PGC NEWS

The allure of martial arts mastery, effortless flight, and impenetrable defenses has captivated readers of wuxia stories for generations. This fascination extends to the gaming world, where titles capturing the essence of Chinese martial arts often struggle to gain traction, particularly among English-speaking audiences. Developed by Japanese studio GIANTY Inc., GOKEN seeks to bridge this gap, offering a Chinese-inspired action RPG experience with a distinct visual flair. But does GOKEN deliver beyond its impressive aesthetics? Let’s delve into this detailed review.

GOKEN Gameplay

A Unique RPG Experience

GOKEN‘s narrative centers around the legendary swordsman, Edge. Five millennia ago, Edge’s arrogance led him to challenge the gods, resulting in his imprisonment within a crystal prison and the scattering of his five divine swords. The game begins when a young girl unknowingly releases Edge, setting him on a quest to reclaim his lost power.

The setting leans more towards Xianxia, a genre blending martial arts with fantastical elements, than traditional Wuxia. Players encounter a menagerie of mythical creatures, from mischievous rabbit spirits to sentient ginseng roots, reminiscent of the classic Journey to the West.

GOKEN‘s setting blends martial arts with fantastical elements.

GOKEN adopts a classic isometric perspective with a hack-and-slash combat system optimized for gamepad controls. Initially, combat revolves around a single attack button, with a chance to trigger a special move on every third strike. As players acquire more weapons, they can alternate between attack buttons to unleash devastating combos.

A unique mechanic is the stamina bar, governing actions from sprinting and dodging to even basic attacks. This requires careful resource management to avoid becoming vulnerable mid-combo. Character progression eschews traditional stat allocation; instead, levels grant automatic stat increases. This is offset by a compelling tattoo system. These tattoos act as passive skills, offering diverse playstyles from spell-casting swordsmen to nimble ninjas.

GOKEN Environment

Audio-Visual Presentation

GOKEN‘s most striking feature is its captivating art style. It’s remarkable that GIANTY Inc., primarily known for mobile games, crafted such a visually impressive PC title. The game blends 2D and 3D elements seamlessly. Character models and enemies are rendered in 3D, while backgrounds are beautifully hand-drawn in 2D, creating a unique aesthetic.

Environments and interfaces are meticulously detailed, from individual blades of grass to towering cliffs. The vibrant color palette further enhances the visual appeal, captivating even the most discerning players.

Every element, from blades of grass to towering cliffs, is meticulously crafted.

While the soundtrack isn’t groundbreaking, it effectively complements the Xianxia atmosphere. The melodies of traditional Chinese instruments blend harmoniously with ambient sounds like chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the clash of steel.

GOKEN Screenshot

Lingering Issues

Despite its strengths, GOKEN suffers from several notable drawbacks. Firstly, the hitboxes are poorly implemented, limiting the effective range of attacks. Character animations also feel somewhat stiff, encouraging button mashing over tactical combat.

Stiff animations encourage button mashing rather than tactical gameplay.

While gamepad support is a welcome feature, its implementation is inconsistent. Menu navigation relies on the D-pad, while in-game movement uses the analog stick. This awkward control scheme takes time to adjust to. The lack of a minimap and clear quest markers also makes navigating the expansive world frustrating.

Conclusion

GOKEN offers a visually stunning and uniquely engaging ARPG experience. The innovative tattoo system and stamina-based combat provide a fresh take on the genre. However, the flawed hitboxes, stiff animations, and inconsistent controls detract from the overall enjoyment. While the lack of navigation tools is a significant inconvenience, the captivating art style and engaging combat hold potential. Addressing these shortcomings could elevate GOKEN to its full potential.

System Requirements:

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 7(64bit), Windows 8/8.1(64bit), Windows 10(64bit)
• CPU: Core i3 2GHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• VGA: GeForce GTS250 / Radeon HD5750 or better
• HDD: 5 GB

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• CPU: Ryzen R7 1700 @ 3.7 GHz
• RAM: 16 GB
• VGA: Gigabyte Rx 560 OC 2GB
• HDD: Samsung 950 Pro 256GB

GOKEN Cover Art

Game Details:

• Developer: GIANTY Inc.
• Publisher: GIANTY Inc.
• Genre: Action, RPG
• Release Date: September 29, 2017
• Platform: PC