Kudzu is an explorative action-adventure game with Zelda and Metroid elements that uses a cute 8-bit art style and is inspired visually by Game Boy games. The game’s story revolves around a group of researchers investigating the Kudzu plant which exists in the game world. Interestingly, the plant also exists in the real world. The game is a budget title for Switch, but can also be bought on a real Game Boy cartridge.
Game Boy Inspired Aesthetic
Kudzu uses shades of green to display graphics, a nod to the Game Boy’s green monochrome display. This works quite well, and as the game focuses on plants, and the Kudzu plant in particular, it fits with the theme of the game. Graphics are simple, reflecting the Game Boy’s 8-bit look, they are serviceable and evoke the nostalgia of playing the Game Boy. There are huts and shops, dungeons, and outdoor areas depicted, everything looks as good as, if not better than, a game released late in the Game Boy’s life cycle. Animation is also smooth and the game runs well. However, I did encounter some graphical glitches.
In terms of sound, the themes that play as you’re exploring are catchy and pleasant. They sound like they may take inspiration from songs from The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Again, I came across some sound glitching, but generally, the music and sound effects in the game are well done. Each area, for example, the field and the garden, have its theme, and usually, there are unique enemies to that region. This gives the game nice diversity, and stops things becoming stale.
Zelda-Like Gameplay
In terms of game design and world structure, the game has a ‘where do I go now’ vibe similar to the Japanese Game Boy exclusive The Frog for Whom the Bell Tolls, which itself is inspired by Zelda. This kind of design includes finding a blocked path, searching the nearby areas for new items/new characters, overcoming the block in the path by obtaining a new item or triggering a story event, then coming across combat, unlocking a dungeon, beating the dungeon and rinse and repeat. Along with wandering around — half lost — there are mushrooms to collect, which are the in-game currency and you can use to buy items to aid in your quest. There are also goat collectibles (the goats eat the Kudzu, so they are an eco-friendly way of controlling its growth).
The atmosphere of Kudzu is joyful, it feels like an optimistic start of a research initiative run by a university. The characters in the game are positive and keen to find out more about the plant. It really is a joy to play. The plant itself is well animated and grows in patterns that you can manipulate in order to solve puzzles. There are various kinds of locks which open when you either defeat all enemies on screen, or hit switches (which can be blocked off by Kudzu). When you open these switches new areas are revealed in a similar way to Zelda or Metroid.
A Botanist’s Adventure Worth the Tuition Fee
For a game under £10 (or under $10, for that matter), the game is worth it if you like rich, Zelda-like experiences. The game, although the story is rooted (pun intended) in science and research, flirts with the supernatural, so don’t expect a boring story. The progression is satisfying like Metroid or Zelda. While I wouldn’t say that there’s much replay value, since it is a pretty linear journey, what it does give is a puzzle-filled adventure with great characters and a happy, positive vibe. It’s a great adventure and although I played the Switch version, as the Game Boy version is exactly the same, I think it’ll be an asset to the Game Boy’s growing library of modern games.
The Review
Great
