The Cruel King and the Great Hero

Despite all its charm, The Cruel King and the Great Hero is hard to recommend.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a pure charmer of an RPG.  The playful storybook art and lovely soundtrack strike an adventurous tone, and all the characters from Yuu and the Dragon King down to the random monsters are adorably designed.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero brings us an RPG with a charming and gorgeous art style, coupled with a plot that's very appealing and a gameplay that's designed to be accessible for players less versed in this kind of games. At the same time, more experienced players might feel put off by the game's accessibility and rather slow pace, but The Cruel King and the Great Hero puts up a good effort that would only benefit from a more in-depth combat system and faster pacing.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is my current contender for GOTY 2022; although it’s only April, I just don’t see this changing. With its wonderfully whimsical aesthetics, glorious soundtrack, blossoming world-building and character development, and delightful turn-based combat combining action and slight brainteasers, it cannot be overstated how phenomenal The Cruel King and the Great Hero truly is. It’s probably the only game I’ve ever consciously desired to give a standing ovation, tears welling up in my eyes as the credits rolled. The sum of a thousand tiny details done correctly, The Cruel King and the Great Hero achieves greatness through the lens of a bold and brave young girl, following her heart and her dreams, with her supportive dragon dad by her side.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a heartwarming adventure game told in a children's storybook style. Follow Yuu on her quest to become a great hero, just like her father. Whether she's helping the monsters in her kingdom, doing good deeds for those around her, or fighting enemies to keep her kingdom safe, her tale is always charming and fun.

A beautiful and charming game about a young girl on a quest (with the help of her dragon dad) to achieve her dream of becoming a hero. If you love story book art, definitely give this one a try!

In short, if its place in the world of video games is questionable, there is no doubt that there is material in this creation of Sayaka Oda to give rise to an excellent illustrated book.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a simple game, but it has a lot of heart. The characters here are wonderful, and they tell a great story with messaging I think we can all appreciate today. I think this one is well worth the $29.99 asking price, even with my few minor complaints. The physical Storybook Edition of this one is great as well. It will set you back $59.99, but it comes with a nice hardcover artbook, a soundtrack download and very cute Yuu Plushie. The artbook is really neat because it has a great design and contains the illustrations you can unlock in game. I am very glad I decided to review this one. I had a lot of fun here, and this wonderful story will stick around with me for a while. If you’re fan of storybook adventures, RPGs or just want a good to experience a good story, this one is well worth your time.

I rarely fall in love with games at first sight, but The Cruel King and The Great Hero captured my heart from the very first time I laid eyes on this fantasy RPG. Mind you, it does have its flaws (and quite the frustrating ones), but they can be forgiven. Just focus on the enchanting melody and the aesthetically pleasing visuals and you’ll be golden! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my bedtime story.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a cute story with lovely characters and simple gameplay that makes it easy to pick up.