YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG
The times leading up to the new millenary were rife with confusion . People across the United States and the world at big believe that the net would crash because programs would n’t be able-bodied to distinguish between the year 1900 and the twelvemonth 2000 . This " Y2 K problem " was of course only postulation , but it did n’t discontinue the world from plunging into chaos ( or more accurately , souse its feet in the shallow end ) . Ackk Studios’YIIK : A Post - Modern RPGembraces this chaos ; a JRPG that follows a protagonist unsure of his destiny , a destiny that becomes intertwine with that of his minor townsfolk .
YIIKis straightaway resonant of some of the smashing RPGs of the time geological period from which it drew inspiration . Earthboundis a striking influence , from broad gameplay elements to specific character reference pattern that are eerily similar to Starmen . YIIK’soverall aesthetic drive a different approach , however , with well - rendered 3 - five hundred models that present in a pixelated-3D style . It ’s this sort of combination of the new and the old that give significance to the " post - modern " view of the statute title ’s name . From both a gameplay and narrative standpoint , YIIKattempts to fluidly blend denotation to ninety popculture ( the champion ’s house is much a atomic number 6 copy of theFull Houseset ) with mod elan . Unfortunately , the result is an interesting tarradiddle muddled by poor design pick and overwritten talks .
Related : Octopath TravelerReview - A Modern Classic JRPG
YIIKfollows Alex , a youthful military personnel who recently calibrate college and moved back to his home Ithiel Town to live with his mom . He ’s directionless and initially relatable , despite his pessimistic position . His situation is one many college alumna can empathize with , even more so if they experienced their early 20s in the late ninety . Of course his plot of ground in life is a metaphor to the larger plot of the biz and the globe : are we intend to live in a limbo - corresponding nation of disillusionment and disappointment ? The game allude to these heavier and interesting themes , but always in overt and often embarrassingly cliche ways . lineament will instantaneously talk about their feelings regarding the economy , raceway and stratum , and feminism . It ’s a bold attempt to share some forward - thinking ideas , but come across as clawing and uninformed .
YIIK’sdialogue is n’t always droll and meta . There ’s occasional a funny put-on or reference point or trenchant brainwave relating the 90s to more current events . But the plot just have so much dialogue that its like wading through a monumental donjon to find a few decent act of humour . The amply - voice narration and conversation are sprinkled with good performance , though for the enceinte part the acting is uninventive . Alex ’s internal soliloquy are far too frequent to ever be fun or insightful , and chain of mountains from banal to terribly overwritten . They ’re turn with metaphors and impostor - philosophy . gratefully the game allow players to jump talks ; more often than not , it ’s recommended you do .
YIIK ’s world is to the full - realized and should be a joy to research . The town of Frankton feels like a blending of Onett fromEarthboundand the titulary town fromTwin Peaks . The Pacific - Northwest ’s lush forests and connection to the occult arts appear to be a major influence on the story . But everything from moving about the hub - world , to navigating the menus , to even out up , slows the level down drastically and realize exploring feel like a chore . The initial premise of the secret plan ’s story does not outshine the lack of polish the rest of the biz presents .
And the story is interesting : Alex returns home only to encounter a mysterious girl at an abandoned mill . Their encounter is abbreviated ; during an elevator ride , she is abducted by unknown ethereal beings without account . This event is recorded and uploaded to an internet site called ONISM , chair Alex to take on the case of her disappearance with the assist of some newly - found friend . There are elements of creepypasta and repulsion podcasts that feel reinvigorated in RPG form , but the agitation quickly wears off after the story loses momentum .
Part of this shift in momentum from gamy - gear to slog is due to the frustratingly slow armed combat . Modeled after the well the genre has to put up , the turn - based combat has warm ideas that are execute poorly . Instead of using a sword to attack , Alex favors his trusty record compendium . Other party companions use keytars , cameras , and various hipster paraphernalia . To assail , the histrion must hit the platter at the right sentence ( chain together multiple hits issue in a higher - damaging jazz group ) . Companions ' attacks and fudge work likewise , involving precise button press to deal damage or avoid terms respectively .
The fighting interface is familiar to any and all RPG devotee , but even the most experient of them wo n’t appreciateYIIK’smonotony . conflict against low level enemies like lowlife and skulls take upwards of 10 min , with histrion attacks dealing minuscular damage . Even exceptional ability barely seem to do anything against the easiest of grunts , and reciprocally their attacks can take off a 3rd of a health bar if parry wrong . With no fashion to skip the minigames require with each turn of combat , the battle drag on , peculiarly due to an former lack of variety ( from both Hero and foe ) .
YIIKconfusingly does n’t explicate how to level up until the first chapter of the game is sodding . Only then is the Mind Dungeon introduced , a new , if unneeded way to switch EXP for abilities and stat increases . It can only be accessed at various save point ( via telephone ) and takes time to navigate that could otherwise be spent forwarding the write up . It ’s one of many additional ways the secret plan takes too foresightful to tell its tale .
There ’s a lot to bed inYIIK ’s display from the graphic to eclectic music from creators such as Toby Fox ofUndertalefame . It presents a fun , podcast - quick story in a trenchant humans parallel to our own . But the biz asks instrumentalist to take breaks too often from the natural flow . Between always listening to Alex ’s sophomoric musings on life to replicate attack after flack on a smiley - face giant , the 24 - hour plot feel a raft longer . If a player can sting the proverbial bullet , treat with the plot ’s many flaw , and play that long , perhaps the tale of woe , confusion , and change is deserving it .
More:Travis Strikes Again: No More HeroesReview - A Bizarre, Brilliant Return
YIIK : A Post - Modern RPGis available now on Nintendo Switch , PS4 , PSVita , and Steam for $ 19.99 . Screen Rant received a PS4 written matter for use of this review .
