Akaneiro: Demon Hunters

29%
Game Brain Score Based on 130 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Akaneiro: Demon Hunters Game Cover
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Akaneiro: Demon Hunters is an action-packed game that combines elements of Japanese mythology with dark fantasy. As a Demon Hunter, you must protect a village from supernatural threats and upgrade your skills and gear to take on more challenging enemies. The game features beautiful hand-drawn artwork and a variety of gameplay modes, including story missions, procedurally generated maps, and online multiplayer.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

29%
Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews
graphics11 positive mentions
gameplay6 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals inspired by Japanese folklore that create an engaging atmosphere.
  • Fast-paced and satisfying combat mechanics that provide an enjoyable experience.
  • Variety of character classes and customization options that allow for personal play styles.
  • Repetitive gameplay loop and shallow progression system that leads to monotony.
  • Uninspired level design and a forgettable story that fail to maintain player interest.
  • The game has been abandoned by developers, resulting in numerous bugs and a lack of meaningful updates.
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being forgettable and lacking variety, contributing to a monotonous experience despite the presence of numerous missions. Players feel that the narrative is overshadowed by repetitive gameplay mechanics and MMO features, which detract from the overall storytelling experience. While some acknowledge the basic elements of a classic dungeon crawler, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to disappointment among those who anticipated a more engaging plot.

    • “Storywise, it's a classic dungeon crawler.”
    • “With a little knowledge of English, the creators impress with a successful story, although parallels to well-known genre representatives are all too obvious.”
    • “The uninspired level design and forgettable story contribute to a sense of monotony, despite the initial thrill of exploration.”
    • “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 wash of MMO features seems to render it bland and leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of "Akaneiro: Demon Hunters" are often praised for their beautiful watercolor aesthetic and inspiration from Japanese folklore, drawing comparisons to the art style of "Okami." However, many players note issues such as graphic bugs, a lack of depth in the visuals, and a repetitive nature that detracts from the overall experience. While the art style is captivating, it is marred by execution problems and technical flaws, leading to mixed reviews on the game's visual quality.

    • “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.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and the music doesn't become bothersome.”
    • “I love this game because of the wonderful theme, the nice gameplay, the nice colors, and finally for its unique graphics.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay21 mentions

    The gameplay has been criticized for its repetitive nature and shallow progression system, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the fun mechanics and unique aesthetic, many find the outdated mechanics and lack of meaningful content disappointing, especially given the game's free-to-play model and numerous bugs. Overall, the gameplay fails to deliver a deep and rewarding experience, leaving players wanting more.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Decided to give it another try, but loading screens are still excruciatingly long for a game with very limited gameplay and cartoony graphics.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization system in the game has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that microtransactions are overly aggressive and detrimental to gameplay. Many users report that essential features, such as leveling up gear, are locked behind paywalls, leading to frustration and a lack of content. Overall, while the game shows potential, the current monetization strategy is seen as exploitative and undermines the overall experience.

    • “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 waiting a few seconds.”
    • “For any game, whether in alpha, beta, or full release, 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 systems around the microtransactions are hurting the game, especially since they're disabled and there's no new update to rebalance the game.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, particularly the traditional shamisen sounds that enhance the demon hunting experience. While some players find the soundtrack engaging and fitting, others feel it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music complements the beautiful art style and contributes positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “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.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and the music doesn't become bothersome.”
    • “The music gets boring to listen to after a while.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating art direction and immersive sound design, which together create a rich experience in atmospheric villages and mysterious forests. Players appreciate the traditional Japanese art style and fitting soundtrack that enhance the overall mood, contributing to the game's potential as a compelling adventure.

    • “Players can choose from various classes and customize their characters, setting off on a journey through atmospheric villages and mysterious forests.”
    • “The atmosphere and the art direction are great and are what carries the game.”
    • “The art style reminds me of Japanese paintings, the traditional-sounding music fits the atmosphere perfectly, and the pacing has been good.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is described as somewhat prevalent, particularly in upgrading abilities through earnings from missions, but it is generally considered manageable and enjoyable, especially for fans of the genre. While some players find it a bit tedious, many appreciate the overall experience and visual appeal of the game.

    • “Abilities are chosen under three categories: prowess, fortitude, and cunning. You meet criteria and purchase more or upgrade with earnings from missions, which can require a lot of 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 push through.”
    • “A bit grindy at times, but overall it's a great ARPG and frankly, it looks beautiful.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with users reporting numerous bugs and a generally broken experience. Many find it repetitive and frustrating, leading to a lack of willingness to continue playing. The Linux client, in particular, has been highlighted as problematic.

    • “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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users highlight the emotional depth of the game, particularly noting poignant moments between characters, such as heartfelt interactions with mentors that evoke strong feelings.

    • “They're having a heartfelt moment with their mentor!”
    • “Margery: (getting emotional) oh, look!”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game faced significant optimization issues at launch, including bugs, sound stuttering, and poor visual quality at high resolutions, compounded by inadequate anti-aliasing and the absence of multiplayer functionality.

    • “The game launched with bugs and performance issues.”
    • “Sound stuttering, doesn't look good at high resolution, poor anti-aliasing, no multiplayer.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is often self-deprecating, with players finding amusement in their own misfortune and the game's shortcomings. This blend of irony and sarcasm resonates with users, highlighting a shared experience of disappointment.

    • “I could be laughing at all the suckers who fell for this abandoned game... but I'm one of them.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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