Koudelka

Gameplay RPG (91 out of 100)

Le concept Koudelka n'a pas son pareil dans l'histoire du jeu vidéo et pour définir la composition, nous ne saurions dire qu'il s'agit véritablement d'un survival-horror, ni même d'un RPG d'ailleurs. En fait, je diagnostiquerais pour l'heure une sorte de symbiose entre les deux symptômes, un hybride récalcitrant de tout type prédéfini.

Jeuxvideo.com (17 out of 20)

Une réussite indéniable pour un soft original et presque dépourvu de défauts qui tire son succès d'une ambiance époustouflante et d'une réalisation de qualité.

Quebec Gamers (8.2 out of 10)

Si vous ne connaissez pas Koudelka et que vous êtes un fan de jeux d'horreur, je vous le recommande fortement. C'est vraiment une expérience unique et spéciale. Ce jeu fait définitivement partie des classiques obscures sur PS1. C'est un jeu pour joueurs matures avant tout, autant pour les thèmes abordés qui touchent la religion et la littérature, que pour les images qu'on y voit. Koudelka peut être autant sombre et bizarre, que flyé par moments, et ça, c'est une bonne chose!

Video Games (8 out of 10)

Wer über kleinere Ungereimtheiten hinwegsehen kann und sich lieber von der genialen Story fesseln lässt, darf bedenkenlos zugreifen - alles in allem fehlt aber zum Top-Spiel noch einiges an Feintuning.

PSM (4 out of 5)

Those of you who are into strategy RPGs, like Final Fantasy Tactics, should definitely give Koudelka a try, as it certainly has a lot to offer. Just keep in mind that a majority of the game plays a lot like Resident Evil and you'll be ready for one dark but truly enjoyable ride.

Gamer's Pulse (79 out of 100)

Overall, I really wanted to love this game. I absolutely loved the plot, the script, the animated cut scenes, and the CG movies. I really liked the graphics, as a whole, and the sound effects, although I hated the battle music more that I have space to write about. This was one of those rare opportunities where you can escape the real world and throw yourself into a world utterly fantastic, mysterious and adventurous, albeit filled with horror, death, and bizarre undead creatures. The main thing, amongst the tiny flotsam of idiosyncrasies, the real and true villain and nightmare, was the battle sequences. In fact, they were so bad on many levels that it completely ruined any fun I could have experienced while playing this game. While running through the eerie monastery, not knowing what to expect around each corner, the thing that really brought a knot to my stomach was the sound and graphics signaling yet another turn-based, slow-paced battle scene.

Computer Bild Spiele (2.12 out of 6)

Kein Spiel für Angsthasen: In den düsteren Gewölben versteckt sich so manche unangenehme Überraschung. Zwar sind die Kämpfe etwas langatmig, doch langweilig wird die Geisterjagd trotzdem nie. Dafür sorgt allein schon die gruselige Atmosphäre, die unter die Haut geht. Die verwirrend weitläufige und verwinkelte Klosteranlage liefert eine äußerst schaurige Kulisse. In jedem Raum gibt es Interessantes zu entdecken oder Anlass zur Beunruhigung. Fantasievoll verunstaltete Monster und ein großes Geheimnis, das nach restloser Aufklärung verlangt, vermögen den Gruselfreund langfristig bei Laune zu halten. Testurteil: „gut“.

Video Games (73 out of 100)

(PAL version)
Sorry, Leute: Ich kann es nicht genau begründen, aber für mich persönlich stellt Koudelka wie seinerzeit Parasite Eve ein aus dem Einheitsbrei herausragendes RPG dar, obwohl es ganz offensichtlich mit den vielen kleinen Design-Fehlern nicht über Top-Hit- und somit Classic-Qualitäten verfügt. Und dennoch ist diese herrlich düstere Atmosphäre, verbunden mit der zumindest bis zur dritten CD tiefgründig erscheinenden Geschichte rund um das verfluchte Nemeton-Kloster und den grauenvollen Geschehnissen, die sich dort unter dem Deckmantel der heiligen Kirche zugetragen haben, cool: Ich „musste“ Koudelka nun für den PAL-Test bereits zum dritten Mal durchspielen - was bei der geringen Spieldauer aber auch nicht zu schwer ist. Wenn ihr neben all den anderen großartigen RPG-(Import-)Perlen der letzten Zeit noch ein paar Stunden investieren wollt, dann gebt Koudelka eine Chance – vielleicht geht es euch ähnlich wie mir.

RPGamer (3.5 out of 5)

In summation, Koudelka is an odd mix. Horror fans would pass it over for being too dull, Tactical fans for being too simple, but if approached with an open mind, it can be a very satisfying experience. It features a wonderful atmosphere, an intriguing plot, and very good visuals and music. While its short length may steer one away from purchasing it, it's at least worth a rent if you're in the mood for something different.

