Kotama and Academy Citadel is a 2D Metroidvania game released in early 2026 by Atomstring Games, blending high-speed combat, exploration, and anime-inspired sci-fi storytelling set in a mysterious academy city. Players control Kotama, a bold exchange student gunning for the top title of "Carmel Star" by battling rivals, solving student quests, and uncovering buried secrets in Caramel Academy City. With its stylish mechanics like Chronofluid detonation and weapon switching, the game delivers around 20 hours of tight platforming and boss fights, making it a solid pick for genre fans despite some rough edges.
Story and Setting
Kotama arrives at the elite Caramel Academy City, a sprawling campus ruled by the smartest and strongest students, on her first day determined to claim the prestigious Carmel Star title. This honor goes to the most popular contender based on votes earned through feats like defeating top students from rival academies (Art, Biology, etc.) and helping peers with their troubles.
As Kotama progresses, she peels back layers of mystery: temporal anomalies warp time across the city, enemies evolve with the clock, and hidden conspiracies hint at the academy's dark history spanning centuries. The narrative unfolds via lively anime-style dialogues, expressive character portraits, and visual novel segments, though some early reviews noted translation issues and untranslated tutorials that could confuse non-Chinese speakers.
Side quests for votes act as your completion tracker, involving multi-stage tasks like clearing enemy nests or aiding quirky students, which tie into the main plot and unlock better endings. While the story prioritizes action over deep lore, its intrigue—questioning the school's reality amid time glitches—keeps players hooked, especially with endearing animations and over-the-top character designs (yes, including some revealing outfits).
The setting shines: a massive interconnected campus with distinct academy zones, from spike-filled art halls to biology labs crawling with mutants, all navigable via a detailed map showing secrets, checkpoints, and unexplored paths. Time progresses per room visit (up to 22:00 stasis), altering layouts, dialogues, and enemy strength for replayable backtracking—grab Temporal Coils or rewind at stations to manage it.
Gameplay Mechanics
Core loop mixes Metroidvania exploration with combo-heavy combat, accessible from minute one without heavy ability gating. Basic moves include dash, double jump, wall jump; unlock specials like Liquefy (fluid form for tight spots), Traction, and Invincible Dash via progression.
Combat revolves around three switchable weapons, each with unique styles and upgrades:
Umbrella Spear: Precise pokes, float ability for platforming.
Whip Hammer: Long-range AoE swings, crowd control favorite.
Liquid Blade: Close-quarters speed, fluid combos.
The star mechanic is Fluid Detonation (Chronofluid buildup): Strike enemies to stack purple glow, heavy attack removes Detonation Points, full stagger triggers massive damage and energy restore. Parry attacks to amplify this, turning fights tactical—enemies hit hard (3-4 hits kill early on), so momentum is key.
Healing twists tradition: spend Luminite currency anytime (risky near free checkpoints), creating strategic tension—hoard for upgrades or heal mid-fight? Bosses demand pattern learning, with avoidable attacks rewarding skilled no-heal runs.
Exploration rewards: stat boosts (HP, coils), materials, hidden mini-bosses, and votes via secrets and quests. Quality-of-life shines—fast travel hub, auto-map markers, ~20-hour pace without filler.
Graphics and Sound
Vibrant anime aesthetics pop with bold character designs, fluid animations, and detailed zones differentiating academies (e.g., artistic spikes, bio-horrors). Portraits and poses feel lively, though some find them fanservice-heavy.
Soundtrack pumps fast-paced action with electronic sci-fi beats syncing to combos and bosses. SFX for detonations and parries deliver satisfying "crack" feedback. Early builds had FPS dips (Biology Academy sub-30) and 1280x720 res cap, but patches likely fixed these post-launch.
Pros and Cons
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Combat | Fast combos, detonation stagger heals strategically, parry depth | Fragile player demands mastery |
| Exploration | Detailed map, time-altering backtrack, secrets galore | Slightly linear vs. true Metroidvanias |
| Presentation | Anime flair, zone variety | Early translation/FPS bugs (may be patched) |
| Content | 20hrs main+quests, multiple endings | Vote tracking lacks in-game list |
PC-focused (Steam) with controller support; tight controls rarely frustrate jumps. Recent release means ongoing patches for res/FPS—check updates. No major console ports announced yet.
Is It Worth Buying?
At full price (~$20-30 Steam, often discounted 10%), Kotama and Academy Citadel suits Metroidvania lovers craving combat flair over pure puzzle-exploration. Scores hover 7.5-9/10: "stylish and engaging" (GameGrin), "sublime loop" (Noisy Pixel), "love at first death" for action fans (Game8).
Buy if: You dig anime action like Guilty Gear in Metroidvania form, want 20hrs of boss rushes and secrets, or seek fresh 2026 indies. Fluid mechanics and time gimmick elevate it above average.
Skip if: You hate fanservice, need flawless translations, or prefer non-combat focus (Hollow Knight-style). Linear bits and early tech issues might irk perfectionists—wait for sales/patches.
