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.
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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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