Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Review

There is always a mix of excitement and caution when a game starts its journey on Kickstarter. The huge amount of money and passion behind it can sometimes make people set unrealistic goals that don't work out. But Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is different from the others. 

This action-roguelike game was made by Seven Quark and first released on Kickstarter a long time into the development process. The last bit of funding came at a crucial time when the producer put all of his own money into it. This promise and the excitement about its release got my attention, and now that I've read a lot of it, I can say that the wait was well worth it.

The game gets off to a great start, with a solid combat system and an interesting story that makes it stand out from other games. But it's not perfect. There are a few big problems that keep it from being a perfect experience. Still, the question remains: does Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade live up to its potential, or does it fail because it has too many goals? Let's get started.

The story of Yasha takes place in Japan during the Edo period. During this time, the Nine-Tailed Fox, who is in charge of the demons, breaks the fragile peace between humans and demons. The story then tells itself from the points of view of three different characters: Sarah, an oni messenger; Shigure, a demon samurai; and Taketora, an immortal ninja.

Each character's story is its own mini-epic. Sarah's is more comedic and emotional, Taketora's is about finding peace in the midst of chaos, and Shigure's is about redemption and getting over feeling like you're not good enough. Shigure is the heart of the game because her path is probably the most emotional.

Even though Saraand Taketora have interesting stories to tell, Shigure's inner struggles and complex personality give the story more depth. Even though the writing is well done, there are times when the translations aren't perfect. This doesn't take away from the main story, but it is noticeable at times. One possible downside is that the structure of the game is repetitive.

In typical roguelike fashion, almost every run will have the same locations, room layouts, and bosses. This might be a deal-breaker for some, but the game does a good job of keeping things fresh, especially with all the different ways you can build and improve your character.

Combat that moves quickly and smoothly is what Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is all about. You can pick from three different characters, each with their own skills and way of fighting. Shigure is good at a lot of things, Sarais quick like a glass cannon, and Taketora is strong like a bow.

You can switch between characters to fit your playstyle and the situation at hand, which gives the combat a lot of variety. The weapons that each character has give their moves more depth. Sarah's two daggers let her do quick combos that do a lot of damage, and Taketora's long-range bow lets her fight strategically from afar.

Shigure's balanced swordplay makes her the easiest to learn, but as you get better, she still adds more challenges. The battle system is easy to understand and fun to use. The heavy and light attacks are just right for combos and accuracy. While the game is fun, it does have some problems. Unfortunately, the parry system isn't always reliable and doesn't always work right, which can be frustrating.

This can slow down combat in a game where timing and reflexes are very important. The movement controls are also a little stiff, especially when you need to move quickly during a battle. The depth of the combat system is meant to keep you interested. The use of dashes and parries makes every fight more strategic.

You can enter a steel stance by holding down a button. If you time it right, you can parry and then use a mystic art that does extra damage. This system makes sure that fighting isn't just a matter of pressing buttons all the time, but takes some skill. When everything works right, the movement and combat systems work together smoothly, making for a fun and strategic experience.

The gameplay loop is fun enough to get past the same stages over and over. Most of your time will be spent improving your skills, making new weapons, and moving through arenas full of enemies. You can heal, buy upgrades, and cook meals at rest areas between levels. This keeps things interesting and stops them from getting boring.

But even though the fighting is good, there aren't many different types of bosses. Even though there are some clever mechanics, the bosses are always the same, and the lack of enemies that are unique to each character makes the game feel less unique. Still, the encounters are fun because of the complicated telegraphs and patterns, and the challenge missions make it even more fun to play again and again.

Combat is the main way to earn XP, and each boss fight gives you materials that you can use to improve your character. The RPG gameplay is simple: you level up your stats and unlock new skills, which gives you a satisfying sense of progress. Making weapons is also very important because it gives each character different benefits that change how they play.

In between runs, there are short breaks that serve as hubs where you can buy upgrades, cook meals, or take on timed challenge missions. The overall speed of the game is fast and fun, and these areas help make it that way. A lot of rooms need to be cleared, characters need to be improved, and then you have to get back into the fight.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a stunning game to look at. Traditional Japanese ink paintings and watercolor-style graphics are a big part of the art direction. This makes the game look ethereal and almost painted, which adds to the fantasy feel.

The environments are very detailed, with everything from lush forests to creepy dungeons full of demons. Each area feels alive, and the level of detail in the boss fights and character designs is clear. The graphics always blow me away; they make the world look both beautiful and dangerous.

 Each character model fits their personality and backstory, making them easy to remember. Bosses stand out because of how scary they look, which makes every encounter feel like a real battle of wills.

Another great thing about Yasha is its soundtrack. The mix of traditional Japanese instruments and orchestral music fits the setting perfectly and makes both exploration and battle more emotional. The music makes the atmosphere interesting, whether you're walking through peaceful villages or getting ready for a tough boss fight.

It might feel like a missed opportunity that there is no voice acting in the cutscenes, but the music does a great job of pulling you into the world, making up for the lack of dialogue.

The action-roguelike game Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is fun and satisfying. The combat moves quickly and smoothly, and the mechanics and character abilities are fun to use. The story is deep and emotionally compelling, and each main character has a unique journey. The repetitive structure and lack of different bosses keep the game from being great, but it still has great gameplay, a lot of ways to customize it, and an interesting world.