TL;DR
Step into a ruined future as an android survivor in Kandria, an open-world adventure where your choices shape the narrative. Explore, fight, scavenge, and repair in a world that masterfully blends retro side-scrolling action with modern design. Kandria offers stunning retro graphics and an immersive atmosphere, but be prepared for a keyboard-and-mouse-only control scheme that might be a hurdle for gamepad players. Dive into a vast, intricate story and forge your own destiny. Curious about the full experience and how the unique controls fare? Read on for our in-depth review!
Kandria is a title set in a dystopian future, amidst a world scarred by ruin. Players assume the role of an android, a relic of the old world, immediately thrust into a struggle for survival. Kandria presents an open-world adventure where narrative progression is determined by the player’s choices. Exploration, combat, scavenging, and repair are all viable paths. The game empowers players to forge their own destiny in a world where the past is gone, and the future remains unwritten.
Kandria innovatively blends seemingly disparate concepts to create a compelling experience. The game combines an open-world environment with retro side-scrolling mechanics. Players are afforded complete freedom to explore the world, engage in combat, or pursue activities such as fishing.
The narrative is expansive and intricate. The game’s retro-inspired graphics are visually appealing, and the lighting design contributes to an immersive atmosphere. While initial navigation may present a slight learning curve, players will find it easier to orient themselves as they progress.
Kandria is currently exclusively available on PC, lacking gamepad support and requiring keyboard and mouse input. Certain key combinations, such as holding CTRL while pressing “W” to climb walls, can prove challenging. This particular input requires precise execution. Notably, only the left CTRL key functions for this action. Consequently, control clumsiness may occasionally lead to missed climbing opportunities. While experienced PC gamers may find this control scheme intuitive, players accustomed to gamepads may perceive the controls as less comfortable.
In conclusion, Kandria is a well-crafted title featuring stylized retro graphics and a modern design sensibility. However, as previously mentioned, the keyboard and mouse controls may present a less intuitive experience for players primarily accustomed to gamepad-based gaming.
Shirakumo Games provided a review code for the purposes of this evaluation. Content providers do not exert editorial influence over our reviews.
