Kotama and Academy Citadel is the kind of game that knows exactly what it’s doing.

Amber, Flora, Chizuru and Klara are absolute standouts — beautifully designed, expressive, and full of personality. Each one has a presence that makes exploration and progression feel more personal, almost intimate. The game understands the appeal of its characters and embraces it with confidence.

Weapon balance is interesting overall, but the Liquid Blades clearly stand out. They are fast, flexible, and extremely powerful, allowing aggressive play with minimal punishment. Once mastered, they feel almost broken — in the best possible way.

That said, the game does not shy away from challenge. One boss in particular is brutal:
• Juliet, especially in her third phase, is a true endurance fight — a massive damage sponge that continuously accelerates global attack speed, demanding focus and consistency.

I strongly recommend Kotama and Academy Citadel. It’s a game that confidently blends fanservice with genuinely good design. I sincerely hope a sequel happens — ideally focusing on one of the four standout waifus — because this easily earned a place as my top Metroidvania, tied with Astlibra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGIApMUPH4Y