Kotama and Academy Citadel

The main pros of the game

• Engaging Combat Mechanics: The combat system is highly praised for its fluidity, responsiveness, and the incorporation of parrying and detonation mechanics, which encourage aggressive play styles. Players can switch between three distinct weapons, each with unique movesets, enhancing combat variety.
• Visuals and Art Style: The game's anime-inspired art style and character designs are frequently highlighted as a significant strength, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal.
• Exploration and Secrets: The game features a richly packed world with numerous secrets and hidden areas, rewarding players for thorough exploration. The map design, while sometimes considered boxy, effectively marks points of interest and encourages backtracking.
• Diverse Biomes and Lore: The Academy Citadel is described as having diverse environments with a heavy lore component, making exploration feel meaningful.
• Challenging Boss Fights: Boss encounters are noted for being fun and challenging, with unique mechanics that require players to adapt and learn.

The main cons of the game

• Platforming Issues: Players report frustrations with the platforming mechanics, particularly concerning the dash ability, which can be unresponsive. This inconsistency can lead to frustrating moments during challenging platforming sections.
• Story Presentation: The narrative is often described as standard or lacking depth, with some players finding the dialogue and lore delivery to be rushed or poorly localized. There are also complaints about the absence of voice acting.
• Map and Exploration Frustrations: Some players found the game's secrets to be too well-hidden, making 100% completion tedious and frustrating. The lack of a minimap and confusing quest markers were also noted as drawbacks.
• Technical Issues: Reports of frame rate drops and occasional bugs, particularly when switching between platforms (like PC and Steam Deck), have been mentioned.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Voice Acting: Many players expressed a desire for voice acting to enhance character interactions and immersion.
• Improved Tutorials and Accessibility: A clearer tutorial system and the ability to recheck tutorials were suggested to help players understand the game mechanics better. Some players felt that certain mechanics were not adequately explained.
• Better Map Indicators: Suggestions included adding more visual cues for hidden walls or secrets and improving the overall usability of the map interface.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Features like a quest log, the ability to change keybinds on controllers, and more responsive dash mechanics were frequently requested to enhance the gameplay experience.

Conclusion

Summary

• Overall, "Kotama and Academy Citadel" is regarded as a solid entry in the Metroidvania genre, offering enjoyable combat, beautiful visuals, and a rewarding exploration experience. However, it faces criticism for its platforming mechanics, narrative delivery, and certain technical issues. The game has potential for improvement, particularly with future updates and possible expansions.

Summary generated on: February 9, 2026