The roguelite genre is so happily embraced these days, it’s almost like there’s an overload of games that use it. That’s fine, really, because you see what different indie devs can do with the formula. Game Source Entertainment and 7Quark have decided to give this a try with the hack-and-slash RPG Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade. And, for the most part, they succeed in finding their niche.
The game takes place during the Edo period, with a battle between demons and humans breaking down to plain ol’ domination. But, luckily, you have three warriors that are willing to step up and restore the balance – however they can. This is done through a series of battles that, while somewhat repetitive, do manage to deliver. Not to mention the ability to unlock new weapons, which is nice.
That said, the storytelling does fall a bit on the mundane side. For a game where a monstrous battle is taking place, there’s very little to keep pushing forward. It can also take a bit to make true progress, since you’re counter-balancing three characters across one little save file.
Still, with a colorful art style and lots of weapons to unlock, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade isn’t bad at all. I mean, Hades it isn’t, but it’s nice to see 7Quark step up and bring something cool to the table.
There’s a Handful of Demons With Yasha
Ugh. Don’t you hate it when someone breaks a deal? The Nine-Tailed Fox apparently decided to cut their bargain short in a balance between humans and demons. As a result, all sorts of fights are breaking out, and it’s up to your three heroes to save the day.
Shigure carries a ninja sword with a great deal of range. Sara can use her twin daggers to dish out devastating combos. And Taketora can strike both up close and afar, thanks to devastating close attacks and a bow. It is nice to have some variety here, along with an abundant amount of weapons to unlock for each one.
I do wish there was a save file for each separate character, though. Putting them all under the same game file does make it a little difficult to progress more smoothly. In fact, that’s one of the game’s biggest sticking points – it takes a while to make huge strides forward.
At least the journey’s worth it, though. The combat, though mildly repetitive, is great fun. Plus the new weapons actually make a difference once you unlock them. Finally, the boss battles mix things up in a very creative manner.
I do wish there was co-op of some kind, but Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade holds a worthy solo adventure. I do warn you, though, that it’s a bit of an uphill climb. That said, fans of the genre should have no trouble making the journey.
How Does Yasha Hold Up With Presentation?
Even though it’s not a highly-funded effort like, say, Hades II, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade has a pretty good presentation to it.
The visuals are bright and colorful, and have an Edo sort of vibe to them. The warriors look like traditional ones, and the enemy variety is both thoughtful and challenging. I love the boss designs as well. Level design could use a slight bit more diversity, but it’s not too shabby at all.
Likewise, the audio is great, with thematic music throughout the game and lots of brutal sound effects. I do wish there was more voicework, but it too holds up to standard.
One huge gripe, however, is the writing. For a game that puts the end of the world into focus, it just seems to be…average? I kind of expected more in a high stakes battle between demons and humans. As it stands, it does hold together enough to keep you hacking and slashing, so there’s that.
Grasp the Demon Blade
How much you enjoy Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade really depends on your love of the genre. On the one hand, the writing could’ve been better and, man, the progression can definitely take a while. But on the other, the combat is smooth; the variety of weapons is awesome; and the visuals hit the spot. It’s more good than bad, and recommended for fans of the genre.
Here’s hoping we continue to see indie devs make strides in pushing on through particular genres. Yasha may not be a shining example, but darn it if it still gets our attention in a good way.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Game Source Entertainment for providing us a review code! Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is available now for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC/Steam!
Need more hack and slash goodness? Check out our review of Slave Zero X!
