Info about Labyrinth Of The Demon King:

Official game description:
Information on Demo
===================
Please note demo save data **does not carry over to the main game**. The demo is derived from an older version of the game, and the current full version has improvements to mechanics, balancing, and fixes for certain things (such as translation/localisation only partially displaying in selected languages).
About the Game
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**Labyrinth of the Demon King is a challenging first-person dungeon crawler, set against the backdrop of a mythical feudal Japan besieged by demons.** As a lone foot soldier, embark on a quest to track down and slay the Demon King who killed your Lord. But will you have the skill, resources and stamina needed to survive through all the horrors this brutal world will throw at you?  
_"The world is in chaos, and has entered the latter age of the Dharma.  
Society is crumbling and war has spread throughout the country.  
Disease and famine have killed thousands, and demons walk the very earth itself.  
You are an 'Ashigaru', a foot soldier in the service of Lord Takeda Nobumitsu.  
Deceived by a powerful demon king, your lord led his army into an ambush. All perished except for you. Against your wishes your lord sacrificed his life to aid your escape from the battle.  
You have made a vow to track down the demon who betrayed your lord and end its life.  
You take what could possibly be your final breaths on this mortal plane, and prepare yourself to enter…  
The Labyrinth of the Demon King!"_
**Features:**
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**Discover A Grim World**
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Immerse yourself in the foreboding, dark world of the Demon King, a setting inspired by feudal Japan and brought to life in a gorgeous retro-grim art style. Complete with dither filters for that genuine PS1 feel.
**Prove Yourself in Combat**
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Arm yourself with your wits and a select range of weapons, from katanas and naginatas to muskets and bows, as you engage in brutal, challenging combat. Revel in accomplishment and extreme satisfaction as you take down various Yōkai from ancient myth, and other horrific abominations that dwell in the labyrinth.
**Explore the Labyrinth**
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As you trudge through the dark, twisted corridors of the Labyrinth, explore every nook and cranny for limited resources. Sets of armor and talismans change your fortunes in combat, and important clues help solve puzzles laid out before you by the Demon King.
**Decide, Friend or Foe?**
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Engage with other strange characters on your journey. Some offer things you might need, others a simple moment of respite, but be careful who you decide to trust - it could affect your fate.

Release date: 13 May, 2025

Categories: First-Person Dungeon Crawler, Survival Horror, First-Person Melee Combat, Exploration, Resource Management, Puzzle Solving, Single-player Story, Character Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent, immersive, oppressive atmosphere (weight 0.96): The game excels in creating a strong, immersive, and oppressive atmosphere through its visuals, sound design, and music. This atmosphere is consistently praised for generating tension, dread, and a sense of unease, drawing players deeper into the game's world. Many reviewers compare the atmosphere to classic horror titles like Silent Hill and Siren.
- Appealing retro PS1-style graphics (weight 0.95): The game features a distinct and appealing visual style, often described as a 'retro' or 'PS1-style' aesthetic. This choice enhances the horror atmosphere and evokes nostalgia for classic survival horror games. The art style is consistently praised as a strong and effective element of the game's presentation.
- Blends classic horror elements well (weight 0.24): The game successfully blends elements from classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and King's Field, while also incorporating a unique feudal Japanese setting. This combination creates a familiar yet refreshing experience for fans of the genre. The game's world-building and cultural weight are also praised, reinterpreting Japanese legends through a horror lens.
- General praise and positive sentiments (weight 0.04): These points express general positive sentiments about the game, such as it being a 'true gem,' 'worth every dollar,' and a 'love letter to the genre.' While positive, these points lack specific details and constructive feedback, reducing their overall importance.
- Compelling story and world-building (weight 0.04): The game features a compelling story that unfolds gradually as players explore the labyrinth. The narrative is enhanced by diary entries, plaques, and dialogue, adding depth to the game's world and characters. The final reveal is satisfying and re-frames the plot in a meaningful way.
- Charismatic and essential NPCs (weight 0.04): The game features charismatic and essential NPCs who sell unique items and offer weapon combination services. The NPC system is reminiscent of Dark Souls, with NPCs moving around and having different dialogue options depending on quest progression. These NPCs add depth and personality to the game's world.
- Excellent early dungeon design (weight 0.04): The first two towers are highlighted for their excellent dungeon design, particularly the first tower, which showcases the best survival horror and resource management elements. The game's environment construction shines in these early areas. However, the quality may dip in later sections of the game.
- Original and unsettling cutscenes (weight 0.03): The game features original and unsettling cutscenes that contribute to the overall horror atmosphere. The cutscene stylization is well-received and adds to the game's unique presentation. Some reviewers noted similarities to Forbidden Siren.

