The Cruel King and the Great Hero

 Switch
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Hey Poor Player
    Apr 19, 2022
    100
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero is my current contender for GOTY 2022; although it’s only April, I just don’t see this changing. With its wonderfully whimsical aesthetics, glorious soundtrack, blossoming world-building and character development, and delightful turn-based combat combining action and slight brainteasers, it cannot be overstated how phenomenal The Cruel King and the Great Hero truly is. It’s probably the only game I’ve ever consciously desired to give a standing ovation, tears welling up in my eyes as the credits rolled. The sum of a thousand tiny details done correctly, The Cruel King and the Great Hero achieves greatness through the lens of a bold and brave young girl, following her heart and her dreams, with her supportive dragon dad by her side.
  2. KeenGamer
    Mar 25, 2022
    90
    I rarely fall in love with games at first sight, but The Cruel King and The Great Hero captured my heart from the very first time I laid eyes on this fantasy RPG. Mind you, it does have its flaws (and quite the frustrating ones), but they can be forgiven. Just focus on the enchanting melody and the aesthetically pleasing visuals and you’ll be golden! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my bedtime story.
  3. Pure Nintendo
    Apr 4, 2022
    85
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a heartwarming adventure game told in a children’s storybook style. Follow Yuu on her quest to become a great hero, just like her father. Whether she’s helping the monsters in her kingdom, doing good deeds for those around her, or fighting enemies to keep her kingdom safe, her tale is always charming and fun.
  5. PLAY! Zine
    Apr 7, 2022
    80
    Even though it brings nothing new when it comes to the traditional JRPG gameplay, The Cruel King and The Great hero blows away anyone in love with cute storytelling and intriguing fairytales. The only cruel thing is how charming the game is. Or gets to be, if you can overlook its slower pace.
  6. Hardcore Gamer
    Mar 14, 2022
    80
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a pure charmer of an RPG. The playful storybook art and lovely soundtrack strike an adventurous tone, and all the characters from Yuu and the Dragon King down to the random monsters are adorably designed. The RPG action is easy overall so long as you don’t forget about the occasional healing potion, and the only real knock against it is the battles are too frequent for their own good. The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a perfect game to use as an introduction to the RPG genre for the younger crowd, and great for an adult who knows their way around and can enjoy themselves with a story of a kind hero and the Dragon King who loves his adopted daughter.
  7. Nintenduo
    Apr 19, 2022
    72
    A warm fairy tale with wonderful audio-visual aspects, but little gameplay innovation. If you are looking for a short adventure that allows you to experience a good turn-based RPG experience without having to invest too much time in it, this game is a very good option for that.
  8. Starbit
    May 10, 2022
    70
    Its accessible difficulty level is a very positive element for less experienced players but along with a rather slow pacing, it makes this effort less attractive for more versed hands. All in all, The Cruel King and the Great Hero may not tower above its peers but it's certainly a worthy and lovely-looking work to explore.
  9. Digitally Downloaded
    Apr 8, 2022
    70
    The Cruel King And The Great Hero is a lovely and loving adaptation of everything that people love about the fairy tale, with the charming premise of a girl that dreams of being a hero, and a gold-hearted dragon that makes that happen for her. I know we’re all feeling JRPG fatigue from the sheer number of them that have been released this year, but don’t let this slip past you. It almost did me, and that would have been a big pity.
  10. TouchArcade
    Mar 15, 2022
    70
    Ultimately, The Cruel King and the Great Hero is still worth playing for those who are attracted to its cute storybook stylings. RPG fans will likely find less to be enthused with here, thanks to its plodding pace and somewhat banal battling. I can’t help but feel there may have been a better vehicle for this charming little fairy tale, but I’m nevertheless happy I got to experience it.
  11. GAMINGbible
    Mar 7, 2022
    70
    Overall the positives outweigh the negatives, and if you're into the genre then The Cruel King And The Great Hero is still an RPG very much worth playing - and it's also worth a look if only to experience the storybook aesthetic and the tear-jerking story. I only wish the training wheels had been pulled off, letting me explore freely, skip battles, rush bosses, and die again and again. I would have enjoyed testing out my ability to stack damage and observe weaknesses, instead of being forced to wear my water wings.
