Kona Reviews
For me, I loved the story, the setting and the mystery, but the controls let the game down. Has it made me change my opinion on walking sims? Well, it's made me hate them less.
I'm very conscious of spoiling anything should you decide to hit the buy button on the PlayStation Store, but I can say without question that I highly recommend you giving Kona a chance should you own a PSVR. I'm not sure how it plays without the headset, but with it, this is one of the best experiences I've enjoyed to date.
There's a lot more going on in this “walking sim” than is apparent at the start, both naturally and supernaturally. This contradicts the fact that, aside from the animals and the ghosts of the past, you are alone. Kona works hard to create a sense of isolation, making the experience much more effective if you're not surrounded by people helping you solve the puzzles or arguing against using a crowbar to fend off wolves when you have a gun in your possession (although that it is very sound advice).
Kona is a walking simulator that makes an admirable attempt to increase the usual level of interactivity and player agency. While not all of those attempts pay off, and it suffers from some disappointing technical issues, it remains a highly absorbing and atmospheric adventure-survival experience.
Snow in general is underused in games, and you don't get to explore a small mining and logging community very often in this hobby. The supernatural elements in the game had me interested right away, but the interface issues and the tone of the narration kept pulling me out of the experience. Check it out if you're looking for something new and interesting, just be prepared for some rough edges.
I’ve deliberately been vague about the game’s story as some of what happens is much more interesting and mysterious the less you know about it. I appreciate the lore and the way revelations about what has happened reveal themselves to you, though at times it can also be disorienting as you try to understand what is going on. Though the ultimate finale to the game might not be as satisfying as I would have hoped KONA has a story to tell and uses a unique means to do so, making it a terrific addition to the diverse Switch indie library.
Kona is a good game that shows where the indie developers and walking simulators genre should go. Sadly, developers didn't have enough money and energy to tie the ends of disparate episodes into a really worthy final.
Review in Russian | Read full review
What's interesting about Kona is that it brings together two seemingly incompatible approaches, and uses them to motivate and explain one another. The survival systems work to keep you on a narrative path, while the adventure-type investigations and puzzle solving give shape and motivation to the survival aspects. In Kona, there's more to the world than just surviving; it's a means to an end.
Kona is a trip worth taking. It's a beautiful, moody showcase of the snowy wilds of northern Canada, and a slow-burning mystery steeped in atmosphere. Play it for the journey, not the destination.
Kona has a lot of potential, and with it being the first part of a series of games, hopefully its missteps won't squander its future potential. There's so much beauty dripping from every corner of this game that everything feels genuinely special. Kona only falls because of its technical issues, but it falls hard. With a bit of refinement, this could be a modern classic. Right now, though, it's a lot of potential that never quite cuts it.
Kona is a story based game worth telling, combining aspects such as narrative world-building and free-flowing gameplay. This title cannot be overlooked.
You will enjoy your time with Kona if you play Kona with a cup of coffee and experience the story. But I have to say, it's a wasted opportunity. Even if you won't pay full price for it, you should buy it on a sale.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Overall Kôna doesn't inundate the player with a complicated story, and Parabole allows this captivating narrative and stellar graphics to speak for themselves.
It may not be the best in the genre, and it certainly has its problems, but you’re given an intriguing mystery to solve in an interesting and unique setting.
Kona takes you on an atmospheric adventure where answers to the mysteries are always just around the corner. Although searching for items is a bit tedious, and side tasks muddle proceedings, it creates a frozen world that begs to be exposed.
Kona is an excellent survival game. It knows how to stand out from the crowd with his mysterious and captivating story. Too bad it suffers some technical weaknesses that
Review in French | Read full review
Kona isn't a bad game, it has several qualities like its atmosphere, its narrative and its survival aspect, except for the exhaustion system. But, Parabole�s game has too many weaknesses to captivate us, like a slow rhythm seconded by a feeling of filing. You should eventually discover it in a moment of scarcity or to take a break between two AAA games, which might be difficult considering how this first trimester is exceptional.
Review in French | Read full review
Kona offers a scary atmosphere and mysterious story that won't let you relax until it's finally over.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Kona is a wonderful and lovingly crafted accomplishment. It's charming, magical, and smart enough to instill real motivation in its players and layer its cast in realist ways. Kona might be the first of four planned games, but it also happens to be a great standalone adventure that'll have you reaching for the thermostat in no time.
Kona is a first person game focused on exploration and survival where the narrative is very relevant. Kona is an interesting title to the supernatural lovers with a very good OST and a perfect quality-price ratio.
Review in Spanish | Read full review