One of the best things about reviewing indie games is that you get to see interesting games that you might otherwise not have noticed. Kokoro Clover: The same is true for Season 1. This engaging anime-inspired platformer is perfect for anyone interested in story-based games, or for those with young children who are just getting started in the platformer genre.
The game follows the adventures of Trephy, a girl who can summon spirits. Because of this ability, her “grandpa”, who found her as a baby in the woods, has isolated her from others, fearing her powers. One day, a mysterious object called Kokoro Clover falls from the sky. It seems she’s tied to what’s behind this object and Trephy, who sets out on a quest to learn more about her origins.
The story is divided into 12 levels, each serving as an anime episode. Each show starts with an intro with a catchy theme song. One of the unique things about Kokoro Clover is that it’s like watching a Saturday morning cartoon. At the end of each episode, there’s a recap of the week’s events and a lesson viewers can pick up from the show. These lessons unlock collectible cards in the game.
No anime is complete without a wide range of characters. Her spirits she can summon In addition to her friends, Trephy crosses paths with her two Foil her characters, Valks her Vulcan and Nekoko, his partner in crime. Two treasure hunters aiming for Kokoro Clover. They provide plenty of humor and help Trephy as the story continues. The real thrill of the game is the story, so I won’t spoil it, but that’s why I enjoyed Kokoro Clover.
Gameplay is not that difficult. Each chapter takes about 20 minutes to complete (most of it is the story) and is divided into two parts. The first is usually a short run of levels where you have to run, jump, and shoot enemies. The operability is bad because the analog stick cannot be used. You must use the directional pad to move your character. Also, you can’t crouch or dodge. However, you have the ability to dance, and if you hold down the button, Treffi will dance. You don’t take damage while dancing, so you can defeat it relatively easily.
The second half is a boss battle. Without dance moves, these fights would be difficult. Pressing the dance button while the boss is attacking can effectively dodge damage. The game tries to mix things up a bit by throwing in a rhythm game as one of the battles, but it’s a simplification and I think Kokoro Clover is designed for a younger audience.
Treffy can also summon spirits to help her, but only healing spirits are useful. You can unleash a powerful blast when you become .
Besides the main story, there is a boss rush mode, an adventure mode where you can find more collectibles, and a mini-game where you just play the rhythm game from one of the levels. I didn’t spend too much time on these modes because it was pretty obvious.
