Written past times Kris Galvez
Title: Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk
Developer: Nihon Ichi Software, Inc.
Publisher: NIS America
Price: $14.99
Genre: Dungeon RPG
Also Available On: PS4, Steam
Imagine a dungeon crawling adventure similar the Etrian Odyssey serial combined alongside the flair in addition to presentation of the Disgaea combo of Takehito Harada (Character designs) in addition to Tenpei Sato (Soundtrack). The graphic symbol designs are directly familiar alongside Harada's childlike (and sometimes edgy) fine art style. Characters human face nifty in addition to sometimes weird much similar the Disgaea games. Sato's soundtrack meanwhile fits the themes of the game alongside how it evokes the mysteriousness of the town of Refrain in addition to its diverse dungeons. If yous are a fan of NIS games yous volition directly larn what I hateful precisely for newcomers to their game, all I tin tell is that the soundtrack is wondrously Bewitching. One human face in addition to yous tin directly tell that this is the signature NIS trend of game.
The game starts inwards a visual novel trend of floor telling where the Witch Dronya, together alongside her kid apprentice Luca, is traveling to the town of Refrain inwards their merry caravan. After an run across alongside a drunkard person, yous tin directly tell that Dronya is a horrible someone (well she is a witch). Motivation wise, Dronya in addition to Luca are at that topographic point to explore the Labyrinth every bit purpose of a asking from the acting governent of Refrain. I don't wanna spoil it precisely the game actually deserves its Mature rating. There are a lot of the commons NIS trappings where nighttime things are played every bit humorous. There is 1 particular scene early that may drive a chip of discomfort in addition to actually ups the nighttime themes of this game.
Setting upwards military camp close the Labyrinth, yous thus get down the proper game share of the game. You don't actually play every bit Dronya inwards this game. The mass Tractarus de Monstrum, or Tractie every bit Luca calls you, is the POV graphic symbol yous play every bit or at to the lowest degree the soul within the book. Once yous are inwards the dungeon, yous materialize puppets using some magic of sort that manage for yous every bit yous explore the machinations of the Labyrinth of Refrain. This is where the political party edifice comes inwards every bit no living human tin actually explore the dungeon due to the poisonous in addition to thick Miasma. Manamia creation, or the puppets Luca crafts, is pretty robust. You tin basically select the appearance of each manamia, their classes (from a listing of vi at the start alongside two unlockable later on on), the means their stat grows, their vocalism in addition to fifty-fifty some flavour text. Of course, yous remove to select wisely every bit an optimal political party is needed to last the death-trap filled dungeons of Refrain.
There is a distinct NIS behavior upon inwards the yous gear upwards your dungeon exploration party. Unlike the Etrian Odyssey serial where degree skills tin live customized every bit yous aeroplane up, each degree inwards Coven alone has some sort of innate passive skills. Active skills are basically available from the eponymous Covens. Covens are basically political party slots yous larn every bit yous explore the labyrinth alongside dissimilar effects in addition to skills. The starting Covens has an attacker, a mage in addition to a healer configuration. Basically, Covens alter stats in addition to the skills of characters inwards them. While it may all audio likewise complicated, this tin live simplified past times treating covens every bit political party slots where yous tin assign the puppets yous create. Another affair that yous tin experience that is uniquely NIS is their dear for huge numbers, this fourth dimension existence the fact that Covens tin get got every bit much every bit 8 puppets assigned nether them, which allows for huge harm later on on depending on your political party configuration. Add to the fact that at that topographic point are lots of randomized items in addition to yous get got an interplanetary space seat out of ways to optimally explore dungeons inwards Labyrinth of Refrain.
Of course, political party creation is alone 1 purpose of games similar these. The other bigger purpose is the dungeon exploration itself. Dungeon RPGs are commonly challenging inwards the means it gives yous difficult enemies or traps that kill yous whatsoever time. Mapping is also of import for these games. It's a skillful affair that the auto mapping of Labyrinth of Refrain is pretty robust. Just walk around in addition to the map volition live made for yous inwards a really readable way. Walls are easily readable, enemies are visible when they are close yous in addition to items are also visualized every bit chests inwards the map. While I immature lady the manual map drawing purpose of Etrian Odyssey, Labyrinth of Refrain is a dissimilar variety of creature inwards how yous explore the dungeon. While Etrian Odyssey tin live compared to a methodical trek into a dungeon, Labyrinth of Refrain's exploration is exhilarating. You motion through the dungeon pretty fast, yous larn items automatically every bit yous walk past times them, yous catch enemies thus yous tin sometimes avoid them, yous tin jump around bushes in addition to later on fifty-fifty pause walls. Even if it all sounds all likewise simple, at that topographic point is a lot of nuance alongside the uncomplicated human activity of breaking walls inwards exploring dungeons similar these. You may either uncovering hidden treasure, cloak-and-dagger shortcuts or fifty-fifty an expanse alongside lots impossible to crunch enemies.
While it may seem that exploring the Labyrinth of Refrain is easy, brand no error every bit yous volition live dying a lot inwards this game. Unexpected falls, potent enemies in addition to overstep traps await which volition atomic number 82 to death. Death is punished alongside losing experience, mana in addition to fifty-fifty breaking a puppet purpose (which weakens your puppet until repaired). Another fun improver to this game is the organisation of stockpiling experience points. You tin stockpile experience in addition to have them later on alongside an added bonus multiplier or have experience directly after battle. While it may seem that stockpiling experience is the recommended option, at that topographic point is withal a peril vs vantage pattern hither every bit whatsoever human activity of losing a battle (fleeing included) volition brand all the stockpiled experience larn to waste.
After playing the get-go Etrian Odyssey on the DS Lite, I've had a sort of romantic human relationship alongside the dungeon crawling branch of JRPGs. Building a fledgling troupe of adventurers, exploring an e'er evolving laid of trap-filled dungeons, enemies that slaughter yous fifty-fifty after a few steps, mapping out these labyrinths to ensure that yous get got an optimal path inwards surviving them, all of these are things that I dear nigh these variety of games. Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk has all of that combined alongside the nuance that NIS brings to their titles. With its pick upwards in addition to play nature, fun dungeon traversal, in addition to a floor that alone NIS tin tell, this game is a must play for both fans of NIS in addition to fans of dungeon RPGs.
Pros
- Attractive NIS fine art trend filled alongside personality. The dungeons are also beautifully rendered.
- Music actually suits the themes of the game.
- Story is pretty intriguing in addition to tells a lot compared to other games inwards the genre spell withal keeping the mysteries.
- There are a lot of complexities in addition to hidden systems that remove to live seat into idea when edifice your party.
- The dungeon exploration is really fun specially alongside the improver of wall breaking.
- This game is perfectly played undocked.
- The game is also a perfect starting betoken for newcomers to the genre.
Cons
- I actually immature lady the mapping share of the Etrian Odyssey serial (this is non a knock the game is withal fun without mapping).
- The complex in addition to hidden systems may remove to live checked on from fourth dimension to fourth dimension inwards the manual.
- The mature floor leaves for some uncomfortable scenes.
- Story segments sometimes get got xv to xxx minutes which variety of breaks the activity of exploring the Labyrinth of Refrain.
- There is a salvage fourth dimension põrnikas which makes your game fourth dimension run fifty-fifty if the Switch is inwards slumber means (hope this gets patched).
Score: 9/10
Note: The game was reviewed using a code provided past times the developers.
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