The Cruel King and the Great Hero Tells A Touching Story

Following in the footsteps of The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince, The Cruel King and the Great Hero is another storybook tale from NIS. Fully narrated and set in a picturesque world, this endearing journey promises another endearing adventure.

Yuu, daughter of the Great Hero, lives with her adoptive father the Dragon King in his cavern outside the Monster Village. Every day, he helps Yuu train to follow in her father’s footsteps. Every evening, he tells her another chapter detailing how the Hero defeated the Demon King. When Yuu encounters a young sno cub searching for aid in the village, she offers to help. The Dragon King agrees to let her help, but stays close by just in case. And so, Yuu’s path to becoming a Great Hero like her father truly begins.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero isn’t reinventing the wheel. Instead, it sticks to doing the basics well. Dungeons are vast, interconnected, side-scrolling rooms. Loot and danger dwell inside, but Yuu, armed and pot-hatted, is ready to prove herself. Some sections contain obstacles that can only be overcome under certain conditions. One companion can strike down chests hanging from above, while another can help her float across large gaps. Companions come and go. And when they do, you need to re-equip any items they were wearing previously.

Every encounter Yuu faces is turn-based. It’s your typical turn-based RPG combat system; there’s nothing ground-breaking happening here. Yuu and her companions can perform basic attacks, use skills or items, defend, or attempt to flee. New skills are acquired when characters hit level milestones, unique to each party member. Since Yuu is a sword-wielding character, her special skills are slashing attacks. She also learns abilities like Survey for determining weaknesses. Accessories and improved weapons grant their own unique boons. It is all very typical of your standard RPG experience.

If you are looking to do a bit of grinding for levels and pocket money, Yuu’s Acts of Kindness are the way to go. These side quests open up after completing the first chapter. The residents of the Monster Village need help acquiring ingredients, crafting materials, and other fairly simple tasks that they are too busy to do themselves. Most of the time, Yuu either needs to defeat particular enemies for an item drop or to search the marked section for a twinkling spot with an item to gather. I’ve earned stupid amounts of money by running these between chapters, as well as some pretty cool accessories that have come in handy. Just note that side questing can get a bit tedious later on if you’re trying to 100% the game.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a beautiful game with a very touching story. It’s extremely approachable, thanks to simple and familiar gameplay mechanics. Yuu’s innocence and determination make this a game I highly recommend if you are looking for something to lift your spirits. Sure, it may not change the world, but it could just be the pastel sunshine you need to brighten a dark day.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero will be available for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on March 11, 2022 in Europe and March 15, 2022 in North America. It is out now in Japan.