Kuon

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
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  1. PSM Magazine
    75
    It definitely makes one hope there's a "Kuon 2." [Holiday 2004, p.92]
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  2. Just Adventure
    75
    It’s creepy, scary, dark, disturbing, gory and it oozes of atmosphere!... Unfortunately it lacks in gameplay. Everything is too simple, too easy.
  3. TotalGames.net
    71
    Freakiest of all though, are those sunken-eyed ghoulish geishas that pop up every five minutes - more chilling than any slathering zombie. Brrr.
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  5. Weekly Famitsu
    70
    7 / 7 / 7 / 7 - 28 [Vol 799; 9 Apr 2004]
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  6. Yahoo!
    70
    Even in its familiarity, it brings unique style and an incontrovertible Japanese creep to a game market too often overrun with generic zombies and mutants, and too often rooted in the soulless present.
  7. NTSC-uk
    70
    Add in the different characters, the language options and the reliance on magic rather than weaponry; this is a chilling experience in horror gaming.
  8. GameSpot
    63
    It's inhibited by ponderous combat controls, its repetitious nature, and an overall lack of depth.
  9. Game Informer
    60
    It's atmospheric, creepy, and sloooooow, even by survival horror standards. [Nov 2004, p.158]
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  10. Gamer.tv
    60
    It's scary. Really, really, really scary...It features the scariest thing in the world. Eerie children singing. [JPN Import]
  11. AceGamez
    60
    A game that will only really appeal to fans of survival horror.
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  12. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    60
    Kuon has a decent premise, and scores well on atmosphere, however it lacks substance and those niggly controls, together with the inconsistencies of the combat system, detract from the overall enjoyment. Ultimately, what could have been a gripping game ends up being a remarkably uninspiring experience.
  13. Gaming Age
    58
    Kuon has an interesting storyline, three playable character plots, and great atmosphere, but players may find the combat to be lacking in an otherwise traditional survival horror game.
  14. 1UP
    55
    About the only thing going for Kuon is the fact that it doesn't have "Resident Evil's" character-relative controls (but then, neither will "RE4"). That, and the story is actually pretty interesting... well, at least I think it is, anyway.
  15. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    53
    The plot is intriguing, but a poor translation drags it down. Compared to the likes of "Silent Hill 4," though, Kuon feels as ancient as its setting. [Holiday 2004, p.115]
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  16. GMR Magazine
    50
    Kuon has considerably limited replay value, and the game is neither ambitious nor unique enough to warrant an especially enthusiastic recommendation. [Dec 2004, p.122]
  17. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    50
    The moments of inspiration are there to be found, but they're much less common than the moments of wanting to throw your controller in disgust. [Dec 2004, p.114]
  18. PSX Nation
    50
    Kuon has beautiful graphics and haunting sounds (including a choice of English or Japanese languages) that go to waste on a survival horror experience that isn’t the least bit original or frightening.
  19. Cheat Code Central
    50
    Kuon is not a very deep game. It's repetitive, short and suffers from some control issues which gives the enemy an unfair advantage despite your best efforts.
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  20. GamePro
    40
    Oh yeah, if you can motivate yourself enough to finish both characters' stories, a secret, you unlock a chess game and secret character. Whoop-dee-doo.
  21. Eurogamer
    40
    Overall, despite the admittedly sloppy combat, Kuon manages miraculously to be even less than the sum of all its parts, diminishing and lowering the playability of the game as a whole.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. DemonicRobots
    Oct 30, 2021
    6
    I think this game is given a "cult-like" status for its rarity and price, and makes people think it is this revolutionary amazing hidden gem.I think this game is given a "cult-like" status for its rarity and price, and makes people think it is this revolutionary amazing hidden gem. In reality it is a relatively mediocre game with some great scares. The jumpscares in this game are well-designed and punish players for running through without a care, and has some genuinely tense and creepy moments, but the story is a mess that makes it hard to follow. The two phases follow different protagonists and go for different tones which makes it awkward. The Yin Phase is closer to Silent Hill compared to the Yang Phase which is more like Resident Evil. The gameplay is, well, meh. The melee combat is absolutely terrible for all of the characters and the spells, while interesting, don't really do enough. You have basically two attacks: variances of a fireball attack and variances of a minion summon attack. But it has little depth and doesn't really pace how much stuff it gives you so you really end up with way too many spells by the end. The story again, is a mess, and it makes it really hard to follow if you consider both characters to be one-hundred percent canon which the game implies, unlike Resident Evil. Overall, I'd recommend watching a playthrough if you're curious but it generally isn't worth trying to play yourself, at least on official hardware.… Full Review »
  2. llamayarmybar
    Oct 7, 2013
    9
    If it isn't already obvious, this game has aged well for Playstation 2 era hardware and not only that, but provides some insight into theIf it isn't already obvious, this game has aged well for Playstation 2 era hardware and not only that, but provides some insight into the workings of famous developer "FROM SOFTWARE." The game is perfectly paced, features one grandiose location and a mystery worthy of any player to solve. The visuals are gorgeous, the attention to detail on the character models are exemplary given the age of the game, and the animation cycle of the Kimono demon-ass-kicking Japanese ladies is quite lovely. Much like Fatal Frame, players will be battling ghosts, demons and other Japanese lore oddities. The standards controls and timing take some getting used to, but overall they are really well done and make you feel like you could easily be in danger from every perilous ghost or Gaki that wanders this Feudal Japanese manor house. With a really simple spell card magic system, that works a lot like most survival horror games, you will want to conserve your spells and do most damage with your basic sword or fan weapon. This puts an interesting twist on the fight-or-flee mechanics as well since you could roast some Gaki alive with a flame spell card or make a mad dash for the next room after a few quick slices from your basic weapon to stun it. Though appearing to be a slow combat based third person horror title, people often forget that even the Fatal Frame series was built on tension and delivered it very well by building up encounters between yourself and the spooky ghosts. Puzzles all have a relatively decent learning curve and I never found anything too difficult. They made sense within the context of the world of the game and were pretty darn interesting and creepy. Here its obvious things went terribly wrong, theirs a curse running amok wherever you go, and the grisly nightmarish noises of something far more sinister waiting for you. I am utterly confused by the reception to this game though, and even if it isn't as popular as Fatal Frame or Silent Hill, its equally worthy of being played and enjoyed as a solid enjoyable feudal-Japanese take on the horror game genre as a whole.… Full Review »
  3. ralphpugsley
    May 23, 2015
    10
    This is the most underrated PS2 horror game I can think of. It's got a weird, fascinating story, great art direction, creepy enemies, variedThis is the most underrated PS2 horror game I can think of. It's got a weird, fascinating story, great art direction, creepy enemies, varied weapons, above average graphics for the PS2 era, and a very well done translation. The only issues are clunky combat, limited saves, and three campaigns with only minor differences between. The pros outweigh the cons and yet, it got a bunch of six out of ten scores...Hmm. I said the enemies are creepy and I meant it! While the basic Gaki aren't too impressive, there are a few enemies and bosses that are SERIOUSLY imaginative. Some have complained that this game is too easy, well frankly, the auto-heal button is really convenient and a bit of an anti-frustration feature considering how quickly you lose health in battle. The fact that finding the time to use it in battle is tricky prevents it from become game-breaking. It's actually nice to see an old-school survival horror title that has some level of forgiveness. This is more like a 9/10, but really, I'm giving it a solid 10/10 because this game just deserves some love because in spite of it's flaws, it does so many things right.… Full Review »
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