Sure thing, let’s shake things up a bit here with a twisty, earthy vibe:
—
Alright, so I tripped over this game, Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade. Oh man, where do I start? It’s by Game Source Entertainment and 7Quark, and it’s like Japanese fantasy but with a roguelite RPG twist right in the chaotic Edo period. A little side note: the Edo period isn’t all about fancy kimonos and tea ceremonies. Bandits and demons galore, right?
Anyway (or was it anyhow?), things were peachy between humans and demons back in the day. But, spoiler alert, peace went poof! The Nine-Tailed Fox, which sounds cute but is actually the big baddie, decides it’s time to crash the human party. Lucky us, three heroes show up—Shigure the Immortal Ninja (dying on the job and all that, seems normal here), Sara the Oni Emissary with a serious redemption arc, and Taketora… Dun-dun-dun, our fearless Demon Samurai!
Last year—wait, was it last year? Anyway—7Quark needed some cash, so they took the game to Kickstarter. Asked for HK$400,000, walked away with HK$609,000, cackling like demons, probably. They promised us April release but, surprise, surprise, it got pushed back to May. Classic game dev drama, am I right?
Now, about Shigure, miss ninja extraordinaire. Dual-wielding like it’s nobody’s business. Think combo queen, slashing through foes with style. She’s balanced, not like my breakfast this morning (forgot to make my coffee, can you imagine?). And Sara, she’s the zippy one, like a squirrel on espresso. Dashing everywhere, not doing as much damage but, hey, you can’t have it all. Taketora’s the tank—big, beefy, smashing things. Short dashes though. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Oh, controls! Important stuff. Use the left stick to wander around, Y for light hits, X for the heavy smacks. Dash with B—avoid those claws, ya know? Swap weapons with L, chat with folks using A.
If you see a yellow circle over a baddie, smash R for some fancy moves—an Ian Strike (who thinks up these names?). Hold R for the Grand Mystic Art, and watch ‘em squirm. All very satisfying, I might add.
Demon bashing gets you Soul Orbs. I know, sounds mystical, right? They’re like magic candy that gives you superpowers, temporarily. But long-term buffs? You get those at the shrine after dying—also normal, I guess, for roguelites.
Ah, and the village. A safe haven, unless you’re allergic to tea. There’s an old lady with magic tea, ramen that might kill you if not cooked right, and a Daruma thing with challenges. Win or lose, just try not to die (I say as if it’s easy to kill a bowl of ramen).
Weapons? Demon Blades hold all the spicy stats and elements. Unlock ‘em as you go. How about this: the Undying Cuckoo (not a typo) gives you shields like chicken soup for the soul. Or go fiery with Crimson Autumn, burning everything—metaphorically and literally.
Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is launching for Switch at $29.99. Do we save the world or do we just… play? Eh, maybe both? Try it out if you savor chaos wrapped in Edo nostalgia.
Oh, and thanks to Game Source Entertainment for hooking us up with a Nintendo Switch copy for this wacky adventure.
—
And there it is. Just a casual stroll through the game’s universe, sprinkled with sass and unexpected detours. Enjoy!
