One Eyed Kutkh is a simplistic space adventure based on the fairy tales of the Far North. The story relays that of an alien that has crash landed on a mysterious planet. When you look at the generous price-tag, it’s only natural to expect a short game. While indeed short, One Eyed Kutkh is surprisingly well developed, despite some niggling issues. In terms of the story, it doesn’t really become any more exciting than its premise. You’re stranded, and you have to gather resources to continue your journey. It’s as straightforward as that, so it pays off to come into this experience with a firm understanding that you’re not going to be blown away.
I cant say that I have ever heard of the Far North, nor any of the stories under its collective umbrella. With what little length the game houses, it does a poor job at trying to explain anything to the player. This isn’t a major criticism, but going into this game being ignorant to its plot and background, I cant say I had any understanding as to the point, come its conclusion. There’s no text, there’s no dialogue, and anything that it occasionally mutters, tends to be alien. It’s as simplistic in its gameplay approach as it is to its story, meaning that this is more than likely a game for the younger audience.
That’s not to say that the mature gamer wont enjoy what’s on offer, but alongside recent, more padded out adventure puzzle games, this may prove to be underwhelming. I don’t want to drag on the game too harshly, because if anything, it’s a soothing and satisfying experience nevertheless. Gameplay typically relies on item merging point-and-click, solving a variety of well crafted puzzles from the onset. These puzzles don’t typically prove to be taxing. I’m happy to admit that I’m not the brightest bulb in packet, and even I managed to make it through the game with minimal effort expressed.
The aim of the game is to trigger tension between the Sun and the Moon, so that you can steal their ships to help you get to your destination. Before long, you will stumble upon a second playable character, however, the gameplay remains exactly the same regardless as to who you are in control of. There’s a few light conflicting elements in the plot at this junction, but again, I struggled to find the moral of the story. More often than not, you will simply be making your way through the adventure at a fair pace, unlocking achievement after achievement in the process. The path from beginning to end is bare and trouble-free, but I guess that that’s the point.
The official store description states that the game is an “experimental project” that sits between being a game, a theatrical performance, and an animated film. Truth be told, I found it to be more of an interactive children’s storybook than anything else, grouped with a decent melody-esque soundtrack to tie the adventure together. Speaking of the visuals, there’s not a lot to write home about. The colorful presentation remains passable, but the game doesn’t try hard enough to shift or change up its aesthetic identity. Still, One Eyed Kutkh is a charming game, one that will please just about anyone that doesn’t expect too much from it.
Conclusion
One Eyed Kutkh is short and sweet. It’s not a particularly challenging game, but it should please just about anyone that doesn’t expect too much from it. The gameplay remains simplistic throughout, making this a very accessible and easy to understand experience. Ultimately, the target audience is clearly focused at the younger gamer.
This game was tested and reviewed on Xbox One. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version.
Want to keep up to date with the latest Xt reviews, Xt opinions and Xt content? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
