Reviews

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  Bunkashaa

  Apr 12, 2022

  Really worth the price, great to play this classic in VR. While using a Oculus device, the controller forward vector points up instead of forward, which can be bit awkward on the wrists while playing.
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  A_Phosphorus_Invention

  Jul 27, 2022

  The best way to sum up KOTH is as a first-person, single-piece chess game. The movement is point-and-click, with some limitation. However you wish to classify it, it's a fun game. If you read other reviews or parts of the discussion boards, you'll run across the name "The Sentinel". KOTH is heavily influenced by this DOS game from 1986. Having never played The Sentinel myself, I'm coming into this experience with zero experience. The game is very easy to pick up, but has a slight learning curve. There are 2 modes: Classic and Arcade. In Arcade, you have no limit to moving around. If you can see a square, you can move to it. You will need to absorb trees in order to gain energy to build blocks, which are necessary to get to elevated parts of the topography. While in Classic, in order to move you will first need to place an "Avatar" for your character, then possess and snap to that space where you avatar once was. This is a much more challenging version of the game. You will need to absorb trees and place blocks just like in Arcade, but you'll need to be far more mindful of your energy use and re-absorption. As you may derive from the title, KOTH, is a game where you become King of the Hill. The cyclopic black tower in the center of every level is The KOTH. You must slay the creature by absorption and then replace it to win. This is why I think of it as a single-piece chess game as you move your character across a chess-board like environment with strategically raised plateau and layers. KOTH watches the outstretching board with a beam that destroys artificial structures you place, while leaving trees unharmed. If the beam touches you, you die. You'll respawn where you started, however, anything you collected along the way will be gone. I absolutely recommend checking out KOTH. If you're a casual player, completionist, speedrunner, or VR-enthusiast looking for an odd title to conquer, KOTH has something for you.
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  IronPanda

  Sep 2, 2016

  This is a faithful version of the original 8 bit classic I remember playing in glorious VGA decades ago. The graphics are simple but all that's needed. A tutorial is included and frankly you need it because although the premise is simple (you have to move to a vantage point high enough to absorb the S̶e̶n̶...i mean Koth which revolves with a lighthouse beam), there's combinations such as holding the control pad and grip button to absorb a platform that aren't intuitive. Other than that, this gets a big thumbs up and i'm looking forward to getting to higher levels, which as i remember were fiendishly difficult and quite frantic as you move around trying to evade that deadly gaze. At a higher price i'd say no as it's not going to wow anybody graphically but for sheer gameplay it's 9/10.
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  [VGB]markoos22

  Sep 16, 2016

  I really enjoyed playing this and it's well worth the price. I used to play the game it's based on as a kid and was a fan then. Playing in VR adds so much more to the experience. There was always a sense of tension as the beam of the "Koth" swept towards you but now you can physically duck under the beam (if you are close enough to a wall for cover) although I did dive into a wall in my house. I was so used to old style of playing it took me a few levels to realise I could walk between squares. The graphics, while basic, are striking, I believe the developer is working on updating them too. The "Koth" kills you instantly at the moment, not sure if there are any plans to make it slowly absorb your energy as it did in the original.
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  MortVader

  Apr 17, 2017

  This is a nice Sentinel clone. I recommend it to any casual player who want something other than the usual shooter :)
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  DangerMike

  May 16, 2017

  Most fun I have had had in VR for a long time. The simple graphic style works well in VR. Looking at a tron like landscape and finding a path to the Koth (a cross between Saurons Eye and a Lighthouse) is enjoyable and addictive. I found my tactics started to develop by the 10th game or so, as I discovered what is possible. It certainly met my expectations.
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  FastLawyer

