Fans of retro-styled Japanese role-playing games will be familiar with KEMCO’s prolific output on the Xbox. Today, the publisher continue its tradition of bundling these adventures with the release of KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 4.
Following in the footsteps of previous compilations like Volume 2 and Volume 3, this latest digital package offers another four distinct RPG experiences for a single price point – this time setting you back £33.49.
As regular readers and KEMCO veterans will know, the quality of their individual releases can be quite varied. So, let’s break down exactly which games are included in Volume 4 and revisit what we thought of them when we reviewed them individually.
What’s Inside KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 4?
This bundle contains the following four RPGs:
Chronus Arc
Promising a journey through puzzle-filled dungeons to restore the past, Chronus Arc features time manipulation mechanics. However, when we reviewed it, our feelings were mixed. We stated, “Chronus Arc being a truly mixed bag… Solid additions to the genre, but the balancing and questionable design choices hold it back from fully reaching its potential.”
Intriguing ideas, but flawed execution. Read our full Chronus Arc review here.
Bonds of the Skies
This one focuses on a tale of friendship between humans and elemental spirits known as Grimoas. While functional, it failed to leave a lasting impression during our review. We found that, “Sadly though, the overriding impression is of blandness and a nagging feeling of déjà vu.”
A playable, if uninspired, entry. Read our full Bonds of the Skies review.
Legend of the Tetrarchs
Featuring classic turn-based battles and pixel art dungeons, Legend of the Tetrarchs tasks players with freeing the light of courage.
This entry fared better under our scrutiny. We concluded it “does enough to make me recommend it to fans of the genre… there are some very enjoyable battles to engage in along the way.”
Despite some difficulty spikes, we found strategic depth and an enjoyable story. Read our full Legend of the Tetrarchs review.
Monochrome Order
This RPG centres around a unique “Judgment” system where the player’s decisions guide the world towards multiple endings. Unfortunately, its interesting mechanics were overshadowed by a significant issue. Our review was highly critical of its business model: “Monochrome Order… shoots itself in the foot by making it harder to play unless you buy extra things… it’s not a KEMCO experience I can recommend” due to the implementation of microtransactions.
Read our full Monochrome Order review.
The £33.49 Question: Assessing the Value
So, four KEMCO RPGs for £33.49 – is it a worthwhile purchase? Looking back at our own reviews, KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 4 presents perhaps the most varied mix of quality we’ve seen in one of these bundles.
You’re getting:
- One game we actively recommended against due to its MTX (Monochrome Order).
- One game we found decidedly bland (Bonds of the Skies).
- One game we considered a mixed bag with unfulfilled potential (Chronus Arc).
- One game we recommended to genre fans, albeit with caveats (Legend of the Tetrarchs).
At roughly £8.37 per game, potential buyers need to seriously consider this track record. Are you willing to pay that price when only one of the four received a positive recommendation from us, and one was strongly advised against?
The value here feels significantly dependant on your tolerance for KEMCO’s less successful outings or if Legend of the Tetrarchs is specifically on your wish list.
KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 4 continues the publisher’s bundling strategy, but this collection requires careful consideration. We strongly advise checking out our full individual reviews linked above to make an informed decision based on your own RPG preferences and tolerance for the issues we highlighted.
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons documented in our reviews and still want to dive in, the KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 4 is available now on the Xbox Store for £33.49.
What are your thoughts on this latest KEMCO bundle? Let us know in the comments below!
