OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes

Last updated
OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes
OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes cover.jpg
Cover art for OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes. The artwork is done by Justin Chan.
Developer Capybara Games
Publisher Cartoon Network Games [a]
Director Dan Vader
Designers Dan Vader
Arielle Grimes
Programmers Dave Hill
Kenneth Yeung
Hubert Wong
Drew Grainge
Artists Kelly Smith
Mike Nguyen
Writer Dan Vader
Composer Doseone
Platforms
Release
  • PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
  • January 23, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch
  • November 2, 2018
Genres Action-adventure, beat 'em up
Mode Single-player

OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes is an action-adventure beat 'em up video game developed by Capybara Games and published by Cartoon Network Games. It is based on the animated series OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes and was released digitally on January 23, 2018 [1] for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, with a port to the Nintendo Switch launching physically in 2019. A physical release of the game bundled with Grumpyface Studios' Steven Universe: Save the Light for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch was released in May 2019. [2] The game was delisted from all platforms on December 23, 2024. [3]

Contents

Plot

When Lord Boxman takes away all the levels of the heroes' pow cards, K.O. must set things right and learn at heart that he is a true hero. [4]

Gameplay

K.O. is controlled when fighting against villains. The player can use moves such as an uppercut, punch combo, low kick, etc. The player can collect their stats after defeating all enemies to earn new moves such as a charge punch, a controllable fist, and a stronger uppercut.

During combat, taking damage or dealing damage will raise a bar towards using a special ability called a Powie Zowie, which summons a specific character. Examples include Rad, who allows players to levitate and shoot beams, and Carol, who will appear and attack with her combos.

Development

Ian Jones-Quartey, the creator of OK K.O., was cautious about tie-in videogames that were of poor quality, and wanted to collaborate with a game development studio that shared his passion for the material and to create a video game in tandem with the show. This approach would ensure that neither the game developers nor animators would try to imitate each other. Cartoon Network connected him and OK K.O. co-executive producer Toby Jones with Capy Games. Jones-Quartey was already familiar with Capy and was thrilled to work with them. At the start of the collaboration, they were still brainstorming and developing the show, and wanted the game to develop in the same way. [5] On December 7, 2017, the first trailer for the game was released. [6]

Reception

Upon release, OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes received mostly positive reviews. A review by PlayStation LifeStyle remarked that the game "shows that licensed kids cartoon adaptations don’t have to be mediocre, and that they can be filled with the same charm as the television shows that made them beloved in the first place.", but was criticized for its repetitive combat. [14]

References

  1. "Capy Games' next game, Cartoon Network's OK K.O.!, launches Jan. 23". Polygon. January 4, 2018. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  2. "Cartoon Network brings Steven Universe, OK K.O to Nintendo Switch this fall". Polygon . August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  3. McWhertor, Michael (December 23, 2024). "Warner Bros. just killed a bunch of Cartoon Network games". Polygon. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  4. Dino-Ray Ramos (December 7, 2017). "'OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes' Set For Season 2 With New Console Video Game". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  5. "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes Arrives January 23 on PS4". PlayStation.Blog. January 4, 2018. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  6. Cartoon Network (December 7, 2017). "OK K.O.! - Let's Play Heroes First Official Trailer! - Cartoon Network". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  7. "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  8. "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  9. Whitaker, Jed (February 2, 2018). "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes Review". Computer Games Magazine . Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. Valdez, Nick (January 30, 2018). "Review: OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes". Destructoid . Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  11. LeClair, Kyle (February 7, 2018). "Review: OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  12. Gomez, Julia (December 29, 2018). "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  13. Fuller, Alex (November 14, 2018). "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  14. Treese, Tyler (February 22, 2018). "OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes Review – How Licensed Games Should Be (PS4)". PlayStation LifeStyle. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

Footnotes

  1. Published physically by Outright Games