TheRecord of Lodoss Warfranchise is somewhat of an enigma to western audiences, though it is most likely recognizable as a fantasy anime series from the 90s. There have been a number of video games based on the series, but the latest,Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth, is the first to jump into the Metroidvania genre. The game is generating positive buzz ahead of its release.
Record of Lodoss Waractually got its start as aDungeons and Dragons"replay" that ran in the Japanese magazine Comptiq from 1986 to 1988. A “replay” is a transcript of an RPG session, and theRecord of Lodoss Warproved to be such a popular replay that it was made into a series of fantasy novels. From there it grew into a huge multimedia hit, but has remained relatively niche outside Japan. Given thatDungeons and Dragonsis experiencing a renaissanceof late, reintroducing folks to the world of Forcelia, whereRecord of Lodoss Wartakes place, seems fitting.
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This is the franchise’s first foray into the Metroidvania genre, withRecord of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthtaking inspiration fromthe legendaryCastlevaniatitleSymphony of the Night. While the game is currently available through early access on Steam, the full release of the game is scheduled to drop on March 27th. The story revolves around Deedlit, a high elf, who awakens in an unknown place, searching for answers. The game looks to tie in some of theRecord of Lodoss Warmythos, with an appearance from Parn, Deedlit’s love interest in the novels.
The gameplay found inDeedlit in Wonder Labyrinthshares some DNA withSymphony of the Night, with Deedlit able to back-dash, and wielding a familiar set of weapons and skills to that of Alucard, though the game adds in an elemental system that Deedlit can make use of, adding some depth and strategy to enemy encounters.Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthhas allthe hallmarks of Metroidvania games, from the back-and-forth exploration, light RPG elements, and acquiring powers to reach new areas and tackle new foes. The popular genre doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon.
While the actualCastlevaniafranchise has been dormant for some time, and series developer Konami not seriously pushing for a new release, a number of games have filled that void, likeDeedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. These studios have proven themselvescapable of creating aCastlevania-inspired game, and would likely be thrilled develop more in the future. For now, fans can find solace in spiritual successors keeping the genre alive.
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinthwill be available (in full) March 27th on PC.
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