Game Review Stream Vol. 48 Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth

A laid-back space where I trickle out game reviews as the mood strikes me.

This time, it's "Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth" (that's a mouthful...).
An ambitious work that builds a Metroidvania around a famous IP with a long history. While following the conventions of the Castlevania lineage, it turned out to be a genuinely fun game. In this article, I'd like to properly summarize its appeal.

<Author's Metroidvania Play History>
・Cleared a total of 3 games in the original Metroid series
・Cleared a total of 4 games in the original Castlevania series
・Played several Metroidvania titles including this one
・Played the PS5 version of this game, Platinum trophy obtained
・Play time: Over 10 hours
※Have not experienced the original Record of Lodoss War

A tribute work with excessive? love for Metroidvania

This game is a Metroidvania based on the characters and world of "Record of Lodoss War," featuring the elf "Deedlit" from that series as the protagonist.

Since I haven't experienced the original "Record of Lodoss War," I can't speak to the details of its placement, but it seems to be depicted as an episode connecting "New Record of Lodoss War" and "Crown of the Covenant."
It is supervised by the original author, Ryo Mizuno,so fans of the original who haven't played it yet won't regret checking it out.

The introduction has gone on a bit long, but the quality of this game as a Metroidvania is excellent.

The character pixel art and background graphics are finished in a way that makes you feel the respect for Castlevania everywhere. In particular, Deedlit's animation is surprisingly smooth, at a level that would impress even players familiar with the original series.
Frankly speaking,I might have just added another "favorite character" to my list.

Metroidvania is a genre with a huge number of titles worldwide, but even among them, this game has a feel that conveys that the developers studied the originals thoroughly.

The love for Castlevania oozes from every corner of the screen, making this an extremely excellent tribute work where the enthusiasm and attachment of the production team are directly linked to the play feel.

Unique elements specific to this game

While the basic system and appearance of this game give the impression of being in the Castlevania lineage, it is also packed with unique elements that set it apart. I will list those unique elements below.

Spirit Summoning

Not long after starting the game, you will be able to summon two types of spirits.

<Sylph, the Spirit of Wind>

It has excellent mobility, and you can glide while it is summoned. It plays an active role in situations that require delicate platforming and aerial control.

<Salamander, the Spirit of Fire>

It has excellent attack performance, and actions like sliding gain attack hitboxes. It is also useful for nullifying specific terrain damage, such as lava.

Wind and fire are paired elements; attacking enemies with the wind element causes fire cubes to appear, and attacking with the fire element causes wind cubes to appear. Collecting these to raise your elemental level to the maximum (3) will trigger automatic health recovery. Be aware that taking damage will lower your level.

This game tends to have high damage output, so securing recovery methods is key to progression. Even if you take damage from enemies, if you attack with the opposing element to return your level to MAX, you can put distance between yourself and the enemy to recover through the automatic healing effect. This is a crucial technique directly linked to your ability to sustain combat.

Additionally, some terrain and boss attacks contain wind or fire elements, and you must switch spirits at the right timing to absorb them. This play feel is reminiscent of Treasure's 2D shooter, 'Ikaruga'.

Both elements are useful, and you are required to manage your playstyle by switching between them according to the situation to maintain your elemental level.

Long-range attacks with the bow

Since the protagonist of this game is the 'Eternal Maiden' elf, Deedlit, long-range attacks using a bow and arrow are possible.

While projectile weapons are not rare in Metroidvanias, the fact that a bow and arrow with a variety of options comparable to melee weapons is provided is a unique feature of this game.

To prevent players from endlessly poking enemies from a safe zone, the bow and arrow consume magic, a design that naturally makes you conscious of switching between it and melee weapons. This balance and guidance are clever.

As mentioned earlier, absorbing wind and fire elemental attacks also allows you to drain magic, so there are many opportunities to use the bow and arrow. While there has been a trend of Metroidvanias leaning toward 'masocore' games in recent years, the bow and arrow in this game also function as a relief element for beginners.

Also, the bow and arrow are essential for unlocking certain stage gimmicks. Be aware that you are required to have the skill to accurately aim your shots, not just shoot at enemies.