Mega Fun (69 out of 100)

Da Koudelka von ehemaligen Mitarbeitern des Rollenspiel-Giganten Squaresoft produziert wurde, waren meine Erwartungen an diesen Titel sehr hoch. Zugegeben, Koudelka bietet eine faszinierende Story, hübsche Rendersequenzen und eine gute Synchronisation. Aber was nutzt mir das alles, wenn sich die Kämpfe zäh und langatmig gestatten? Den Fights fehlt es an jeglicher Dynamik und der Einfallsreichtum, den man von einen Quasi-Square-Titel erwarten könnte, ist ebenfalls nicht gegeben. So langt es bei Koudelka leider nur zu einer durchschnittlichen Note. Der Versuch, Rollenspiel und Action-Adventure miteinander zu kreuzen, ist bei Koudelka eindeutig fehlgeschlagen.

VicioJuegos.com / uVeJuegos.com (69 out of 100)

Koudelka es un juego difícil de catalogar. Nos consta que existen multitud de fans en todo el mundo de este juego y no negamos en que puede gustar e incluso se convierta en el juego favorito de alguien (hay gente que disfruta jugando aberraciones como Resident Evil Survivor). No negamos el atractivo de su argumento, trama, diálogos, conversaciones, ambientación, gráficos, doblaje en castellano y una presentación muy cuidada. Pero el juego falla en su principal eje, los combates aleatorios. Aparte de que interrumpen el juego cada dos por tres, los combates son lentos y aburridos, por lo que se convierten en un lastre importante para disfrutar de su interesantísimo argumento y personajes. Si lográis superar el bache que suponen estos combates y sois mayores de edad, Koudelka es una experiencia irrepetible.

IGN (6.8 out of 10)

When I first heard about Koudelka it immediately jumped onto my PlayStation most wanted lists. First, I had high hopes for the game because there was a lot of hype surrounding the fact that Sacnoth is made up of many talented ex-employees of Square. And secondly, the first footage of the game that was shown featured some of its amazing CG movies. In some ways, the game actually lived up to my expectations. The story, CG, and even the voice acting were all very good. On the other hand, the gameplay is just so bad that it makes it extremely difficult to find any enjoyment in the game. If it weren't for the monotonous and boring battles, Koudelka might've been an "A" quality title. As it stands, it's just slightly above average.

GameSpot (6.7 out of 10)

Overall, Koudelka falls short of expectations in the gameplay department, but the beautiful CG work in the game's movies definitely makes the experience a memorable one. With a little more polish on the gameplay, this really could have been a nice, complete package. But even with the lackluster gameplay, it's still a journey worth taking if you're craving an RPG.

GameCola.net (6.5 out of 10)

The replay value also suffered from this, as I would have had much more fun and thus have been inclined to play it more and more if they didn’t have this in the game. In any case, if you do not care about such things as much as I do, go ahead and read my score a couple points higher. In any case, I won’t say that Koudelka is a completely lost cause, It’s just another case of a video game that could have been a lot better if just one little thing was different about it. Still, if you are at all interested in gothic horror games, or even RPGs in general, I would recommend at least a rental of Koudelka.

Absolute Playstation (65 out of 100)

Koudelka is a mixed bag. On one hand you have a story that is told with great acting and passion, but you have mediocre sound. The battle system is actually fun, but the inventory filling up with key items is a drag. Also, the graphics are so-so in while in battle, but pretty good in the story scenes. The shortness of the game is also a little disappointing. All in all, this could have been a lot better than it is, but even with its problems, Koudelka is still surprisingly fun to play. I guess that's what counts. If SNK had done some extra polishing this title would have really took off.

Just RPG (64 out of 100)

Koudelka is a game with a lot of potential, and it could have turned out to be a masterpiece. Despite the excellent writing, stunning plot, solid sound, and nice cinema scenes, the game fails in the most important department. Gameplay comes off as unoriginal and tedious, with a battle system that is far too drawn out and exploration segments that involve backtracking through many dark and bland environments. Koudelka still delivers an intriguing experience, and the story will make the player want to finish the game, but playing through it will not be as pleasant of an experience as it could have been.

RPGFan (60 out of 100)

As far as RPGs go, Koudelka's feel is most similar to Square's Parasite Eve, so fans of that game may find something appealing about Sacnoth's debut. However, it plays so poorly that I can't recommend it at all to anyone.

Power Unlimited (6 out of 10)

Vier schijven vol prachtig gerenderde filmpjes en professionele voice-overs nemen nog niet weg dat Koudelka bijna onspeelbaar is door de steeds terugkerende turn-based vechtscènes. Helaas hagelslag.

Super Play (Sweden) (6 out of 10)

Ett problem med grafiken än dock att det ibland ör svårt att urskilja vilka föremål som går att plocka upp och vilka som bara är delar av miljön. Och eftersom det inte finns några affärer kan det vara väldigt tidsödande att få tag på rätt nyckel, glasbit eller vapen. Därför är det extra viktigt att man lyssnar på alla råd, både de man får av sina följeslagare och de främlingar man möter. Många gånger är det ett måste för att man överhuvudtaget ska kunna komma vidare i jakten på sanningen.

