Demon Gaze - Dungeon Crawling! Fran is really stunning.
Demon Gaze (デモンゲイズ) is a dungeon crawl RPG developed by Kadokawa Games and Experience Inc. It was originally released in 2013 for the PS Vita and was later ported to various other platforms in an enhanced version called Demon Gaze EXTRA, which features improved graphics and other minor changes like a retry system.
The story follows Oz, a young amnesiac adventurer and one of the few individuals who possess an eye capable of sealing demons. He is recruited by Fran, the beautiful owner of the Dragon Princess Inn, to capture a specific number of demons in exchange for a large reward. While not much is explained to the player at the beginning, the story eventually becomes much more complicated.
Like many dungeon-crawling games, the narrative is not very heavy and is mostly delivered through small segments between major dungeon explorations. The core loop is simple: explore a dungeon, gather new equipment, fight and seal a demon, and then return to the Dragon Princess Inn to deliver the sealed demon to Fran.
Once you deliver a demon, Fran grants you the ability to summon it in combat, providing your party with special benefits. You can use up to three demons at the same time. However, demons can be a double-edged sword; if you use too many of their abilities, they may lose control and enter a berserk mode where they attack enemies and allies alike.
Your party is composed of Oz and other members that you create yourself, which offers plenty of customization options for your team. There are eight classes in the game: Demon Gazer (exclusive to Oz), Fighter, Paladin, Samurai, Ranger, Assassin, Wizard, and Healer.
It is important to have a balanced team because, especially in later dungeons, you will encounter enemies that counter either magic or physical users. Not having an alternative can severely hinder your team's performance. Of course, there is nothing that cannot be brute-forced if you overlevel and farm for endgame equipment.
As is tradition in these games, the dungeons follow different patterns depending on the demon residing within them, leading to diverse mechanics. For example, Mars's territory is engulfed in flames, while Neptune is found in the Blue City, which features underwater segments.
Within the Dragon Princess Inn, you will find various interesting characters to interact with. There is Prometh, a mysterious mortician who allows you to resurrect dead party members; Lezerem and Cassel, who both run shops to sell you items; Pinay, who acts as the inn's maid; and many others.
There is a mechanic intended to prevent you from taking too many trips to the dungeon: Fran's rent. Every time you leave the Dragon Princess Inn, you must pay rent for your rooms to Fran, and this cost increases over time. Honestly, I found that this was not a major problem, and I never really had to farm for gold to afford it.
The overall difficulty is good, but specific locations may surprise you with sudden spikes. Often, the best course of action when facing these situations is to return to a previous dungeon to farm for better equipment or to switch your party members around.
Demon Gaze is a solid dungeon-crawling game, and I highly recommend it to every fan of the genre. While the visuals can be a bit rough compared to other games in the category, the gameplay and the story, especially in the second half, more than make up for it.
