Ikachan Review - Indie PC Game

Ikachan Review - Indie PC Game
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A Short but Sweet Underwater Adventure - Ikachan review

Ikachan for the PC is one of Daisuke Amaya’s earliest works. Amaya—also known as Pixel, his art-name—is famous for crafting the indie hit Cave Story. Before that game saw its freeware launch, however, Pixel released Ikachan, a marine exploration/platform game that follows the deep sea quest of a squid named Ikachan as he travels through the bottom of the sea and aids those in need. Ikachan is not a long game by any means, but its short length doesn’t take away the fact that this indie title by Studio Pixel is engaging and enthralling for as long as it lasts.

Story (4 out of 5)

Ikachan follows the exploits of small squid who finds himself in a cave deep underwater. Upon interacting with the locals, the titular hero discovers that massive earthquakes are currently plaguing the cave, there’s a food shortage going on, and all the inhabitants of the sea are being bullied by a large helmet-wearing fish named Ironhead. You’ll take on the role of Ikachan and tend to the underwater citizens’ needs and aid them all as you play through the game.

Gameplay (5 out of 5)

Ikachan’s gameplay relies on exploration for the most part, but Studio Pixel threw some RPG and action elements into the mix for good

Ikachan Gameplay

measure. You’ll talk to various sea creatures who need your help. You’ll be reuniting a family, going on fetch quests, and bringing tons of food to a greedy fish.

In between all of these things, you’ll find items to aid you in your quest. Ikachan will equip helmets to bust through blocks and attack enemies, objects to help propel him sideways, and other such inventory items. Defeating enemies and collecting pick-ups will award you with experience points, and leveling up will raise Ikachan’s stats considerably.

Controls (4 out of 5)

The controls in Ikachan are very simple, relying solely on the left, right, S, and Z keys on the computer keyboard, and they work well for the most part. Because Ikachan can’t move straight up at first, navigating him through the various obstacles takes a little getting used to. This learning curve isn’t too big, though, and it’s actually welcome considering this is such a simple game as it is.

Graphics and Sound (4 out of 5)

Those who have seen Studio Pixel’s other works such as Cave Story will see a lot of familiarity in Ikachan’s visual presentation.

Ikachan Has a Distinctive Retro Look

Everything has a retro NES look, and its simplicity is very welcome. You’ll see interesting character sprites and some nice subtle details in the game’s environments. The sound department in Ikachan is also superb. Though there are only a handful of songs in the game, they are all very good, very retro, and just plain nice to listen to.

Lasting Value (2 out of 5)

Ikachan is not a long-lasting game by any means. Most gamers will finish it in one to two hours, which is incredibly short. Still, this is a

Ikachan Feels More Like a Large Puzzle Than a Complete Game

freeware title, so its short length is understandable. Ikachan for all intents and purposes feels like one big puzzle as opposed to a full-fledged game, but it is so polished and so well-made, that it’s hard not to be endeared with Studio Pixel’s ambitious endeavor.

Ikachan Overall Rating (4 out of 5)

For what it is, Ikachan is an excellent little game. The game’s value isn’t measured by its length or content, but by the effort put into it by

Ikachan Allows Players to Level Up and Upgrade Their Equipment

Pixel. This game is perfect for those moments when you’re in between games or you just want something engaging to pass a couple of hours with. For a two-hour endeavor, Ikachan is certainly strong.