A Charming Tale – Takeshi and Hiroshi Review

Takeshi And Hiroshi is a short, well designed, and charming game that mixes visual novel type story telling with strategic monster spawning gameplay (except you, as the player and protagonist, are the one creating the waves of monsters). The basic premise is that the protagonist’s little brother is playing a hero in a game, and the protagonist controls the monsters the hero battles against by selecting different monster types. The gameplay itself is easy to understand, but can get a bit cerebral near the end. The creative gameplay loop creates a tension where you’re trying to keep the hero alive, but are creating monster compositions strong enough to inflict maximum, but not lethal, damage. Placement and monster typing is key. Too easy and Hiroshi gets bored and you won’t clear the chapter, too hard and you start over. The difficulty ramps up near the end and the last couple of sequences are pretty tough. The art direction is a delight to look at, as the puppet-like / clay stop motion-esque animation and bright colors give life to the visuals. The sewing and costuming of the cast gives it a detailed but endearing charm, think Fantastic Mr Fox. The game is short and sweet, and has a clear story. While it’s not super deep and perhaps a tad predictable, the themes of youth, friendship, and brotherhood really shine through. I liken the experience to games like Florence: designed for mobile, a familiar but touching story, and creative but simple gameplay mechanics. I’d recommend. A great addition to Apple Arcade.
Review by CTsmith415 on Takeshi and Hiroshi.