downfall.
Koi isn’t a bad game. It just lacks content and a level of polish found in even the smallest of indie games these days.
KOI is a game that knows how to push your buttons. It draws you in with its beautiful soundscape and enchanting premise, but then takes you through an often shallow experience with some frustrating moments that discord with its otherwise serene exterior. It's a game which seems far more suited to mobile play than console, where longer play sessions highlight its lack of depth. It has moments of beauty, and comments on larger, prominent ecological issues – but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.
Koi comes close to being a remarkable indie title. The audiovisual design work is incredibly cohesive, and despite the gameplay simplicity, it does enough to keep your attention for its short play time. Koi’s issues lie with the weak delivery of its environmental message that unfortunately highlights the shortcomings found in such a simple game.
Koi is cute, it’s simple, but worth a swim if you’re in the mood for a low-rent Journey.
With its soothing overall look and feel, Koi isn’t likely to appeal to those who prefer their games gritty, dark, or driven by intense stories. For fans of a more casual sort or those who just want a break, though, it fills its niche very well. The exploration aspect means there’s plenty of time to waste searching the pond for secrets, and the relatively stress-free play offers a respite from more demanding games.
Koi isn’t a game for everyone, but for those wanting a short and simple experience, possibly for kids, it could be a fun two-hour diversion.
KOI is a pretty face with not much to offer beyond that. The gameplay has little substance to it, and it feels repetitive, even though the whole thing lasts less than two hours. It's a nice idea, but one that shows China's indie scene still needs time to develop.
Koi is lovely to look at and listen to. It's also only an hour long, has pointless stealth mechanics, no consistency in puzzles, a nonsensical plot, and generally just feels like a totally empty game.
Koi is peaceful, smart, and minimal, showing the cleansing journey of a special koi fish working against the odds and the forces of filth and darkness. Simple, but short, Koi is a refreshingly fun casual game that feels like a true video game without losing any of the casual qualities that make up the genre. If you’re an angry gamer, human, or just someone needing a break, Koi is worth a try.
Dotoyou should be applauded for developing the first game released on the PlayStation 4 in the Western market. However, the experience feels half-baked at times. The soundtrack is breathtaking but at the same time, the repeated chorus portions drag on way too long. Collecting puzzle pieces completes paintings that tell a story, but I never had the drive to find them all. There are unlockable koi to replace the original orange colored one, but I just don’t think it is a journey that I would want to experience more than once.
Koi tries to be a relaxing exploration experience, but it doesn't look or play good enough for the high asking price.
Koi is at its best in the brief interludes between fish and flower, when you're simply inside this environment doing what fish do best. That's where the gameplay and small environments rip you from the edge of tranquility to be ushered into the next area, and also where this experience falters heavily.