Akuma Rise review

There’s still comfort to be found in a traditional turn-based JRPG. Sure, some might find entertainment in sprawling sandboxes or live-service gimmicks. But for me, there’s something irrefutably fulfilling about gathering a plucky party, fighting through ever-intensifying battles, and uncovering the mystery behind an amnesiac protagonist. Yes, that’s the kind of nostalgia that radiates through Akuma Rise. For the most part, KEMCO’s latest release understands the delights of retro role-playing, so set your expectations to a genre experience straight out of the turn of the century.

Developed by EXE Create, Akuma doesn’t tamper with the formula much. Instead, the team layers on some retro-inspired pixel visuals with modern lighting effects, ensures that combat feels snappy, all carried by a surprisingly charming cast. The result isn’t going to rival top-tier RPGs. But it’s a consistently enjoyable adventure for anyone craving a fresh experience that’s still rooted in tradition.

Memory Loss, Demon Princesses, and Other Familiarities

Akuma Rise’s story is set in the demon realm of Adribune, a region that’s experiencing chaos after the disappearance of its Overlord. Now, rival factions are scrambling for control while invaders from the Radiant Realm threaten to consume everything. At the center of all this is Kaine, a demon warrior who awakens on a beach with no memory of his past. After being rescued by Iroha, one of the demon princesses, he puts his own pursuits on hold to help keep the world from collapsing while hoping to uncover answers about his identity in the process.

And yes, the premise isn’t exactly novel, blending a multitude of role-playing tropes into a recipe where the dominant taste is familiarity. But that’s not a disadvantage here, with Akuma letting you follow the story without the kind of effort some newer games require. Best of all, taut pacing, solid characterization, and energetic interactions help keep the momentum going. In particular, a trio of demon princesses add a lot of personality to the adventure, balancing dramatic moments with some humor and even a bit of warmth.

Sure, the writing won’t leave you emotionally ravaged or shocked like some modern RPGs like to do, and that’s OK. I don’t need every JRPG to be a tearjerker or plot twister, I just need exposition that’s entertaining enough to keep me going. I like how the game eschews overstaying its welcome. Story scenes are usually concise, dungeons move quickly, and new mechanics are introduced at a steady rate, ensuring a solid sense of momentum across the campaign.

Fast Battles, Flashy Skills, and Late-Game Fatigue

Another of Akuma Rise’s strengths is the game’s combat system, at least across the early hours. Battles use a side-view perspective with turn-based commands. And while that might not sound exciting, there’s enough customization to keep encounters engaging. Characters can equip magical orbs that unlock abilities and passive bonuses, allowing you to tweak party roles in advantageous ways. POW skills add a bit of nuance, offering powerful signature attacks that can shift the flow of fights when deployed strategically.

What makes the combat particularly enjoyable is its punchy pacing. Standard encounters move quickly, menus are responsive, and there’s the ability to let the CPU manage easy skirmishes, while attack animations ensure that battles remain visually interesting. Akuma Rise understands that traditional combat systems should maintain a sense of momentum. As such, the game rarely bogs players down with unnecessary delays or details. But as Akuma heads toward its conclusion, tedium can set in, as the game feels like it front-loads much of its novelty. Undoubtedly, some of this is a holdover from the game’s mobile roots, with DLC intended to offset the grindiness.

Yet, there is a satisfying sense of progression across the campaign. Unlocking new orb combinations and discovering powerful skill synergies generates a gratifying gameplay loop. Pleasingly, the game encourages experimentation without overwhelming you with unnecessarily complicated systems. Sure, if you’re trying to, you’ll find optimal builds that can blemish the difficulty balance. But largely, you have to be looking to do so. For most players, the challenge will feel fair and engaging.

Purple Reign

Yes, KEMCO-published titles often share a similar low-budget aesthetic. And while Akuma isn’t going to shake off that stereotype, it looks better than most of the publisher’s efforts. Its colorful art direction is definitely a step in the right direction, but sporadically EXE Create flirts with gaudiness through a palette that goes hard on pinks, purples, and lavender. But even that’s forgivable, as it sets the title apart from the sea of drab medieval tones that dominate fantasy settings. Best of all, character portraits are reasonably expressive, environments attempt to be varied, and spell effects channel just enough spectacle to convey power.

That said, Akuma is unmistakably a modestly budgeted RPG. Exploration areas can occasionally feel utilitarian, NPC animations and dialogue are fairly limited, and some environmental textures lack detail. Yes, dungeons can grow repetitive with their basic corridors, and some puzzles are too predictable. Meanwhile, players expecting the production values of a showcase role-playing game will probably be disappointed. But given the game’s ambitions and KEMCO’s track record, Akuma Rise does a competent job of building a visually appealing and reasonably detailed world.

A Familar Trek, But One Worth Taking

Akuma Rise never quite escapes the limitations of its budget or the familiarity of its ideas, but it does balance these issues with strong pacing, satisfying combat systems, and a likable cast. If you’re a JRPG fan who still appreciates the comforts of an old-school adventure, EXE Create delivers an enjoyable journey that understands exactly what makes the genre timeless. Akuma might not be revolutionary, but it’s a worthwhile respite before tackling the next epic, big-budget adventure.

Akuma Rise was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher