Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

It’s an unrelentingly bitter game, one which has the power to incite a strong reaction in anyone who plays it. Just as much as I liked it, I’m sure there are others out there who will come to hate it with a passion. But then again, what’s worse - playing Arrest of a Stone Buddha for five hours and leaving with a negative (but powerful and thought-provoking) reaction, or playing a blockbuster for forty bland hours and not feeling a sliver of genuine emotion the entire time?

All in all, those looking for something light on exposition and direction but heavy on senseless violence and lonely wandering may find a worthwhile experience here. It bears repeating, though, that this is a much more dour and less varied title than its predecessor The friends of Ringo Ishikawa.

Arrest of a Stone Buddha requires patience from its players; without that, it loses all of its core concepts. Still, getting passed the lengthy in-game day cycles are merely rewarded with shootouts full of cheap deaths and confusing mechanics. It attempts to add a layer of immersion that doesn’t really work as a game since the fundamental interactions with the world aren’t all that interesting...Sure, the soundtrack and art direction capture the depressing atmosphere, but other parts of the game aren’t as effective. There are definitely some good ideas and commendable risks taken here, but sadly they don’t come together to achieve the emotional impact intended.

Arrest of a stone Buddha was way too repetitive for me. I didn’t get into the story, and the gameplay was overall frustrating. One thing I did enjoy was the retro graphics and the ambient soundtrack. If you want to checkout Arrest of a stone Buddha, I recommend waiting on a sale.