People play games for many reasons! Some like to relax or socialise, whereas others love to push themselves to their limits. These hardcore gamers adore the challenge and rewards that come with these tough titles. Therefore, unsurprisingly, Metroidvania games are high up on their must-play list. Demoniaca: Everlasting Night ticks a lot of boxes and will attract many fans to its sexy and dark charms.
Developed by AKI and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is an RPG platformer with a Metroidvania twist. Presented with an old-school aesthetic while utilising some well-trodden mechanics, this side-scrolling game will appeal to many.
Demoniaca: Everlasting Night is unforgiving.
Demoniaca: Everlasting Night sets the tone very early on by warning you of its rogue-lite ambitions. If the Metroidvania genre wasn’t hard enough, this twist manages to up the anti beautifully. Yet, somehow, this brutal element complements the gameplay. You won’t mind the increase in challenge as it’s reined in by other mechanics.
The classic side-scrolling action is filled with retro charm. Older gamers will love the nostalgia-fuelled moments, while younger players will enjoy the old-school vibes. The tower of Babel is a dark and mysterious place full of dangers. The hero must explore every room to discover its secrets while battling hideous creatures. It’s not a game for the faint of heart and loss and failure are all but guaranteed.
Solo or co-op action.
When you are getting your ass handed to you repeatedly, it’s nice to turn to a friend for help. Luckily, Demoniaca: Everlasting Night incorporates a couch cooperative mode. Right at the start, you are introduced to a demonic being who can be summoned! This ungodly beast is your companion that adds firepower to your attack. It was an excellent addition to the gameplay while helping to balance the unwavering difficulty.
If you are familiar with Metroidvania games, much of what unfolds won’t surprise you. You must explore a maze of interconnected rooms while unlocking new abilities and discovering secrets. You have the freedom to explore while tackling an array of monsters. These heinous creatures have strengths and weaknesses and you just exploit them with your demonic sidekick if you wish to succeed.
RPG elements and many abilities.
The dungeon crawling elements are supported by some excellent RPG elements. The developers have incorporated character levelling, a basic stat system, and a large list of attribute adjusting equipment. You collect necklaces and trinkets, clothing, charms and so forth. These objects increase your strength, speed, and more. It was another fantastic tool that reduced the harsh gameplay. Moreover, you’ll increase your stats while looking fashionable at the same time.
Alongside the ridiculous amounts of equipment, you’ll discover a stupidly large list of abilities to learn and master. These combo attacks must be utilised to open new paths while tackling your foes. This was one layer that I was equally impressed and frustrated with. Sadly, the sheer volume of attacks was overwhelming and was tough to learn. This was frustrating, as it undermines the action while ruining the fluidity. Its positives, however, were that you can approach situations in multiple ways, and this keeps things fresh.
Demoniaca: Everlasting Night is gothic and sexy.
When a game attempts to over sexualise matters, I normally scowl. I’m no prude, but the normal Anime/Manga OTT style is too much. Luckily, however, Demoniaca: Everlasting Night has a wonderfully dark and gothic theme that is interlaced with a sexy protagonist. Furthermore, this is complemented by the cutscenes. They tease you with pixelated images of the hot hero and her foes. Moreover, the oppressive colour palette and horrendous creatures add to the sinister action.
Metroidvania is all about interesting level design. Fortunately, this doesn’t let you down. It was fascinating to delve into the labyrinth while discovering secret rooms and hidden treasures.
Old-school titles are renowned for their memorable audio and Demoniaca: Everlasting Night has a fabulous soundtrack. Its grungy, rock sounds enhance the evil aesthetics while demanding you keep going. I loved the hard-hitting tunes and the shrill sound effects. This is retro gaming personified and was a fascinating trip down memory lane.
It’s hard to master.
Experts and veterans of the genre will probably disagree, but this is too hard to master. Fundamentally, it’s sound, but to progress and get the most out of it is unfairly challenging. There are simply too many abilities and special moves, so learning them all is nearly impossible. Yet, if you get to grips with it, you’ll experience a responsive and well-mapped set-up that’s fun to play.
This is a fantastic and well-considered example of multiple genres working together. Therefore, it’s full of replay value and is addictive. However, it’s really challenging and unforgiving to newcomers and this may put some players off. On top of this, its achievement list is brutal. This adds to its harsh nature while increasing the longevity, further still. Consequently, you get a game that is great value for money if you can overcome the tough learning curve.
Demoniaca: Everlasting Night is tough but worth it.
All the best things in life are worth fighting for! Demoniaca: Everlasting Night is tough, but it’s oh so rewarding. It’ll test your patience and resolve while kicking your ass repeatedly. It pulls no punches and takes no prisoners, but this makes it so moreish. Aesthetically, it’s brilliantly retro while offering interesting stage design and couch co-op action. Its only negative is its complex ability list that is overwhelming. Even though I struggled, I loved it and recommend you to buy it here! Can you survive the tower of Babel? Probably not, but who cares? Search the labyrinth, discover the secrets, and tackle every foe you face.
