Yurukill: The Calumniation Games

I really enjoyed my time with Yurukill. It brings together two very different genres and presents a satisfying version of each. If those two sides elevated each other, we could have been looking at a terrific game. Instead, however, those sides mostly just sit alongside each other, feeling like a strange marriage that doesn’t entirely make sense. Fans of both visual novels and SHMUPs should certainly check Yurukill out, but if you’re only into one side of this equation, it may not entirely satisfy.

This bizarre mix of point and click, visual novel mystery solving and old-school shoot 'em up blasting really shouldn't work but it does thanks to some clever and engaging writing. It might not be the best visual novel on the market and the shoot 'em up aspects are fairly average but together it all comes together into one memorable package.

Initially engaging, Yurukill: The Calumniation Games brings its conclusion far too soon, without taking advantage of its interesting cast and premise. The sum of its parts is worth it, but if you are a fan either of mystery games or shmup, the game doesn't sustain itself.

The only issue we had with Yurukill was that it never felt like it went far enough. It's a compelling tale and it moves at a brisk pace, but it lacks the malicious edge of a Danganronpa or the brain-breaking narrative of a Zero Escape. By the time it's all said and done, we'd enjoyed our time with it, but we were a mite disappointed that it didn't push us harder.

'Yurukill: The Calumniation Games' is an ensemble cast that handles the conflict between characters with interesting materials. While the intense story and reasonable shooting parts, great quality of voice-overs are standing out, its repetitive scenes and insufficient pacing on story, rather easy gameplay makes the game remained as a regret.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games on PS5 attempts to bring two genres together, but falters on both fronts. The adventure parts don't hit the highs of genre greats, and the shoot 'em up stages are a bit too basic for me. The setting and presentation are great, and Yurukill has potential, but it would've been better had the developers stuck to building it in a single genre.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is a game of ups and downs. It’s a good visual novel with an interesting story and an intriguing cast, but misses the mark in the puzzle/shoot’em up sections. The end result is a game with no balance, interesting for those looking for a visual novel with an intriguing story, to be avoided by those who want to enjoy an exciting gameplay experience.

The shoot-’em-up incorporation doesn’t feel as fleshed out as it otherwise could be due to its notable brevity standing out compared to the rest of the experience. Nevertheless, there is a compelling narrative here with a diverse, captivating cast, making me wish this stuck to one genre instead of trying an oddly paced mishmash. Regardless, I still recommend checking this game out if its premise alone interests you, as it could be a potential diamond in the rough for those yearning to embrace it.