I've spent the evening playing Lapis x Labyrinth. As you'll know if you've listened to the brand new MoeGamer Podcast (out today!), this is a game I've come to absolutely adore since picking it up on a whim when two friends separately commented on how much they'd been enjoying it. Chris and Flame — thanks!
I'm not going to do a full writeup on the game until I've beaten it properly, as it's a game that gradually unveils its hidden depths the further you progress, and I feel there's still a decent amount left to go. I've cleared I think six of the main dungeons now, and each clear has unlocked a new method to progress and power yourself up. There are a wide variety of ways to customise how the game plays according to how you enjoy it, and no obligation to do things you don't want to do.
I'm having the most fun playing as the Witch at present. She's a powerful fighter that has an interesting combo where she cycles through a series of elemental spells, the last of which is a slow-moving fireball that passes through walls and obliterates anything in its path. Since Lapis x Labyrinth is a game about not getting hit in order to keep your combo up, her ranged abilities are a significant help in this regard. Plus she's a cutie with cat ears.
There's something so, so fundamentally satisfying about this game. I might even go so far as to say on a primal level, this is one of the most satisfying games I've ever played. I'm not talking about narrative payoff or anything like that — while there is a story that gradually reveals itself, the mechanics are the star here — but rather a simple feeling while playing that I am having a good time and I want more, more, more.
Perhaps best of all, as we mention on the podcast, it achieves this addictive, intoxicating quality without resorting to underhanded tactics like "fun pain"; this is pure fun, yet for those who want to truly master the game's mechanics, there's a lot to engage with and practice here, too.
As I say, I'm saving a full writeup until I've at the very least beaten the main game, but in the meantime rest assured that if you're after something a bit different — and incredibly satisfying — then Lapis x Labyrinth is well worth your time.
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