Akaneiro: Demon Hunters

About

Akaneiro: Demon Hunters is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Spicy Horse and was released on November 25, 2014. It received negative reviews from players.

Hints of Little Red Riding Hood combine with Japanese folklore and illustrated in Spicy Horse's unique dark fantasy style, "Akaneiro: Demon Hunters" is an action-roleplaying game (ARPG) that lets players hunt mythical monsters in Edo-era Japan.

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29%

Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay12 negative mentions

The game features a visually stunning art style reminiscent of Okami, which many players appreciate.
There is a solid foundation for gameplay with a skill tree and leveling system, providing some depth to character progression.
Despite its flaws, some players find enjoyment in the combat and the overall concept of the game.

The game has been abandoned by its developers, leading to numerous bugs, lack of updates, and a dead online server.
Many players report losing progress and experiencing game-breaking issues, making it frustrating to play.
The game relies heavily on microtransactions and is criticized for being a pay-to-win model, detracting from the overall experience.

story
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
85%
5%
The game's story is criticized for being uninspired and lacking variety, leading to a repetitive experience despite the numerous missions available. Players find the narrative forgettable and overshadowed by MMO features and microtransactions, which detract from the overall enjoyment and storytelling potential. While it has the basic elements of a classic dungeon crawler, the execution leaves much to be desired, making it hard to recommend.
- “Very disappointing considering the 'story' is actually what I looked forward to in this game.”
- “Storywise, it's a classic dungeon crawler.”
- “The game can get boring because the story has too little variety for the large amount of missions.”
- “The story seems to be there, but the abundance of MMO features renders it bland and leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.”
- “The uninspired level design and forgettable story contribute to a sense of monotony, despite the initial thrill of exploration.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
39%
19%
The graphics of the game are generally appreciated for their beautiful artwork and unique art style inspired by Japanese folklore, reminiscent of titles like Okami. However, many users note issues such as graphic errors, bugs, and a lack of depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the visuals are captivating, they are often overshadowed by gameplay repetitiveness and technical shortcomings.
- “Akaneiro: Demon Hunters invites players into a visually stunning world inspired by Japanese folklore, where the vibrant watercolor aesthetic and thrilling demon-slaying combat initially captivate.”
- “I love this game because of the wonderful theme, the nice gameplay, the nice colors, and finally for its unique graphics.”
- “The art style reminds me of Japanese paintings, the traditional sounding music fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the pacing has been good.”
- “Quite a few graphic errors and some bugs.”
- “This game is unfinished, has major bugs, and the graphics are really crappy.”
- “Decided to give it another try, but loading screens are still excruciatingly long for a game with very limited gameplay and cartoony graphics.”
gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
47%
29%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a repetitive loop and shallow progression system that detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the fun mechanics and unique graphics, the game suffers from bugs, outdated mechanics, and a lack of meaningful content, leading to disappointment for those seeking depth. Additionally, the free-to-play model and in-game monetization have raised concerns about the game's longevity and overall design.
- “The gameplay and graphics were fun - it could have become a great, fun game.”
- “I love this game because of the wonderful theme, the nice gameplay, the nice colors, and finally for its unique graphics.”
- “Gameplay is good for an alpha though.”
- “It has been abandoned by the developer and players, filled with bugs and bad game mechanics.”
- “However, beneath the surface lies a repetitive gameplay loop and a shallow progression system that quickly become apparent.”
- “While the free-to-play model is inviting, the outdated mechanics and lack of meaningful progression ultimately hinder the game's longevity.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
The monetization system in the game has been criticized for being overly aggressive, with microtransactions heavily influencing gameplay and progression, such as locking essential upgrades behind paywalls. Players feel that the game lacks sufficient content and balance, leading to frustration, especially given the slow pace of updates from the developers. Overall, the monetization approach detracts from the game's potential, leaving players dissatisfied with the value of their purchases.
- “For any game, alpha, beta, or otherwise, if I pay for something, I expect more than just the ability to make microtransactions in town.”
- “I don't mind microtransactions as long as they're actually worth it, but in this case, they're not.”
- “The game's concept and art style are enjoyable, but in its current state, it's a single-player indie with microtransactions, which isn't acceptable.”
- “The game was designed to heavily nudge the player to buy microtransactions by locking the ability to level up armors/weapons and attempting to make the player want to spend shards to revive immediately rather than after like 4 seconds.”
- “For any game—alpha, beta, or otherwise—if I pay for something, I expect more than just the ability to make microtransactions in town.”
- “It's concept and art style are enjoyable, but in its current state, it's a single-player indie with microtransactions, which isn't acceptable.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally well-received for its atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the art style and enhancing the demon hunting theme. However, some players find it repetitive and boring over time, suggesting that while it starts strong, it may lack long-term engagement. Overall, the traditional sounds, particularly the shamisen, are appreciated for their fitting ambiance, though they may not sustain interest throughout the gameplay.
- “This game had so much potential; the art was fantastic and the soundtrack really set a proper demon hunting atmosphere.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the music doesn't become bothersome.”
- “The art style reminds me of Japanese paintings, the traditional sounding music fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the pacing has been good.”
- “The music gets boring to listen to after a while.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning art direction and immersive soundtrack, which effectively create a captivating demon-hunting experience. Players appreciate the blend of traditional Japanese art styles and music, enhancing the exploration of atmospheric villages and mysterious forests. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a key strength that elevates the game's potential.
- “The atmosphere and the art direction are great and are what carries the game.”
- “This game had so much potential; the art was fantastic and the soundtrack really set a proper demon hunting atmosphere.”
- “The art style reminds me of Japanese paintings, the traditional sounding music fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the pacing has been good.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a grinding mechanic where players earn currency through missions to upgrade abilities categorized into prowness, fortitude, and cunning. While some players find the grinding aspect a bit tedious, many still enjoy it, noting that it is manageable and contributes to the overall fun of the game, especially for fans of the genre. Overall, the grinding is considered a minor drawback in an otherwise visually appealing and engaging ARPG experience.
- “Abilities are chosen under 3 categories: prowess, fortitude, and cunning. You meet criteria and purchase more or upgrade with earnings from missions, which can take grinding.”
- “A bit grindy at times, but not too bad. Even for me, who usually gets bored with a game when I have to grind, I can deal with it and go through with it.”
- “A bit grindy at times, but overall it is a great ARPG and frankly, it looks beautiful.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with multiple users reporting it as a "buggy broken mess." Complaints highlight issues such as repetitiveness and a particularly problematic Linux client, leading to frustration and a lack of willingness to continue playing.
- “Buggy broken mess of a game.”
- “Super repetitive and buggy, I'm too sore to even give it another chance.”
- “Buggy and poor-quality Linux client.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been criticized for its poor optimization at launch, featuring numerous bugs and performance issues such as sound stuttering, subpar visuals at high resolutions, and inadequate anti-aliasing. Additionally, the absence of multiplayer further detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game launched with bugs and performance issues.”
- “Sound stuttering, doesn't look good at high resolution, poor anti-aliasing, no multiplayer.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, particularly appreciating the heartfelt moments shared between characters, such as the touching interactions with mentors. These emotional connections enhance the overall experience and resonate deeply with the audience.
- “They're having a heartfelt moment with their mentor!”
- “Margery: (getting emotional) oh, look!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is self-referential and ironic, with players finding amusement in the shared experience of being drawn into an abandoned project. This meta-humor resonates with users, highlighting a sense of camaraderie among those who feel misled.
- “I could be laughing at all the suckers who fell for this abandoned game... but I'm one of them.”