The story of Koudelka revolves around three characters: Koudelka - a girl with an attitude, Edward - an average joe, and James - a priest. The three meet up early on in the game and want to unravel the mystery behind the plainly laid dead bodies around a monastery. The characters don't get along right off the bat and the many of the cutscenes are used to show this. It doesn't do much to enhance the story and after watching a few of their quarrels you wind up feeling as frustrated as them.

The battle system is turn-based but a strategic twist is added by allowing you to move your character around a grid playing field. Weapons or your bare hands and a good number of magic spells can be used in battle. But battles take up way too much time. The camera will focus on the enemy for a few seconds and then a few more seconds later the enemy will move. Movement is also a bit pokey between the characters you control will small delays between each spell and attack that add up to a lot of time battling floating chairs and winged angel faces.

The graphics are dark but finely rendered in Koudelka. The monastery feels like a haunted and massive thanks to very detailed rendered backgrounds. The characters are also solidly constructed and are effected by enviromental lighting. Music would have added a great deal of atmosphere to Koudelka. There's none in most of the cutscenes or when walking around in the actual game. But the overall presentation of Koudelka is great.

If it weren't for those boring battles Koudelka would be an above average adventure. The story has some substance and always makes you want to play more. The game isn't scary, but just thinking about another slow fight may make you want to scream and run away.