Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Review – Full of Potential but Not There Yet

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After trying out the demo, I’m eagerly anticipating diving deeper into the game’s narrative and uncovering more of its mysteries. Check out my full review of Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade to discover whether it meets or surpasses my initial high hopes.

Anime Artstyle Pleasing to the Eye

As an avid fan of anime and manga since my childhood years, I’ve never had any complaints about this particular aspect. The character designs in Yasha are exceptional, with each main character having a distinct and individual appearance. If you play the game, you might be able to guess who my favorite character is – it’s quite apparent (it’s one of the demons).

Even though the characters are visually stunning, I must admit that the weapon designs deserve a great deal of admiration. Selecting weapons that match my gameplay style instead of just going for aesthetics was quite a challenge. Despite this, during my initial playthrough with Sara, I opted for the adorable Dango weapons. Nothing’s sweeter than that!

In addition to impressive gameplay mechanics, the adversaries you face are exceptionally well-crafted. These creatures may resemble common animals, but they possess peculiar characteristics that set them apart. For instance, there are duck-like entities that attack by firing projectiles, avian enemies that unleash wind attacks, and boar-like beasts. Frankly, I’ve never disliked an enemy as much as these; their attack patterns are predictable, yet they always manage to trip me up. Similarly, the boss characters are superbly designed, each one surpassing the last in terms of quality. I must admit that, like Shigure, I found myself longing to consume some of them, particularly given their vibrant colors.

Three Characters means Three Different Stories

In Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade, you have the freedom to pick among three distinct characters – Shigure, Sara, or Taketora. Each character has a unique storyline, and though you may encounter familiar faces, they are not identical across different storylines. This feature significantly enhances the game’s replayability.

In my opinion, I found the humorous aspects of the writing and dialogues quite delightful, as well as the character development. Watching Shigure trail Sara like a puppy was endearing, and her storyline was both amusing (with similarities to certain famished anime character stereotypes) and poignant as it progressed. I even appreciated the plot twists and the distinct personalities of characters in the three narratives. However, the game’s primary drawback lies in its repetitive combat, which becomes apparent when playing through the stories multiple times to fully grasp all their aspects.

Combat – Is There More?

In the demonstration, what I found enjoyable was the diverse range of enemy types and boss mechanics. It was engaging to figure out their movements and attack patterns, which added a fun element of difficulty. However, this learning-and-defeating process gradually loses its appeal as you advance through the game’s chapters.

Following the completion of Shigure’s second chapter, I assumed the story would loop back, repeating sections and enemies, allowing for the introduction of new characters. However, this was not the case. Instead, I found myself reliving the same experiences, with only a single additional final boss added. This repetition can become quite monotonous, leading one to simply follow routine until sufficient leveling is achieved to complete a character’s journey.

A fresh arrangement of rooms (or entirely novel sections) with an influx of fresh foes could significantly boost the game’s enjoyment. Currently, the opponents’ power and quantity increase slightly, but rather than making combat enjoyable, it merely extends the duration of battles. I appreciated mastering how to battle each enemy, but it would have been more satisfying if the learning process continued throughout the game.

Instead of repeating the same locations throughout all three narratives, it would have been more engaging if there were some variations or unique elements in each character’s journey. I found the Taketora section particularly challenging as I was playing through it for the last time, and having to relive the same experiences repeatedly almost led me to abandon his story entirely.

Strategize to Level Up

Death isn’t the last chapter. It might feel like ‘Game Over’, but remember, it doesn’t always mean that. I get it if you’re feeling a bit upset because you didn’t win this time, but losing is part of games like this. You die, then you grow stronger and try again. There are various strategies to boost your character’s abilities, both during the game and outside of it as well.

To begin with, selecting a weapon is quite crucial. Some offer fantastic advantages, whereas others come with significant restrictions. For instance, if Shigure is your preferred character for your initial gameplay (I’d recommend him for your first playthrough), my go-to combo would be the Undying Cuckoo and Summer Rain. The shield combined with water bullets, especially in the initial area saturated with water? It’s a no-brainer. After progressing through each stage, you’ll gain opportunities to upgrade weapon skills, which you should select thoughtfully as there are limited slots available. Focus on enhancing the weapon you utilize most frequently.

Between encounters with the bosses, you have additional opportunities to enhance your characters. Blessings offer unique enhancements but can also lower certain attributes. It’s worth exploring the food stall in this area too. Following each fight, you gather food ingredients and can sample dishes that boost Damage, HP, Shields, and so on.

Absolutely, when a game session ends prematurely due to your character’s death, you gain the opportunity to enhance your skills, whether they’re character-specific or general, as well as your weapons. However, they both require the same in-game currency, so it’s crucial to make thoughtful decisions about where to allocate your resources. There’s a wide variety of choices available, and after you’ve been defeated by enemies, you can devise an improved strategy using these new insights.

A JRPG Roguelite That I Want a Little More From

From the very start, I was eagerly anticipating that I would adore this game. The demo captivated me, and I was eager to discover more. The narrative, encompassing all three parts, is engaging, and I enjoy the way progression and leveling up occurs with each character. However, the repetitiveness in battles prevents it from reaching its full potential. If there were distinct regions for each character, this game could be extraordinary. At present, I’ve enjoyed myself, but it’s definitely time to take a break (and brace myself for weeks of nightmares about those boars).

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2025-05-20 13:51