REVIEW: ‘RKGK / Rakugaki’ Is Kinetic And Vibrant Vision (PC)

It’s not often that a video game launches by wearing its inspirations on its sleeve without being consumed by the pop culture staples it admires. Often, it warrants endless comparisons to describe mechanics or aesthetics, which bring up the names of other games, burying the title in quest. RKGK / RAKUGAKI doesn’t hide its inspirations, but it also never loses itself. Developed by Wabisabi Games with support from The Riot Games Underrepresented Founders Program and published by Gearbox Publishing, RKGK is a cyberpunk platforming adventure where you take on capitalism with just spray paint.

In RKGK, players step into Valah’s life. A member of a rebellious graffiti group that fights the oppressive B Corp and its evil CEO. Valah takes him on directly and stops his goal to drain color and life from the Neo-Brutalist world of Cap City. A 3D platformer, this anime-inspired game brings to life a dystopian world with a synth soundtrack that never stops thumping—eventually making its way into mechanics.

The core game loop is simple. As Valah, you complete different zones defined with a start point and an endpoint. The path between the two offers enemies, hidden trophies called Ghosts, and coins you can use to buy more outfits. Jump, double jump, glide, or ride a rail; you make it across the zone and stamp out the color-draining screens with graffiti, using up the paint can’t you’ve collected along the way.

Constructing a cravable game loop is necessary for a 3D platformer like RKGK, and it’s something that Waabisabi Games nail. Simple in concept, RKGK’s thoughtful design is layered with many reasons to keep revisiting the same zone that you completed in just under two minutes. Yes, I have replayed the entry zones again and again and again in order to try and tick off every action and get that illustrious S-tier grade.

The gameplay and level design are so extremely cravable that you can’t help but just dive right back in. The true success is that no matter how often you enter the same area, you’re met with new elements to tackle. New goals to have. Ultimately, as you learn how to interact with the environment, returning to the previous areas usually yields more reward.

Each map begs to be explored again and again. While I recommend RKGK to players who may have limited time, as you can do one run and come back when time permits, it will never actually just be one run. Instead, one run will turn into two, which will turn into four, and sooner or later, you’ve sunk your entire into painting Cap City. Each time you run an area, you find new ways to chain together jumps, dashes, glides, and grinds. You explore new ways to take out enemies or just skip them altogether to get a new fastest time. You master routes and evolve them the more you play.

On top of that, you can reduce or add difficulty, choosing between two levels. One is geared toward a more modern experience with more health, and the other is focused on more nostalgic gameplay with reduced health. It’s not a comprehensive difficulty adjustment by any means, but it allows you to add more difficulty when you choose.

Moving on from gameplay and into aesthetics, RKGK is truly something. Whether you know it or not, Latin America is one of the largest consumers of anime, and they have been for decades—which has continued to Latinos in the diaspora. Even for me, Dragon Ball on Telemundo in South Texas was an entryway. From the Bulma and Naruto-inspired fits to the manga skin, Wabisabi Games’ love of anime comes through.

It’s important to note, though, that Valah’s skins and outfits aren’t just copy-pastes of anime mainstays. They’re truly adapted to fit Valah, Cap City, and RKGK as a game. This makes them clever nods to the anime we grew up on while also just being fantastic items to spend your in-game currency on. It’s all creative, unique, and ultimately it made me step back and realize that the developers who made this game love the media that I love with reverence that you can’t fake.

The game’s core concept embraces art as a tool of resistance. The Mexico-based studio taps into a long tradition of graffiti culture in the country and beyond. A Mexican-American myself, I remember the large murals of Aztec warriors on the sides of buildings in my neighborhood. Often overlooked by people as the “bad part” of town, those murals represented a resiliency in the face of circumstance. Sure, RKGK is an electrically colored dystopian world, but the fact that art is being used to stand against an oppressive force looking to assimilate and rob Cap City of its culture? Well, that’s what street art has always been about.

If there is anything to critique, it is that I wanted more. As the gameplay loop intensifies toward the end of the game, you see new ways music and existing mechanics are being pulled together. However, that depth could have arrived sooner and been explored more. That said, that’s a small thing. Even the slight input delays you must disappear as you learn how to adjust as a player. Truthfully, Wabisabi Games’ execution of their concept and their worldbuilding, coupled with dynamic map design, make up for any and all small issues that occur.

RKGK is an astounding debut game from Wabisabi Games. It is a platformer that wears its inspirations on its sleeves but never once feels like a derivative. Instead, RKGK shows the power of growing from the media you love and using it to create something special and unique. Kinetic gameplay, a dynamic score, and an absolutely vibrant artistic vision all make RKGK / Rakugaki a game that deserves to be on every single game of the year list.

RKGK / Rakugaki is available now on PC via Steam.

RKGK Is A Whole Vibe | Review

We dive into the debut game from Mexico-based studio Wabisabi Games and Gearbox Publishing: RKGK / Rakugaki. A kinetic platformer with a rocking soundtrack, impeccable aesthetic, and expert use of anime inspirations just may be your next favorite game!