Labyrinth of Zangetsu

A beautifully designed title that truly brings the Sumi-e artistic style to life, Labyrinth of Zangetsu, unfortunately, doesn’t quite do enough with its gameplay to create the next must-own dungeon crawler.

77%Game Brain Score

graphics, atmosphere

gameplay, grinding

81% User Score Based on 46 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

Labyrinth of Zangetsu is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by KaeruPanda Inc. and was released on April 20, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In Labyrinth of Zangetsu, set in the Ido period, you must conquer the Ink of Ruin plaguing the land by leading a team of warriors through perilous labyrinths filled with yokai from Japanese folklore. The game's mesmerizing artwork, blending traditional and modern elements, creates an immersive and visually striking world that changes as you delve deeper into the labyrinths. The encounters with terrifying creatures and the blurred line between reality and nightmare make for a distinct and suspenseful gaming experience.

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

The game offers a solid dungeon crawling experience with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the original Wizardry games, enhanced by beautiful black and white graphics.
Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to run in dungeons and fast combat options, make gameplay smoother and more enjoyable.
The music and atmosphere are highly praised, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.

The leveling system can be frustrating, with random stat losses on level up and the potential for permanent character death, which can feel punishing.
The game suffers from repetitive loot and tedious inventory management, making exploration and item collection less enjoyable.
Some players find the difficulty curve uneven, with early encounters being particularly challenging and later dungeons feeling too easy.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique black-and-white aesthetic that effectively complements its storytelling, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese ink painting. While the initial dungeon visuals are praised for their blend of 2D and 3D elements, subsequent areas suffer from lower-quality textures reminiscent of older gaming systems. Overall, the art style is considered the standout feature, enhancing the game's atmosphere despite some inconsistencies in graphical quality.
- “The dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics give a great look to the game and blend well the story and gameplay.”
- “The art style is without a doubt the biggest selling point to this game and rightly so.”
- “Using the classic Japanese ink painting aesthetic can’t help but stand out.”
- “Also hampered by lackluster dungeon graphics past the first dungeon and a weird difficulty curve.”
- “Dungeon graphics are a bit weaker: the first major dungeon is a gorgeous blend of 2D and 3D, but everything after looks like PS2 textures as seen through a crappy black-and-white filter.”
- “The two major things that set this game apart from others are the graphics and the streamlined gameplay.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Wizardry, featuring a straightforward flow between town and dungeon exploration, but it suffers from a lack of clear mechanics and player-friendly features. While the dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics enhance the experience, some players find the gameplay overly simplistic and frustrating due to outdated mechanics, despite quality of life improvements. Overall, it appeals to fans of traditional RPGs but may be challenging for newcomers.
- “The dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics give a great look to the game and blend well with the story and gameplay.”
- “The two major things that set this game apart from others are the graphics and the streamlined gameplay.”
- “It’s art, it’s story, and its gameplay all harken back to a mythologized Japan of old; both with its ink-infused hand brush style and its 'dudes in a line' first-person dungeon crawling RPG gameplay.”
- “It does play rather obtusely and it doesn't explain all the mechanics in the game anywhere.”
- “For all the talk about this game having quality of life adjustments to move it beyond the original Wizardry, it's mind-boggling why such a player-hostile mechanic was left in despite multiple balance patches.”
- “So those of you coming out of your 1990s cryo chamber, you’ll be a little underwhelmed on the gameplay front.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it tedious and excessive, particularly in the later stages, others appreciate the incremental progress it offers. Many feel that the game requires a significant time investment for achievements and leveling, with some describing the grinding as not enjoyable and detracting from the overall experience. However, a few players note that the mid-game strikes a better balance, making the grind feel more rewarding before it becomes a chore.
- “Essentially, the game is about 20-30 hours of actual play, with a further 30 hours of grinding achievements, and then 40+ hours of leaving the game running in the background while you do something else, which is limited in terms of your PC as the game has to be the active main application to generate playtime; else it automatically pauses itself.”
- “I'm not particularly enthused about spending four or five hours in a 15-hour game grinding, especially when said game costs $40 CAD.”
- “Yes, the loop of die, grind for cash, fail resurrection, and grind for more cash again is tedious at the start; the rest of the game is a highly enjoyable dungeon crawler.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's story, while initially intriguing with its themes of inky corruption and a dark atmosphere, is ultimately considered underdeveloped and minimal, lacking depth and player agency. The black and white graphics complement the narrative's tone, but many reviewers found the overall plot to be lackluster and traditional, failing to leave a lasting impression. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the story does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics give a great look to the game and blend well the story and gameplay.”
- “It’s art, it’s story, and its gameplay all harken back to a mythologized Japan of old; both with its ink-infused hand brush style and its 'dudes in a line' first-person dungeon crawling RPG gameplay.”
- “The story has an interesting premise about an inky corruption poisoning the land (a horror version of Splatoon?), but unfortunately, the story is underdeveloped and paper thin.”
- “Story: lack-luster, nothing of note worth mentioning.”
- “The story is another minimal aspect to the game.”
- “I never really felt I had input in the story at any point, which is a shame.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is widely praised for its outstanding quality and artistic direction, effectively enhancing the atmosphere. However, some players note that the battle theme's lengthy lead-in can become tiresome, and while the music complements the game's ambiance, it may also feel repetitive at times.
- “The music is outstanding, but the battle theme's lead-in is longer than the average encounter; it wore on me before the game was out.”
- “Other than that, I love the artistic direction of the game; I love the music, the sounds, and the atmosphere.”
- “Music, while it matches the atmosphere, can be repetitive.”
- “Music that sounds very similar to Dragon Quest music.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics effectively enhance the storytelling and gameplay experience. While the music complements the overall ambiance, some players find it to be repetitive.
- “The dark atmosphere and ink aesthetics give a great look to the game and blend well with the story and gameplay.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally considered lacking, though some players find it acceptable for their experience.
- “Not optimized at all, but acceptable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers note that the game incorporates modern UI features that enhance playability with a controller, contributing to its replayability without compromising the core experience. This balance allows players to revisit the game comfortably while still enjoying its original charm.
- “The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there isn't much incentive to dive back in, as the side quests feel uninspired and lack depth.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics and environments makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotional responses, often leading to feelings of distress or heartbreak. The intensity of the narrative and character experiences can leave a lasting impact, highlighting the game's ability to resonate deeply with its audience.