Kemono Heroes

“There’s a lot to love here, with the only drawbacks really being that Kemono Heroes feels like it could get slightly lost in the shuffle due to perhaps not carving out enough of an identity in such a rich genre, and the fact that with three or more players, things get so hectic on screen that it’s hard to keep track of who is doing what, especially with the animations being so busy and satisfying – a boon in single player mode, but a little too over the top in co-op. That said, these are relatively minor quibbles, and in the end, Kemono Heroes is a fun game to blast through with friends, just be prepared to help each other up when things get a bit bonkers!”

“Kemono Heroes from developer Mad Gear Games and publisher JanduSoft is a fun action beat ‘em up that keeps the gameplay simple, delivers creative enemies and levels, and throws some good boss fights into the experience. While the upgrades are a bit restrictive with their progression, the game offers far more fun than not.”

“Kemono Heroes es un juego que lejos de querer emular a un buen arcade de la época creo que realmente intenta serlo y sinceramente creo que eso tiene mucho mérito. Porque intentar imitar “algo” es bastante sencillo pero serlo de verdad es algo que a día de hoy es algo bastante inusual y, digámoslo claramente, digno de elogio.”

“Kemono Heroes is a fantastic pick-up-and-play arcade action game. It delivers instant, gratifying fun whether playing alone or with friends. The tight combat, engaging platforming, and gorgeous presentation make it an absolute joy to experience. The game does feel a bit short, leaving you wanting more, but all the time spent playing it is undeniably enjoyable. If you’re a busy gamer or simply looking for a fast, satisfying action game, Kemono Heroes is well worth picking up.”

“Kemono Heroes walks a tightrope by delivering a campaign that is as fun as it is short. It's the arcade action experience in its immediate simplicity, made to get people together and go out and beat up creatures from Japanese folklore in beautiful pixelated visuals. The amount of content offered, however, is more appropriate for retro experiences and may be unsatisfying for those expecting modern versatility that deepens things.”

“Kemono Heroes is a great side-scrolling, hack 'n slash title with multiplayer that feels like it's from the arcade, but only one save slot makes things hard.”

“Mad Gear Games and Jandusoft reclaim the arcade nature of classic arcade games with this action title. Everything goes in through the eyes and ears, with distinctive characters and distinct powers.”

“A quick run'n gun that manages to blend different genres in a fun and stylish way, but the short duration of the game limits its potential.”

“Kemono Heroes is a very short but satisfying experience. With a creative visual design, a simple but effective progression system and a second run that reinvents the stages, the game manages to deliver a fun and challenging journey.”

“If you've ever wanted to be a ninja in a world of Japanese mythology and fast-paced platforming, this is your chance.”

“In the end, Kemono Heroes was a decent experience, if not a particularly interesting one. Priced at $14.99, it will serve as a nice tie over experience for platformer fans, due to being a roughly one to two hour adventure. With multiple characters and achievements, the game’s replay value might sate a player for a couple more runs. Hopefully Mad Gear Games can take this and craft something extraordinary, as there is a good framework to build upon.”

“A retro game that tries to be really retro, not only capturing the essence of Super Nintendo-era games but trying to develop something that could exist on a Super Nintendo.”

“Kemono Heroes doesn’t innovate, stand out, or provide a memorable experience, but at the same time, it had no single serious flaw I could think of. Its visuals are decent, its soundtrack is great, its controls are very responsive, and I really enjoyed its difficulty curve and progression system. It’s a very safe game that does everything it aimed to do pretty well. When I stop to think about it, I see no reason why I shouldn’t recommend this title to Switch owners. A cute, side-scrolling indie platformer with local co-op is basically what the console was made for.”

“Kemono Heroes made me reminisce of trying to finish challenging Super NES games cooperatively with friends. In other words, it's an authentically retro experience that's sure to entertain a couch full of chums and you can't go wrong with that.”

“Playing this was a bit odd for me, as in many ways it feels like a game I somehow played before in the SNES era but I can't quite put a finger on its name...”