The latest release from the team behind the Disgaea series, Lapis X Labyrinth is a different sort of game for the studio, but one coated with similar trappings and aesthetics. It's an action game in which people will make timed runs through areas to get loot and defeat enemies, but you're still managing equipment with effects and maneuvering around a hub world taking the place of a more efficient (but perhaps less evocative) menu system. It's got meters for special moves, reward-multiplying "fever time" and direction-based attack inputs, but you're ultimately still equipping a small team of customized units and bringing them to a place to slash at gems and take out specifically-marked bosses.
"Lapis x Labyrinth surprised me several times. An anglerfish dragon was shockingly deadly, as were poisonous trap plants. A fire boss required careful maneuvering, and the last boss forced me to rework my weapon loadout for elemental damage. I don’t take the distinct memories of these moments as a great commendation of the game. From moment to moment, the game demands doing the same actions all the way through, with upgrades to break up the monotony. And yet, Lapis x Labyrinth didn’t feel tedious. Whether that’s because it is fun or numbing, I’m not sure. Probably a bit of each."
Interesting, not usually into these kinds of puzzle games per se but this sounds neat.
Lapis X Labyrinth is a 2d RPG platformer meets a flashy casino experience. NIS has put together an interesting RPG that has some replayability. The biggest question is there enough to keep new and veteran players interested.
In Lapis x Labyrinth, the presentation is great, the music is catchy, the colors are extravagant, and the action is fun despite its flaws.