  Nov 27, 2017

  I bought this on the Black Friday sale for $3.49. I didn't think I would like it, but because of the Steam Refund policy I thought I might as well take a chance as I have got nothing to lose (other than time). The graphics looked outdated and not suitable for VR and I just didn't see the point from looking at the store page video. It looked like some old Atari game that has long since been surpassed by superior moden gameplay elements. I was very wrong. This game is fun. Simple, but fun. When you see that beaming, all-seeing light coming towards you, you get this automatic sense of dread. Especially after the first few levels, where you're almost at the top and don't want to be sent back to the beginning. Each level passed, brings more difficulty and more careful planning out ahead to avoid the almost omniprescent Koth. I don't think the game is perfect. My main gripe is that something more should happen when Koth catches you, other than a quick restart at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to quickly restart a game and makes sense for the leaderboard purposes .. but I'm thinking just a quick animation of vaporizing while the clock stops during this animation. Just something extra to make the pain of being caught more immersive. I also wonder what this game would be like with higher end graphics. Versus trying to teleport quickly, having to crouch down behind objects and quickly run to another safe spot. That would be an amazing game. Rating 6/10 nice simple fun, it's feels great landing in the top 10 of the leaderboards, which sadly, I never did :(
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  diesel

  Mar 17, 2018

  The original 'The Sentinel' (or Sentry as it was in the US) is one of those rare perfect games, even the official Sentinel Returns could only add a John Carpenter soundtrack as an improvement. I so wanted to like this but the changes made to the game rules only break the perfect formula from the original (biggest offender being you can absorb trees whilst unable to see the base meaning there's no need to move until forced by koth's gaze.) A speed run element is added to try and remedy this, but it feels forced and just leaves the game feeling void of the tense atmosphere of the original it's inspired by. Add to this a couple of game breaking bugs (level progression not working, energy meter not building) plus full screen not working as well as several minor frustrating issues like a tree that looks absorbed (invisible) will suddenly reappear when you move to the next tree because it's only say 99% absorbed (a fully absorbed noise would instantly fix this) and I've had no choice but to refund and continue firing up the original on an emulator whilst I still wait for that modern Sentinelesque fix.
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  Werehare

  Oct 4, 2018

  I bought this mostly because of the nostalgia associated with The Sentinel. This game feels a little bit stripped down and faster paced than it's predecessor which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it does make if feel like it has a little less depth. It's a little bit of a shame as having the ability to create a new avatar and then jump into it seems like a concept made for VR, the changes (like being able to absorb trees without seeing their bases and no avatars mean you need much less energy to progress) and the time-based leaderboards make it feel more like a sprint to the finish rather than the original strategic game of cat and mouse. Having said that, my only real problem with it is down to the controls. I don't have particularly steady hands and so absorbing any objects at a distance (or getting the square that the Koth is on) is really hard without me pulling the controller back and steadying it against my body. It would be really nice if, once you started absorbing something, the beam would stick to it's original target until it is either absorbed, or you let go of the trigger.
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  john.rickard

  Nov 19, 2018

  Being a man of more than a few years I remember and loved the old Sentinel. Although feeling a bit striped down and a slight change to the rules, it has not lost the tension and occasional frantic activity. This is one of those rare, simple but great games. Recommended to all those puzzle lovers who enjoy a bit of tension.
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  uftar

  Aug 13, 2020

  It's a VR version of the 8-bit classic The Sentinel and as such it works perfectly. I love the immersion it achieves. Great to include a game mode that emulates the original, although, personally, I have discovered that I like the other mode better, because it is faster. Simple graphics, reminiscent of the original game. I wonder what the game would look like with better graphics, more elaborate trees and landscapes (this is a suggestion for you, dev). The gameplay, anyway, is great. Makes you want to move one more level forward. Played with Oculus Quest via Link and Virtual Desktop. Runs flawless in both ways. I really like this game.
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  gant696t04

  Sep 6, 2021

  Nice Clone of Sentinel. Not Faithful at the base.
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  spiritedkicks247

  Sep 8, 2021

  KOTH is a remake of a C64 game called sentinel. I used to play this over 35 years ago. Its an excellent retro game.