Common complaints:
- Confusing, disorienting level design (weight 0.42): The game's level design and environments are frequently described as confusing, labyrinthine, and disorienting, leading to players getting lost and experiencing tedious backtracking. The color palette and low-resolution textures exacerbate these navigation issues. Many reviewers also felt that the game world's color palette and low resolution textures exacerbate navigation issues, leading to missed areas.
- Clunky, unpolished combat system (weight 0.42): Many reviewers found the combat clunky, unpolished, and lacking responsiveness. Specific issues include slow animations, poor hitboxes, stamina limitations, and repetitive parry-strike sequences. Some reviewers also felt that the combat didn't evolve much past the first few hours.
- Game feels short, rushed (weight 0.37): Multiple reviewers felt the game was too short and lacked sufficient content for the price. The ending felt rushed and abrupt, leaving them wanting more. Many reviewers also wished for a New Game Plus mode to extend replayability.
- Bosses are too easy (weight 0.19): Many reviewers found the game's bosses too easy, especially when using ranged weapons or certain strategies. Some felt the bosses were trivial and didn't require learning attack patterns, while others noted that regular enemies posed a greater challenge.
- Scarce upgrade materials, limited progression (weight 0.1): Reviewers felt that weapon upgrade materials were too scarce, limiting progression and experimentation with different weapons. The abundance of weapons is undermined by the fact that only 2-3 weapons will be actively used, and weapon swapping is not possible. Additionally, upgrading weapons could trivialize the game's difficulty.
- Poor map, enemy respawns, locked doors (weight 0.09): The game lacks a quest log, compass, or live-updating map, making navigation confusing. Enemies respawn frequently, leading to tedious encounters and encouraging players to run past them. The number of locked doors can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when lost.
- Later towers lack polish (weight 0.06): The later warden towers are not as polished in design as the first one. The last tower consists of linear corridors with annoying skeletons that feel like a chore to beat. The final tower and boss feel rushed and lack polish; the tower design is considered poor.
- Clunky, poorly designed UI (weight 0.06): The user interface is frequently described as clunky, poorly designed, and unintuitive. Reviewers noted issues with menu navigation, delays, and difficulty discerning the current selection.
- Forced 4:3 aspect ratio (weight 0.06): The game enforces a 4:3 aspect ratio with letterboxing, regardless of the player's resolution. The retro graphic style is too dirty, and the cutscene quality is only 480p. The game has a framerate lock, which is a complaint, but the developers are planning to address it.
- Lacks New Game Plus mode (weight 0.04): The game lacks a New Game Plus (NG+) mode. The game would have been better with one extra level before the end. The game has a single ending, despite the final boss's dialogue suggesting an option to join forces.
- Uninteresting, limited NPC interaction (weight 0.03): NPCs aren't complex or deep and don't have much to offer or say. There is a lack of interaction with NPCs, with no option to talk to them after defeating the demon king or any epilogue. The sound NPCs make when they speak is disturbing.
- Slow stamina regeneration (weight 0.03): Waiting for stamina after fights can take too long. Consumables instantly heal or regenerate stamina in combat, which could be improved with an animation. The stamina bar is always empty, and it regenerates very slowly.
- No penalty for dying (weight 0.03): There are no penalties for dying, apart from the loss of used consumables. The unpunishing death system devalues health pickups and upgrades. If you die and respawn without loading a save, items used before death are not restored, leading to resource loss on boss fights.
- Annoying insect enemies (weight 0.03): Enemy insects have an unfair reach advantage, requiring players to use a specific stomp attack to counter them effectively. A small bug enemy attacks quickly, has a tiny hitbox, inflicts poison, and requires crouching to hit until a weapon with sufficient reach is acquired.
- Poor translation quality (weight 0.03): The game's Chinese translation is somewhat abstract. The demo has translation and mechanical issues. The machine-translated text detracts from the carefully crafted Japanese atmosphere. There are spelling mistakes and poorly written text in the game.
- Genre identity unclear (weight 0.03): The game is tagged as a dungeon crawler, but it's more of a survival horror experience. The game uses a familiar survival horror template with an unkillable enemy that the player is seemingly forced to awaken.

