"Kudos" Review (PC)

Pros:

• Simple to Mod
• Easy to Learn

Cons:

• Limited to being single

"Kudos" Features

• "Kudos" is a turn-based life simulation game, where you control one character during their 20s.
• Pick a career and advance by earning promotions and new skills for better jobs.
• Earn Kudos (points) as you climb up on the social ladder and try new things.
• Spend the day at work and the evenings going to classes, hanging out with friends, or spending a quiet night at home.
• Accept invites from friends to go out or plan your own group outing to a variety of locations - anything from bowling to the opera.
• Go shopping for a pet, books, music, video games, gym equipment, and other forms of entertainment.
• Fall in love and go on romantic dates.
• Download new jobs and avators from within the updates section of "Kudos." You can add and delete content from the updates screen.

"Kudos" Review

A "Kudos" Screenshot

Screenshot Credit: © Positech Games.

"Kudos" doesn't throw you into the game without an introduction. Before you play a tutorial walks you through the different parts of the interface, how to get a job, and go out with friends. After the short tutorial, it is time to create your own character.

The character's appearance is chosen from one out of the pre-made complete head to toe looks (clothes, face, hair, etc). The good news is that new ones can be downloaded from the updates section of "Kudos," which contains new jobs and avatars. After choosing the look you want, what happens next is up to you.

Before you start getting too far into "Kudos," you'll have to decide what type of life you want your character to live. You start off with a low-paying job, what happens next is up to you. Do you want to focus on the career or friends? Do you want to try the life of a musician and live job to job? Or would you rather be a social butterfly?

Night classes are essential to get a decent paying job, so you can actually afford to do fun things with friends. The job ads will list which classes you need to take when you enter the class listings. Classes occur weekly, some twice a week, and do not have to be attended. You'll pass once you attend the required number, which varies course to course.

You can set up a social event or be invited. Friends are do not understand whenever you reject an invite, whether it's because you don't have the money or have a class. From a player's point of view, the social events are all the same. You'll get a summary of what happened, some tidbits about movies, and who enjoyed talking together. You don't get to see your character fall on their face bowling or tackling someone at football.

A "Kudos" Screenshot

Screenshot Credit: © Positech Games.

The possibilities are not as open-ended or as varied as a game like "The Sims." "Kudos" is not a social experiment where you get to see how different types of personalities react to each other. It is very much about the life of one person. This leaves the game feeling limited and after trying out the different scenarios of trying to do it all (work and job), focusing on work, or focusing on friends and trying out the different careers there is little left to do.

The good news is that "Kudos" is easily modded and updates can be downloaded from within the game. The game files are easily accessible - great for beginner modders.

The Bottom Line: For the hours of gameplay packed into "Kudos," you'll get your money's worth.