  12. The Mako Reactor
    Mar 14, 2022
    65
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero tells a memorable story with great music and a lovely aesthetic, but it is let down by the gameplay and some performance issues on Switch.
  13. NintendoWorldReport
    Mar 11, 2022
    65
    While The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a beautiful game and aesthetically unique compared to other RPGs, it's the core gameplay and super slow pacing that stops this from being something I'd recommend over more standard RPGs that do almost everything else better. I'm sorry, Yuu, you're probably one of the most adorable protagonists I've ever played as, but that just isn't enough!
  14. God is a Geek
    Mar 7, 2022
    50
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a gorgeous looking JRPG, but its slow pace and amount of random battles make it a painful experience.
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  1. 3DJuegos
    Mar 10, 2022
    A simplified RPG with a stunning and charming visual department. The random battles can be annoying at times and the storytelling is quite predictable, but apart from that it is fun to play.

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. PMG-Writer
    Mar 27, 2022
    8
    Thus, the developers of "The Cruel King and the Great Hero" created a great and intense story of Yuu and her dragon king. Again and again, theThus, the developers of "The Cruel King and the Great Hero" created a great and intense story of Yuu and her dragon king. Again and again, the plot of the game touched us emotionally and shows how great the developers took their time with the story. The gameplay and the game mechanics also make you want to play and drive you pleasantly through the pretty game world. The language is Japanese with good English texts. The sound rounds off the very positive impression of the game. Those who would like to experience a new adventure should gladly check out "The Cruel King and the Great Hero" for their console.… Full Review »
  2. Happyspelling
    Mar 18, 2022
    10
    Pros:
    -One of the most visually stunning games I have ever seen. The entire game was hand drawn by the incredibly talented director of this    Pros:
    -One of the most visually stunning games I have ever seen. The entire game was hand drawn by the incredibly talented director of this game, Sayaka Oda.
    -The music gives off a fairy tale vibe and is great to listen to.
    -The writing is amazing, with lots of charming characters and even some heartbreaking moments.
    -There's plenty of content, with dozens of side quests and a story that took me roughly 40 hours.
    -The bosses can be very challenging, especially if you don't do any sidequests. The final boss specifically took me a few tries.
    -The monster weakness system is a unique and original idea that makes combat more interesting.
    -I appreciate the simpler take on RPG's. It reminds me of Paper Mario with its combat and partners.
    -This game is only $30 for a digital copy, which is a great deal for a game that will likely take at least 30 hours. The physical edition also comes with a digital soundtrack, artbook with comments by the director, and a plush of the main character for $60. There is also the Treasure Trove edition which adds an adorable plush of the dragon king and an acrylic puzzle for $105.
    Cons:
    -Battles appear to frequently
    -I personally didn't mind, but a lot of people have a problem with fetch quests and back tracking, which this game has its fair share of in the side quests due to it's relatively small world.
    -The aforementioned acrylic puzzle in the treasure trove edition of the game is not of very good quality. The pieces didn't seem to want to fit together, and required so much force that I hurt my thumbs. The pieces also came apart easily, so I spent hours on a 130 piece puzzle that shouldn't have even taken one. Maybe the one I received was just defective, but I'm definitely never taking it apart again.
    Summary: An audiovisual masterpiece with simple yet engaging RPG gameplay and an amazing story that I'd recommend to anyone with a Switch or PS4.    … Full Review »
  3. fastica
    Sep 18, 2022
    8
    Beautiful game. It could be repetitive, but the amazing soundtrack, charm and beautiful visuals makes it for its repetition. Characters areBeautiful game. It could be repetitive, but the amazing soundtrack, charm and beautiful visuals makes it for its repetition. Characters are great and the story, while simple, it's good.
    It's a simple game that ooze charm.    … Full Review »
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