Gameplay feedback:
- Challenging, methodical melee combat (weight 0.21): The game features methodical first-person melee combat with stamina management, dodging, parrying, and varied weapons. Combat is challenging, requiring strategic baiting, timing, and adaptation to different enemy types, reminiscent of games like Condemned and King's Field.
- Labyrinthine exploration and puzzles (weight 0.15): The game emphasizes exploration of labyrinthine environments with puzzles, item collection, and occasional enemy encounters. The level design encourages memorization and back-and-forth exploration, drawing inspiration from classic survival horror titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
- Varied weapon stats, limited uniqueness (weight 0.07): Weapons offer diverse effects, speeds, and stamina costs, encouraging experimentation. However, some reviewers found the weapons lacked unique characteristics, and the absence of a quick-swap feature makes weapon switching cumbersome.
- Slow-paced, basic gameplay (weight 0.05): The game features slow-paced gameplay, which some found heavy and unforgiving, requiring patience to master the combat system. The world-building attempts are vague, leaving many questions unanswered.
- Parrying is more effective than dodging (weight 0.04): Parrying is essential for countering fast attacks, while dodging is less useful. Stamina management is crucial, as attacking and dodging consume stamina, and stamina recovery is slow.
- Inspired by King's Field (weight 0.04): The game is a first-person dungeon crawler inspired by King's Field, with survival horror elements and a Japanese setting.
- Weapon and armor upgrades (weight 0.04): Players can upgrade weapons and armor, and replenish supplies through merchants and blacksmiths. The game includes a hub area with NPCs that provide different services, similar to Dark Souls.
- Diverse enemies from Japanese folklore (weight 0.04): The game features a diverse bestiary based on Japanese mythology and folklore. Enemies employ various weapons and tactics, including ambushes and infighting.
- Resource management is important (weight 0.03): The game blends dungeon crawler and survival horror elements, requiring players to manage resources like ammunition and talismans while navigating the maze and solving puzzles.
- Lenient death system (weight 0.03): The game is lenient with death, returning players to the last save point without significant penalty. This reduces the value of health potions and upgrades, as dying and respawning becomes a viable strategy.
- Enemies fight each other (weight 0.02): Enemies will sometimes fight each other, which can create opportunities for the player.
- Simple revenge story (weight 0.02): The story is simple: a loyal retainer seeks revenge for his lord's death by ghouls.
- Simple puzzles (weight 0.02): The game has a focus on puzzle elements that are not too complex or confusing.
- Katana feels good (weight 0.01): The katana feels like a katana, providing physical engagement in combat. The player character is an experienced warrior capable of using katanas, clubs, yari, and naginata.

Performance notes:
- Generally well-optimized performance (weight 0.04): Many players report that the game is well-optimized, runs smoothly, and works well on the Steam Deck. Some players specifically praise the graphics for effectively capturing the intended PSX-era aesthetic.
- Minor graphical glitches present (weight 0.03): Several minor graphical glitches were mentioned, including texture pop-in, textures taking a moment to load after entering a new area, menu flickering, and many loading screens. While not game-breaking, these issues can be distracting.
- Servant cutscene issues noted (weight 0.02): Specific issues were noted with the servant cutscene, including unbalanced audio mixing and the cutscene triggering unexpectedly. These issues detract from the presentation of the game.
- Camera shake and glitch effects (weight 0.01): The game uses camera shake and glitch effects. While these may be intentional stylistic choices, their impact on player experience is subjective and could be potentially distracting or disorienting for some.
- Black screen issue reported (weight 0.01): One player reported a black screen issue that was not resolved by updating Windows. This suggests a potential compatibility problem or a bug that needs further investigation.