The charm of this game is that as you get used to handling the bow and arrow, the breadth of your gameplay expands significantly in both exploration and combat.

A wide variety of magic

When it comes to elves, they are not just skilled with bows and arrows, but also with magic. Deedlit is no exception, and as you progress through the labyrinth, you can learn various spells and use them according to the situation.

Magic varies greatly in effect and range depending on the type, and while many are powerful, they consume a significant amount of MP. You shouldn't spam them carelessly like arrows—in fact, you can't even do that in the first place.

Since many spells are effective at medium to long range, the following tactics are useful during boss battles with intense attacks:
・Focus on dodging boss attacks while dealing consistent damage with magic
・Absorb the boss's elemental attacks by switching spirits to recover MP
are effective strategies.

Many magic attacks hit multiple times, allowing you to force enemies to drop a large number of elemental cubes. Magic is also excellent as a means to quickly raise your elemental level to the maximum and trigger automatic recovery. By actively controlling the cycle of attacking and healing, you can increase the stability of your combat.

A moderately challenging difficulty level

This game also has good level design; while both common enemies and bosses have relatively monotonous movements in the early stages, the bosses' attack methods become much more varied from the mid-game onwards. There are more attacks that are hard to dodge, and if you let your guard down, your health can be depleted in an instant, leading to defeat.

When it comes to boss battles specifically, there is definitely an aspect of the“die-and-retry”genre that is a trend in this category. Since I am not very familiar with the genre, I had to retry the late-game boss battles many times.

However, thanks to the aforementioned bow and arrow, magic, and elemental level mechanics, there are many chances for recovery. If you quickly raise your elemental level back up with magic after taking damage and chip away at the enemy's health, you can maintain automatic recovery and prepare for the boss's attacks with room to spare.
I appreciate the level design that always provides a way to break through, even when it's difficult.

Also, just like in Castlevania, there is a leveling concept for Deedlit herself, so if you get stuck, it is effective to defeat enemies to level up while aiming for dropped items. This breadth of strategy can be said to symbolize the accessibility of this game.

Various completionist elements

Since this game strongly respects Castlevania, the direction of its completionist elements also follows that lineage.

<Weapon Collection>
This includes weapons dropped exclusively by enemies and weapons purchased at shops. While the drop rates aren't as low as in the original series, there are no so-called “broken weapons,” giving the impression that it is somewhat compact.

<Leveling Up>
Although the growth isn't as dramatic as with equipment, leveling up does have the effect of easing the difficulty. If you defeat enemies while collecting weapons, your level will naturally rise, which will help with your progress. For players who aren't confident in their skills like me, it's not a bad idea to take your time and proceed slowly.

<Achievements/Trophies>
Depending on the console, it supports achievements and trophies. In addition to clearing the story, it requires completionist tasks such as weapon collection, mini-games, and end-game content, but since even I was able to earn the Platinum Trophy, the difficulty is likely in the lower range.

If I had to name one drawback, it would be thevolume, which is about 10 hours even if you play until you complete all the trophies.It was content that I, as a gamer with a backlog, was fully satisfied with, but those who seek long playtimes commensurate with the price might find it lacking.

Nevertheless, there are many opportunities to buy it cheaply during sales now, so it is in a situation where its relative value is easy to increase. It is also a good idea to purchase it because you are attracted to Deedlit's charm or the pixel art, just like I was.

Taking this opportunity, I am thinking of reading 'Record of Lodoss War'. That is how much I liked this game.

Summary

'Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth' brilliantly blends the gameplay of a Metroidvania with the world-building of a globally renowned fantasy novel. With beautiful pixel art and snappy action, it offers a dense experience in a short amount of time.

For players who do not know Record of Lodoss War, the story may be difficult to understand, and as a Metroidvania, the volume is compact, so there are parts that may divide opinion.

However, it is an honest production where respect for Castlevania can be felt throughout, and fans of the genre will surely be satisfied. If you like either Record of Lodoss War or Metroidvanias, I can recommend it, and if you like both, I would say it is a must-buy.

If I were to describe this game in one phrase, it is
a marriage of a famous IP and a high-quality Metroidvania
.

That concludes the review for Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth.
I look forward to seeing you next time.