As 2019 is at the half way point, Nippon Ichi Software/Nippon Ichi Software America continue to roll out more games, with fans eagerly the release of Trails of Cold Steel III this October. Until then let’s check out the gem-filled, loot-tastic world of Lapis x Labyrinth for the Nintendo Switch.
Jewels, precious jewels
Stylized, colorful graphics- When people think of rouge-likes/lites they tend to think of dark brooding dungeons and monsters straight out of the D&D monster manual, not colorful backgrounds and cute chibi style characters. Lapis x Labyrinth’s dungeon floors, monsters and the characters are colorful and stylized. It kind of reminds me of games like Odin Sphere and Muramasa.
Simple premise- While story isn’t the main focus of rouge-likes/lites, Lapis x Labyrinth has a pretty simple yet enjoyable story. The story is as follows: There was small town near a place called the Golden Forest. The forest glowed golden due in part to a golden tree at the center of the labyrinth of trees. Adventurers far and wide came to the forest seeking the tree and the riches it would bring. So they would use the town as their base since the town was located right near the entrance of the forest labyrinth. However none of the adventurers could ever locate the golden tree and started to leave. As more and more adventurers started to leave the town was abandoned and forgotten. Desperate the town mayor makes a request to the Guild for some adventurers to come help revive the town by travailing through that labyrinth to search for the golden tree and sweet, sweet loot along the way. While the story maybe a bit sort, it is pretty enjoyable and gives enough motivation to run through the labyrinth for sweet loot.
Jewels, glorious jewels-I think I’ve mentioned this many, many times before: when it comes to dungeon crawlers, rouge-likes/rouge-lites and RPGs in general I am a loot fiend. I impulsively pick up any thing that shiny and not nailed to the floor. I will farm for hours just to get a rare drop even though I’m already passed the level required to use it. I will chase down thieves and take my loot back even though what he stole is just pocket change compared to what I have stored away. With that being said, Lapis x Labyrinth feeds my loot need. From the various weapons, armors and items to the rainbow of jewels and gems that explode out of monsters and blocks when Fever mode is activated, there is no shortage of loot to gather. This warms by little goblin loot heart.
Rouge-lite for beginners- While rouge-lites are a more tone down version of rouge-likes some may still be a bit too intimidating for new players to the genre to jump into. Lapis x Labyrinth is actually pretty beginner friendly. players form a party of four, deck them out in equipment and then explore the dungeon floors as fast as they can while gathering as much loot as they can. Players don’t have to worry about specing out skill points to their characters as their base stats will all level up automatically when they get enough exp. The only way players can directly influence their party’s stats is through their gear. Through the gear that players find in the dungeon floors, they can influence their party’s stats. However this is a bit restricted by an equipment cost. Each item, weapon and armor has an equipment cost. The stronger and rarer the item, weapon and armor, the higher equipment cost. Players will have to keep this in mind and think strategically when equipping their party. For example: A one star weapon maybe less powerful than a two star weapon, but that one star weapon might have a stat that gives extra damage to plant and flying type monsters while the two star weapon doesn’t have that stat and the party is in a floor that has ton of plant and flying monsters. This makes players have to think about the party’s loadout and be a bit more tactical.
Nitpicks
Race against time- Most rouge-likes/lites that I’ve played usually let you explore around the dungeon with no time restrictions. If anything, the longer my party is down there, the better the loot I will find. However monster encounters will start to get harder and harder the longer I’m in the dungeon. Lapis x Labyrinth has a timer set for about five minuets. Within these five minuets players will have to find purple gems to fill a meter. They will have to fill the meter just enough to open the portal to the next floor. This leave no time for exploring, and has players rushing through to make it in time. If they don’t a death spirit thing will descend into the floor and chase the player’s party around until it catches up with them and insta-kills the party. This isn’t a deal breaker nor does it hinder my enjoyment of the game, I just find it a bit annoying.
Small floors- In tandem with the time limit, the dungeon floors are pretty small and can be completed in a couple of minuets, seconds if players know what they are doing. Again not a deal breaker nor a hinder to all the loot finding.
Lapis x Labyrinth, while having a time limit and small dungeon floors, its a fun and entertaining and great entry point for those who are curious about rouge-like/lites and for those who love loot. Its simple story is entertaining, the art cute and did I mention all the wonderful loot? As I mentioned the game is pretty beginner friendly, yet can get tactical when gearing your party up. If you’re a loot goblin like me or want rouge-like/lite that’s simple fun and enjoyable, Lapis x Labyrinth is worth checking out.
8/10
