RKGK / Rakugaki Preview: Ambitious, Artful, and Amazing
Update: As a brief correction, the spend when grinding on the rails can be controlled with a button prompt, and you can go extra fast while in Defacer Mode. Additionally, a note about the title’s connection to The Riot Games Underrepresented Founders Program has been added to the conclusion.
While platformers don’t have a collective, unifying feel that all should emulate, I’ve always preferred swift fluidity. The sense of catharsis achieved by performing feats with high agility is borderline unrivaled, so it’s always a game feel I yearn for. Still, genuinely embracing this actualization requires one to play the game rather than witnessing it from afar.
The Wabisabi Games-developed RKGK / Rakugaki fit this internal philosophy of liking what I saw but not entering full-on excitement since I lacked the manual gameplay experience. Thankfully, this has now changed, as I had the opportunity to play an early build before its public launch later this month.
A Reliable Premise and Smooth Gameplay
RKGK / Rakugaki occurs in a city that once thrived on and boasted artistic self-expression, with the protagonist being particularly fond of this status quo. However, this all changed when a corporate mastermind by the name of Mr. Buff arrived and erased all forms of individualism by using strange screens that turn all who look at them into what can be best described as lifeless drones. This leads to protagonist Valah and her allies, Rakugaki, teaming up to ruin Mr. Buff’s ambitions with the former’s graffiti.
The early build of RKGK / Rakugaki I played consisted of two stages and a boss battle of sorts, totaling around 30-40 minutes. This title wastes no time getting straight into the action, as the first stage introduces the gameplay mechanics and other elements quickly before throwing you into more natural platforming challenges. Valah’s arsenal is immediately distinct since she can surf on the ground infinitely, and it controls quite well with an intuitive melding of speed and steering.
RKGK / Rakugaki is shaping up to be a terrifically fast-paced 3D platformer.
When surfing is used in coordination with Valah’s gliding, sliding, and air dashing, you easily enter a rhythmic flow state, proving how meticulously crafted the movement is. This momentum is even retained when encountering enemies, as surfacing into them counts as an attack, resulting in instant takedowns.
Based on the little I’ve played, the stages seem to have various collectibles and hidden paths alongside bonus completion objectives encouraging replayability. You also paint graffiti at select parts of the levels, acting as stamps of progress. As for the sole boss level I played, it was more of an obstacle course than an actual battle, which I hope is maintained since the combat system here doesn’t have much going on. Summatively, on a gameplay level, RKGK / Rakugaki is shaping up to be a terrifically fast-paced 3D platformer, but I have two chief concerns.
Potential Concerns Moving Forward
The writing of RKGK / Rakugaki can be grating to listen to.
Firstly, the rail grinding in the first two levels was the only part of the stages that stood out as mediocre since you went at a predetermined speed that couldn’t be increased. They last too long for what they are, being more akin to spectacle than anything else. I’m hoping that the rest of the game doesn’t lean too heavily into this feature and that it’s instead an occasional implementation.
My other concern is a facet I’m doubtful will be changed later in the story, but it stood out regardless. The writing of RKGK / Rakugaki can be grating. While the introduction with Valah’s monologue is strong, the characters self-mock their motivations and try to spice up every exchange with overly played-up reactions. This type of humor can be done well, but the beginning here tries too hard and, consequently, fails to make a favorable impression, at least to me.
Writing qualms aside, RKGK / Rakugaki is proving to be an excellent debut adventure from Wabisabi Games that I hope reaches more prospective players through word of mouth because there’s already noticeable platforming goodness right from the get-go.
RKGK / Rakugaki will be released for PC via Steam on May 22, 2024. Additionally, RKGK was made possible thanks to The Riot Games Underrepresented Founders Program, which pledges $10 million in investments across startup programs from underrepresented founders.
