KOUDELKA

On 03/21/2013 at 01:21 PM by smartcelt

Koudelka is a turned based RPG which was released by Sacnoth in 2000 for the PS1. I have sort of a love/hate relationship with it. I love the story and characters. But the gameplay has it's flaws if you ask me. It was called a "survival horror" style RPG and it uses a grid based system for combat. It does have a very deep story to it,which I think is very interesting. The lead character is Koudelka Iasant, a young gypsy girl with psychic abilities. Takes place in Aberyswyth,Wales in 1898 at a monastery called Nemeton. Her two cohorts are a young adventurer named Edward Plunkett,who she meets upon her arrival at the monastery. And a Bishop named James O'Flaherty,who was sent there by the Vatican to retrieve a certain item. I won't get too deep into the story,as it is complex. Some might say it's supernatural,but not the least bit scary. No gore in this game,just crazy RPG battles with an assortment of vile creatures and people. Weapons will break on you,which is rather annoying at times. As they are hard to come by. Items can be hard to find period,unless you are standing right on top of them.

It can be sort of a pain to do all the back tracking if you miss a key or something. Especially because of the weapon issue I mentioned. The music in the game is not the greatest,could have been much better for this setting. Voice work,on the other hand is superb. It's what drew me into the story. That and well done cut scenes that move it along nicely.

While I have sort of mixed feelings,I would recommend this game to fans of RPG's from that era. It definitely has a certain appeal if you enjoy the story driven type and like to explore.

What I'm listening to today........

mothman

03/21/2013 at 01:26 PM

I have this game. It is a sort of prequel to my beloved Shadow Hearts so I had to find it. My copy is in pretty sad shape but at least I got to play it.

smartcelt

03/21/2013 at 03:40 PM

Shadow Hearts is one I've yet to try. Now I must check it out. Read lots of great things about it.

03/21/2013 at 06:45 PM

they first two games in the series are the best.

Julian Titus Senior Editor

03/21/2013 at 06:57 PM

I'll second that. They lost me with "child detective fighting with a yo-yo" protagonist.

03/21/2013 at 08:49 PM

I still played it and didn't hate it. There was enough Shadow Hearts left in From the New World to keep me playing to the end. It just wasn't the same.

I seriously need to double check my posts when I'm on the tablet. No I meant the you idiot device not they, stop fucking correcting me. LOL

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/21/2013 at 01:31 PM

I like stories and exploration in games, but alas still not an RPG fan, so if it's not a "holy crap get this game!" type recommendation, I'm afraid I have to pass.

What I absolutely love though, is The Sword. They're amazing. They're from Austin, TX by the way; saw them at Ozzfest 2008, and their set was so incredible that I stayed for all of it despite wanting to go to the main stage and watch a different act. They should have had a much bigger crowd than they did in my opinion.

I'll be back to watch the second video, it's not loading for me at the moment.

Edit: First time hearing Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, though I have heard of them. Song was pretty decent, I like the minimalist video for it, really adds to the song's atmosphere.

03/21/2013 at 03:42 PM

The Sword will be playing at Rocklahoma this year. A big rock fest in Pryor,OK. that has gotten huge over the years. I really want to see them live.

03/21/2013 at 03:52 PM

I regret not having seen them with Down and Metallica, but tickets for that show were priced closely to Ozzfest 2008, and I had seen twelve bands for that price, including Sword and Metallica.

I still need to see Down, though, and in retrospect, perhaps the tickets were fair considering the bands playing.

Have you heard of Metallica's Orion festival, by the way? That sounds awesome, and I need to see RHCP.

03/21/2013 at 04:40 PM

Orion festival would be awesome. Metallica was smart to start doing it. Great idea and I bet it makes a lot of cash. I really wish The Sword would come to Tulsa and play Cain's Ballroom. First time I saw Metallica was there. The Sword could pack the place and then blow the roof off it.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

03/21/2013 at 01:39 PM

whoah this game looks awesome! I don't think it's on PSN though. Might have to pick up an original copy....

03/21/2013 at 02:55 PM

I'm doubt we'll ever see that one on PSN. As Julian has commented it's worth playing but not fantastic. However if you are a Shadow Hearts fan you must find and play it or we kick you outta the club. :D

Here's my mottly copy so you know what to look for. (but maybe in better condition. ) Mine was found in the back room of an EB games. They were going to throw it out along with a beaten up copy of Grandia but I saved them from the garbage. :)

03/21/2013 at 03:00 PM

looks awesome to me, man!

03/21/2013 at 03:01 PM

It's very dark, but I like dark. LOL

03/21/2013 at 03:47 PM

I just wonder one thing. Doesn't Koudelka freeze her butt off? Wandering about in that cold,dank monastery in nothing but a lacy top and short shorts? Don't gypsies wear warm clothing?

03/21/2013 at 06:43 PM

LOl. Game characters are cold proof.

03/21/2013 at 03:44 PM

Nice! Your is in better shape than mine. Disks are good,case is so-so. Wife gave me a double CD case the other day[holds 4 disks in it] which I will be swapping out later on.

03/21/2013 at 02:12 PM

Koudelka was alright, but I'm glad it exists because it paved the way for Shadow Hearts.

03/21/2013 at 03:45 PM

I have to agree. Although I don't have Shadow Hearts,it's greatness is without question.

leeradical42

03/21/2013 at 07:19 PM

Its funny I have never heard of this game it looks very interesting and being a ps1 game probably very pricey lol, but it does look good another one I will have to watch for, and I cant beleive they were going to throw it away wow,anyway good blog as usual.

03/21/2013 at 09:50 PM

You would be surprised. I got my copy at Vintage Stock for 20 bucks. It was well worth it for a big game like that.

Coolsetzer

03/21/2013 at 09:53 PM

Huh. A PSX RPG I missed? Congrats, sir, that Is a first for me.

03/21/2013 at 10:02 PM

Wow! I stumped ya. How about that. It is kind of an obscure game. I think I enjoy it mainly for the setting and the snarky things Koudelka says to people.

Surfcaster

03/22/2013 at 07:48 AM

I always just thought this was a mediocre survival horror game. I had no idea it was an RPG! I'm slightly more interested in playing it now, even though it sounds pretty drab.

Ranger1

03/22/2013 at 08:14 AM

Took me forever to find a copy, and the one I got is missing the manual. I went searching for it for the same reason Peter did, it's the prequel to Shadow Hearts, which shares favorite game status with DQ8 with me.

BrokenH

03/22/2013 at 05:31 PM

This game spawned ShadowHearts and for that reason alone I will be eternally grateful for it. Sadly, I never got to play it. Seems like a spooky supernatural turn based strategy rpg with horror elements. I'm totally down with that!

PixlBit