C. Kane

The Short

Pros
- It is the Citizen Kane of Gaming
- Finally proves that Games = Art
- If Roger Ebert were still alive, he would have given it a standing ovation and have finally loved video games as a medium
- Has perhaps the best gaming soundtrack of all time
- Jonathan Blow probably deleted all copies of Braid the moment this game came out because he couldn't compete
- Presented in Monochrome, which makes it better

Cons
- Ends eventually
- The moral choice might haunt you for weeks
- Could have used Unreal Bump Mapping like all the best games do
- Lack of Iron-sights ruins a bit of the immersion
- Doesn't include the soundtrack

The beginning of every great story ever told. 

The Long

Even the most dirty casual knows that Games = Art. This is a stone cold, rock solid fact permanently ingrained in the heart and soul of anyone who has ever played but a single level of Angry Birds: Rio. But, unfortunately, critics of other mediums often don't see game that way. People who review things other than games for a living and have maybe once played Wii Sports aren't constantly praising the latest Call of Duty or Mario game for it's artistic integrity or massive contribution to gaming, and this is straight up catastrophic. Seeing as gaming requires vindication for its existence from people other than those educated to give an opinion on the medium, gamers are frequently trying to find that one game, that one perfect game that Roger Ebert or their parents would play and finally understand that gaming has matured. That we can provide the sort of complexity and maturity a film like Citizen Kane brought to film back whenever the hell it came out (can't be bothered to look it up). And, despite all their efforts, despite Braid existing, this still hasn't happened.

Until now. 

Pictured: Art. 

C. Kane is a classic retelling of a familiar story, reinvented for the world of video games. As gaming is an interactive medium, it offers levels of storytelling and emotional investment that past media forms such as movies, books, and other stuff cannot possibly hold a candle to. By recreating this classic tale of good against evil, the media against the man, a sentient beaver against a dark wizard, C. Kane pulls the best of the old and combines it with the newness of the medium, creating a game that must be experienced to understand.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. We still have a review to write. 

Pictured: Also Art. Think about it. 

C. Kane puts you in the shoes of the titular C. Kane, who is striving to become a media overlord from the scraps and dredges society put him in. Kicked out of his home at aged eighteen and without a father to provide patriarchal guidance, C. Kane is a man without direction, hope, or allies. Enlisting the aid of soldiers for hire, he realizes the only way he can truly expand the processes of Journalism and become the most important guy on earth is to overthrow the dark wizard Gettys, who is believed responsible for the destruction of the entire United States of America. Heavy stuff. 

The story is portrayed through simple text without voice acting, much like the classic silent movies of the time. It's a harrowing and riveting tale, filled with many moral choices along the way, including one that will haunt you and I will not spoil here, but you will not forget the sacrifice. 

Although we all know games don't really need stories to be good (which is why most game companies don't even hire actual writers to write their game stories [this is a true fact]), it's good to see C. Kane trying it's hand, and succeeding. With the sharp, often comical writing playing parody and contrast to the dark undertones of the story, you'll be laughing one moment and crying another. And when the end comes, the twist will make you want to replay the whole game over again, deciphering the secret codes scattered throughout the world and re-living the adventure in a whole new light. 

Truly a villain for our time. 

The game's styling are that of a JRPG, with a few twists. Charles, being a man of the pen, can fight with swords but prefers to let his words do the talking. By that I mean debuffs. He excels, mostly later on in the game, at stripping enemies of their dignity, pride, and (most importantly) their Magic Defense Stat. Other characters make up for C. Kane's lack of physical prowess: Marines fight for their country and for America, Leland the Beaver represents the woodland, and many other characters join the fray. Health and Magic are fully recovered after each battle, allowing the fights to be difficult but not overly challenging. Most enemies and bosses have (like real, breathing people like you and me) specific weaknesses and flaws to exploit, and finding these secrets makes battles much easier. 

There are also no random encounters: you simply punch a shark that appears to be living in Lake Michigan to fight him and get XP. Design progression at its finest: you choose the fights, when, where, and who. Masterfully done. 

From the mouths of babes. 

The game's graphics are presented in unadulterated, unsullied monochrome, ignoring the need to use color to convey emotion like some sort of crutch. I've only known one other game to do this as effectively as C. Kane, and this game lives up to all the expectations. 

But the soundtrack is the standout. Blending modern hip-hop themes with catchy lyrics about key events in the game, it's guaranteed to touch your heart and get stuck in your head. It's too bad that a soundtrack hasn't been released, but perhaps a Kickstarter would allow the creator to compile the songs and issue a public release. I'd imagine it would have to have a goal within tens of thousands of dollars to truly capture his genius and fulfill the price society owes in order for such greatness to be birthed into the world. 

Post Apocalyptic in all the right ways.

C. Kane is the Citizen Kane of gaming. Rarely have I experienced such a gem, filled to the brim with action, adventure, gripping dialogue, harrowing villains, riveting battles, unforgettable songs, and a story for the ages. If you are not some sort of gaming philistine, trapped in your fake gaming style of Madden 2013 and Call of Duty: Another One, then you owe it to yourself to experience this masterpiece for yourself. Put aside your expectations, your beliefs, your prejudices. Cast your soul away like the dirty rag it is, for you are about to be baptized in pure gaming light. Games have become art, and C. Kane is here to lead the way. 

I expect to hear the news about the movie industry shutting down within the next few weeks. Get this game for free at this handy address, or die like the swine you are.

Transcendental out of five stars. 

Is this a long-lost Monet painting? No, it's C. Kane. Games = Art.