YIIK: A Postmodern RPG Critic Reviews

The ambition and scope of this lengthy indie epic is impressive, taking big swings and, despite the numerous inspirations, carving its own distinct path. If you want your Japanese-style RPG to do to New Jersey what Shin Megami Tensei does to Tokyo, then YIIK is the closest you’ll ever get.

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is a dazzling explosion of stylistic presentation and compelling strangeness. This might go down as “EarthBound for a new generation,” and much like EarthBound, the quality is difficult to score, since it is based less on the precision of design and more on an intangible, heartfelt payoff. While some gamers may not see anything special going on here, YIIK will likely really resonate with some players. If a Weird Stuff RPG appeals to you, strap in and prepare for a wild ride. Surreal themes aside, if you’re simply looking for an RPG experience on the Switch with far-out visuals, YIIK should satisfy your turn-based desires.

Despite a few wonky issues with combat at times, YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG more than succeeds in delivering a fascinating and unique tale that isn’t afraid to get bizarre and humorous while still making you sympathize with its cast and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Between the quirky visuals, stellar soundtrack and fun gameplay, Ackk Studios managed to polish the gameplay of late ’90s polygonal games while not losing sight of what made RPGs from that era fun.

In YIIK: A Postmodern RPG, you’ll be thrown into an uncanny world full of mysteries and relatable characters. Its inventive turn-based combat may become a bit repetitive with time, but it still delivers an experience like no other.

Quotation forthcoming.

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is a bizarre title that connected with me on several levels despite a number of issues, and it kept me coming back until credits rolled. While it did take a significant amount of time to get to the ending, the characters and the themes of coping with loss and Alex’s growth made the investment of time worth the effort. That said, I don’t know if I would recommend this game to anyone but myself, yet it’s so strange and offbeat that I think there’s something worthwhile here to check out for everyone who’s not me.

If you grew up way back in the olden days like me and can’t stomach another anime RPG then YIIK is worth a look. YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is out now on Nintendo Switch.

YIIK is an ambitious little RPG with an intriguing premise and engaging battle mechanics that is ultimately let down by some poor pacing and a very unruly inventory management system. In a game where stats matter so much, this is a pretty big issue to have. Regardless, if you can see past its flaws, there’s a kooky game here with a weird but wonderful plot and a lovable cast to enjoy.

There's a fantastic game buried somewhere here, but its merits are clouded by a plethora of bad design choices, uneven writing, and a protagonist who nobody in their right mind would ever want to spend any time with.

I wanted to like YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG a lot more than I did. There’s some rich creativity in its style, and the music is worth a listen even outside of playing. However, a lot of the fresh ideas with the battle system and Mind Dungeon simply don’t respect the player’s time. When I’m sighing after accidentally bumping into an avoidable enemy, that’s a problem.

I really wanted to like YIIK but with all of its missteps, I was always reluctant to go back to its quirky world.

With a 1990s environment and some attempts at innovating an RPG's fighting system, YIIK has something to go for it, but unfortunately this gets rather lost in a game that is overall too frustrating and confusing. With its inconsistent art style and gameplay and a main character that's impossible to relate to, YIIK could have explored its real potential in a much more enjoyable way but as it is, it's mostly an unfulfilled work.

YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is a game that falls under the weight of its own ambition. Sloppy storytelling, bad pacing, poor characters, and some questionable (and potentially offensive) writing undermine what could have been an interesting story about young adults in the late ’90s, and the gameplay can’t carry the rest of the experience on its own. Even if it looks and sounds good, it’s just not enough to make its 25 hours an enjoyable time.

Even beyond this bizarre hurdle, the whole game is designed to impede you. The money you earn can't be spent on anything useful. The experience you gain never leads to you getting stronger. The battle mechanics make every fight as slow as possible. Even clicking on chests and items comes with a short delay. YIIK frustrates me so badly I feel like I personally offended the creators at a party or something, and this game is their revenge.