Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan

Beat ‘em ups are no longer very popular on the video games scene, mainly because the focus has shifted toward the more realistic genres out there. However, they are undeniably very fun to play, especially if they are designed the right way. Obviously, it also helps if the story is original, although it doesn’t matter as much if you are too busy slashing enemies and performing impressive combos.

Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is more of an action-RPG rather than a classic beat ‘em up, but the differences are minimal. In essence, you gain experience and it is possible to level up along the way, which also means new skills and more powerful moves become available. However, your main goal throughout the game is to punch and slash everything that moves.

The story is mighty interesting as well, because it doesn’t involve dragons or goblins for a change, nor is it a Japanese-style experience. Instead, the events are inspired by the Cameroonian culture, so it should be pretty exciting to find out new stuff as well. You play the role of Enzo Kori-Odan, a prince who is about to become king. Naturally, a last minute betrayal turns everything upside down, and you are forced to fight for your kingdom in order to reclaim it from the betrayers.

Gameplay-wise, the fighting sequences are by far the most engaging. Regular encounters become rather repetitive after a while, since the enemies are not very powerful, nor are they capable of displaying more than a few basic moves. On the other hand, things get pretty heated once a boss shows up, and your character gets access to impressive combos and special moves as well.

Speaking of which, it is definitely much easier to play the game on a controller, because the key positioning on the keyboard can be rather awkward to deal with. The combos are quite simple to achieve, as long as you memorize the proper button combinations. Visually, the artwork is actually pretty great, even if the game looks rather cartoony at first.

In the end, Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan can become quite the hit with the crowds, especially if you do not back down from a challenge. The setting is new, the combat is satisfying, and the few RPG elements make the gameplay that much more rewarding in the long run.