Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade review

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a vibrant action roguelite set in a mythologized Edo-period Japan that blends fast-paced combat with an attractive art style. Developed by Taiwan-based 7Quark, the game provides players with the choice of three different protagonists: Shigure, Sara, and Taketora. Each has their own combat style and more interestingly, their own perspective of the game’s storyline. By tackling each character’s journey you’ll be treated to different, Rashomon-style points-of-view.

The intertwining and occasionally contradictory narratives as well as distinct playstyles all help contribute to the game’s replayability. But Yasha is also game that expects you to grind. Between miserly disbursement of health recovery items and the lack of any continues, expect the second boss to tentacle-slap you into a demoralizing pulp.

Turning Tako into Takoyaki

For the most part, Yasha’s combat is fast, fluid, as playables careen around the screen while showcasing a succession of weapon trails. Shigure, the immortal ninja, wields dual katanas with precision. Sara, the Oni Emissary, utilizes dual blades for her rapid assaults, while Taketora the Demon Samurai, combines ranged bow attacks with powerful melee strikes.

The game’s weapon system allows for customization through Soul Orbs that provide temporary rogue-like enhancements. Of course, permanent upgrades can be acquired between runs, adding a morsel of depth to the gameplay. But by the end of each character’s seven-hour trek, tedium is as dangerous as any monster.

A Middling Matsuri

The game employs a modicum of procedural generation across run. But before long, stage layouts and enemy groupings become predictable. Similarly, between stages, you’ll interact with NPC townsfolk and these conversations are disappointingly dry. There’s really no good reason why a Demon Festival should be boring.

On the upside, friendly yokai can provide rewards and there are a nice assortment of weapons for each character. Certainly, the inclusion of cooking mechanics, where you’ll make ramen for stat buff, adds just a bit of welcome flavor to the experience.

From Fodder Fighter to Incapable Combatant

That said, Yasha has other flaws. The parry mechanic, while mechanically interesting, suffers from a narrow timing window, making it difficult to execute consistently. This issue is particularly noticeable during chaotic encounters, where dashing is the more reliable defensive strategy.

Additionally, the game’s difficulty balancing will be a point of contention. The first ten minutes of a run is button-mashing, resource-generating pushover. But as mentioned previously, you’ll probably hit a roadblock when fighting the second boss. Like some lop-sided roguelikes, basic adversaries are rarely a threat while fighting some the game’s elevated enemies become tiring wars of attrition.

But it wouldn’t be right to neglect what might be Legends of the Demon Blade’s saving grace. Given the game’s robust weapon system, frequent power-ups, and meta-game progression, you can cultivate some truly satisfying movesets. After purchasing a new weapon and making a few shrewd decisions, Shigure was sending out multiple drill bits that would engulf enemies in flames. Hopefully, 7Quark can bring their elemental and synergistic nuances to other areas of the game with a future patch.

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade was played on
PC with review code provided by the publisher.