Recommendations:
- Strongly recommended; enjoyable experience (weight 0.52): Many reviewers enjoyed the game and recommend it, citing its engaging qualities and expressing satisfaction with their purchase. Some suggest it's a GOTY contender or a 'marvel'. Many are looking forward to future content, sequels, or replaying the game, indicating a positive overall experience despite potential flaws.
- Worth the price, or wait for sale (weight 0.35): Several reviewers suggest the game is worth its asking price, while others recommend waiting for a sale, especially given the game's short length. The game is considered a worthwhile purchase for those interested in the genre or specific elements it offers.
- Recommended for genre/game fans (weight 0.27): The game is frequently recommended for fans of specific games and genres, particularly survival horror, dungeon crawlers, and titles like King's Field, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil. Reviewers highlight the game's appeal to those who appreciate retro aesthetics, challenging gameplay, and atmospheric horror experiences.
- Frustrating; not universally recommended (weight 0.06): Some reviewers cannot recommend the game due to frustrating experiences, such as issues with specific enemies or a lack of fluidity in combat. One reviewer even requested a refund, suggesting significant issues that detract from the overall experience.
- Desire for more content/sequel (weight 0.05): Some reviewers express a desire for more content or a sequel, indicating they enjoyed the game's format and want to see it expanded upon. The game's length is a point of discussion, with some feeling it hit a good runtime while others wanted more.
- Retro style with smooth gameplay (weight 0.04): The game is praised for its retro-realistic style and smooth gameplay, improving upon older PS1 and DOS games. Reviewers recommend it for its atmosphere, visuals, and puzzle-solving, suggesting it captures the essence of classic titles while offering a modern experience.
- Promising for future games (weight 0.02): Reviewers see the game as a stepping stone for the developer, suggesting they have the potential to create masterpieces in the future. The game is viewed as a promising foundation for future projects, particularly in the melee game genre.
- Try the demo first (weight 0.02): Several reviewers suggest trying the demo before purchasing the full game. This recommendation indicates that the demo provides a good representation of the core gameplay and allows potential buyers to assess whether the game aligns with their preferences.
- Runs well on Steam Deck (weight 0.02): Reviewers indicate that the game runs well on Steam Deck, despite its compatibility status being 'unknown'. This suggests that players can confidently purchase the game for Steam Deck without encountering significant technical issues.

Other player notes:
- Ending and chase sequence clarity (weight 0.02): Some players found the ending abrupt, but it makes sense when considering the information from the scrolls. One chase sequence near the end may seem like it loops, but players should continue upwards to progress.
- Intriguing, unexplained game elements (weight 0.02): Reviewers expressed curiosity about specific elements within the game, such as the four towers, empty statue pedestals, and unopened bathing chambers. These details suggest a deeper lore and world that players are eager to explore and understand.
- Problematic save shrine placement (weight 0.01): The placement of save shrines in the Tower of Lamentation's teahouse is problematic because players are immediately surrounded by enemies upon spawning. This can lead to frustrating and unfair situations for players.
- Minor, non-game-breaking bugs (weight 0.01): The game has minor bugs that don't break the game and could be addressed as quality-of-life improvements. Addressing these would improve the overall player experience.
- Developer plans future updates (weight 0.01): The developer is actively working on improving the game with a planned NG+ mode and future updates. This indicates a commitment to supporting the game and addressing player feedback.
- Distinctive snuff film aesthetic (weight 0.01): The game's use of a 4:3 aspect ratio and film grain creates a distinctive snuff film aesthetic. This stylistic choice contributes to the game's overall horror atmosphere.
- Seek community help if stuck (weight 0.01): The reviewer recommends searching community discussions for help with difficult sections. This suggests that some sections of the game may be challenging and require external assistance.
- Estus Flask analogy with matcha (weight 0.01): The game features an Estus Flask analogy involving matcha. This is a reference to the Dark Souls series, where the Estus Flask is a healing item.
- Game name includes Labyrinth (weight 0.01): The game's name includes "Labyrinth". This is a reference to the game's setting and gameplay.

Emotions:
No emotions}