Legendra ( )

Koudelka n'est pas exempt de défauts mais possède suffisamment d'atouts pour que l'on s'y attarde. On notera ainsi des combats atones qui s'avèrent sans réel défi et au final peu passionnants, des musiques quasi inexistantes qui s'effacent au profit de bruitages assez efficaces. Heureusement, la force du jeu réside dans son ambiance survival horror parfaitement maîtrisée tout au long de l'aventure, et dans ses personnages atypiques et hétérogènes qui ne manqueront pas de vous faire sourire, vous surprendre, vous révolter, mais qui ne vous laisseront sûrement pas indifférent.

Computer and Video Games (CVG) ( )

Koudelka's not big on scares but it is very creepy and the story and acting keep you hooked. The game is full of good ideas and supremely stylish. There are problems though, and they may prevent you sticking with it. The battles are highly tactical and can take ages to win even against the weakest monsters, slowing down progress considerably. If you like your tactics as we do, you'll enjoy the fights but their complexity and frequency will annoy less hardcore players. Koudelka is original, dramatic and highly playable, but you can't ignore the fact that the two different playing styles don't always gel.

Defunct Games (C+)

Koudelka had all the parts needed for a great horror RPG, but they just didn't come together the right way. The atmosphere and combat kept me going, but the dialog and exploration nearly stopped me dead. It may be worth checking out if you like ghost stories or are a fan of the Shadow Hearts games (Koudelka is the predecessor to that trilogy). Otherwise, you're better off just playing Final Fantasy while listening to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

Svenska PlayStation Magasinet (5 out of 10)

Egentligen två olika spel - ett 3D-äventyr och ett rollspel - ihopsatta till ett. Det kanske inte faller samman totalt men det sitter inte heller ihop tillräckligt bra. Man spelar hellre Vandal Hearts II eller Resident Evil 3 istället.

Adrenaline Vault, The (AVault) ( )

The game has amazing cutscenes, but these scenes expand it to an unwieldy four discs and overshadow the actual gameplay with their frequency. The end result is a 15 hour offering that must have spent more of its development time on auditioning the excellent voice actors than actually expanding on the gameplay. For all its overbearing nature, the story is quite compelling, but graphical slowdowns and over simplified rules during the turn-based combats mean that only the most dedicated players will be willing to progress through all the movies to discover the ending. On top of this, Koudelka also suffers from a weak sound track, a clunky interface that ignores the analog controller, and a simplistic AI that fails to make correct decisions even within the fairly limited combat options. Despite all the potential greatness in a game that blends exploration of creepy environments with strategic turn-based combat and RPG style character growth, Koudelka ultimately lets down all expectations.

Privat Computer PC (50 out of 100)

Det søvndysende kampsystem er så rigeligt nok til at spolere Koudelka totalt, når størstedelen af spiltiden bruges på dette. Hvilket enormt spild af så mange gode elementer!

Console Obsession (5 out of 10)

Koudelka’s survival horror half is executed to a decent enough level, whilst it has the strong characterisation and narrative that plays such an important role in the best RPGS. It’s the bland combat system that is the real failure, dragging the game into the realms of mediocrity. Sacnoth (later renamed Nautilus) would go on to craft much better things with the vaguely related Shadow Hearts series, but, as long as you’re able to tolerate its considerable flaws and dated nature, Koudelka is still worth a look for its stronger elements.

Just Adventure (C)

It seems to me that Sacnoth took one game (a great-looking gothic horror adventure) and combined it with another (using a sorry excuse for an RPG engine), resulting in an unpleasant gaming experience. Unless you're a hopeless survival horror addict or a fervent completist, I'd recommend that you stay away from Koudelka. If you want to play a good RPG, go for Final Fantasy 8 or Parasite Eve (probably the original survival horror RPG)--you'll be much happier. A final reminder that Koudelka is definitely for mature gamers only.

Thunderbolt Games (4 out of 10)

It’s actually a good thing the game was so short. The fusion of survival horror and a turn-based RPG is unique idea, but the execution was not successful. Despite the riveting plot and refreshing setting, Koudelka suffers from obnoxious faults such as poor graphics, obnoxious battles and an uneven balance. I have a feeling this game would have turned out much better if so much of the budget wasn’t allocated to the many cutscenes.

Archaic.fr N/A

Quel dommage. Avec son démarrage vraiment poussif et ses combats franchement ennuyeux, Koudelka parviendrait presque à faire oublier son scénario solide et son ambiance fort réussie, horrifique à souhait. Il faudra bien de la patience pour passer outre ses défauts qui vont malheureusement durer jusqu'aux multiples fins incluses dans cette première réalisation de Sacnoth. Des notes auront cependant été prises du côté de l'équipe de développement qui s’assurera de revoir sa copie - sans Hiroki Kikuta cette fois-ci - pour ce qui deviendra le premier et excellent épisode de la trilogie culte des Shadow Hearts, où on l'on pourra d'ailleurs croiser Koudelka en tant que personnage non jouable. En somme, un RPG marquant, mais pas nécessairement pour de bonnes raisons.