Dokuro (video game)
| Dokuro | |
|---|---|
 Box art | |
| Developer(s) | Game Arts[2] |
| Publisher(s) | GungHo Online Entertainment[2][5] |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows |
| Release | PS Vita
|
| Genre(s) | Puzzle[6][7] |
| Mode(s) | |
Dokuro is a video game developed by Game Arts and published by GungHo Online Entertainment originally for the PlayStation Vita[5] with later ports to iOS, Android and Microsoft Windows. The player controls Dokuro, who must save a princess after the Dark Lord wants to marry her.[6]
Gameplay
The player is Dokuro, a skeletal worker for the Dark Lord.[7] One day, the Dark Lord captures a princess and forces her to marry him.[7] Dokuro sees the princess crying which breaks his heart and he thus decides to help her escape the Dark Lord's castle.[7] Dokuro can flip switches to open up paths,[8] carry the princess after drinking a potion,[8] as well as others. The game's levels grow steadily more complex as the game progresses.[2]
Development
The game uses a graphical style that imitates artwork in a children's storybook.[7] The game's director, Noriaki Kazama, previously worked on gory video games such as Ninja Gaiden Sigma under Team Ninja.[9] Kazama said that after he had a baby, he browsed through children's books at the bookstore and was inspired by the art style.[9]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | VITA: 76/100[10] PC: 59/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Game Informer | 6/10[12] |
| IGN | 8.8/10[6] |
| Joystiq |   [7] |
| Pocket Gamer | [13] |
| TouchArcade |  [14] |
IGN gave the game an 8.8, saying "Stunningly beautiful and exceptionally fun to play, Dokuro belongs in the library of every PlayStation Vita owner."[6] Joystiq claimed that "Despite the bony exterior, Dokuro feels like it has a real soul, like it was made by people who truly loved and believed in it. It's inspired, well-made, and thoroughly enchanting", giving the game a 4 out of 5.[7] Game Informer, however, gave the game a negative review, stating "Between its unforgiving nature, unbalanced difficulty, and humdrum puzzles, I wouldn't have pressed on through Dokuro if I wasn't reviewing it. Rarely did I feel that fun "a-ha" moment that makes puzzle games exciting; instead I found tedium and frustration. I surely wasn't as devoted to this game as Dokuro was to the princess."[12]
References
- ^ "Upcoming PS Vita Game Dokuro (新作ゲームなのに破格の安さ！PS Vita『Dokuro』発売日決定)". Inside for All Gamers (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Dokuro". IGN. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Yang, Stephanie. "Dokuro Delayed for Canada and Mexico, European Release Date Still Pending". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Dokuro Greenlit". Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b Fernandes, David. "GungHo Announces Dokuro Now Available at $9.99 for the Holidays". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d Moriarty, Colin (19 October 2012). "Dokuro Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kemps, Heidi. "Dokuro review: The Mr. Skullhead Show". Joystiq. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b Spencer. "A Skeleton Saves A Princess On October 16". SiliconEra. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ a b Yip, Spencer (Sep 28, 2012). "Having A Child Inspired Dokuro's Director To Make Charming Games Instead Of Gory Ones". Siliconera. Retrieved Jan 1, 2013.
- ^ "Dokuro for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ "Dokuro for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ a b Wallace, Kimberley. "Dokuro's Love Remains Unrequited". GameInformer. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Oxford, Nadia (8 January 2014). "Dokuro". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ Carter, Chris (9 December 2013). "'Dokuro' Review – That's One Brave Bag of Bones". TouchArcade. Retrieved 11 August 2019.