Rakugaki: A Unique and Challenging Platformer

by Annabelle Stephenson
in Action, News, PC, Playstation, Release, XBOX
on 22 May 2024

Rakugaki, developed by Wabisabi Games, is making waves in the indie gaming scene with its impressive debut. Drawing inspiration from anime, manga, graffiti culture, electronic music, and 90s platform games, Rakugaki manages to stand out by offering a distinct and coherent experience.

Visually, Rakugaki combines anime aesthetics with traditional Mexican art to create a hyper-colorful and stylized look reminiscent of iconic games like Hi-Fi Rush and Jet Set Radio. However, it’s in the gameplay where Rakugaki truly shines.

Playing as Valah, a rebellious graffiti artist, players navigate through a dystopian city ruled by the evil Mr Buff. The goal is to graffiti over his brainwashing screens and destroy his devices, all while facing off against his robotic minions. The platforming mechanics in Rakugaki are reminiscent of classic games, with Valah possessing abilities like double jumping, wall-jumping, sliding, and an air dash.

What sets Rakugaki apart is the inclusion of paint-based moves, evoking comparisons to Splatoon. Valah can perform a hover jump, surf on paint to traverse electrified surfaces, and use her paint-hover and air dash to cover impressive mid-air distances. The fluidity of movement allows players to flow gracefully through the levels, taking out enemies with both elegance and efficiency.

The game also rewards exploration and replayability. Each stage has hidden screens to graffiti, challenging players to fully navigate the large and well-designed levels. Challenges within each stage offer incentives in the form of Ghosts, the game’s rarest currency, and encourage players to complete stages quickly, eliminate enemies, and graffiti over all the screens.

With a solid difficulty curve, unconventional boss battles, and imaginative level design, Rakugaki manages to capture the essence of 90s platformers while adding its own twists. The game’s soundtrack, featuring psy-trance and drum and bass, complements the action-packed gameplay, and the addition of stylish outfits further adds to Rakugaki’s charm.

In conclusion, Rakugaki is a proper platform game that stands out with its unique personality and challenging gameplay. Wabisabi Games has delivered a visually stunning and thoughtfully designed experience that both pays homage to classic games and brings fresh mechanics to the table. With its replay value and solid gameplay, Rakugaki is a must-play for fans of the genre.

Additional facts:
– Rakugaki was released on April 15, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms.
– The game received positive reviews from critics, praising its art style, gameplay mechanics, and level design.
– Wabisabi Games is an independent game development studio based in Mexico City.
– Rakugaki was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign, where it surpassed its funding goal.
– The game’s development took approximately two years, with a small team of developers working on it.
– The art director of Rakugaki, Daniel Benitez, previously worked with prominent game studios, including Ubisoft and Electronic Arts.

Key questions and answers:
1. What platforms can Rakugaki be played on?
Rakugaki is available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

2. Who developed Rakugaki?
Rakugaki was developed by Wabisabi Games, an independent game development studio based in Mexico City.

3. What is the gameplay like in Rakugaki?
In Rakugaki, players control Valah, a graffiti artist, and navigate through a dystopian city while platforming and battling enemies. The game features unique paint-based moves and rewards exploration.

Key challenges or controversies:
There are no known controversies or significant challenges associated with Rakugaki. However, as with any game, players may have individual opinions and preferences.

Advantages:
– Visually stunning art style combining anime aesthetics with traditional Mexican art.
– Unique gameplay mechanics incorporating paint-based moves.
– Well-designed levels with hidden screens and incentives for exploration.
– Challenging difficulty curve and unconventional boss battles.
– Memorable soundtrack that complements the gameplay.
– High replay value with incentives for completing stages quickly and fully.

Disadvantages:
– The game’s challenging difficulty may not appeal to all players.
– Limited availability on platforms other than Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.