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Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk transports players to the mysterious town of Refrain, nestled west of the Tannis kingdom capital and shrouded by imposing mountains. This once bustling hub for adventurers, built atop a deadly labyrinth teeming with secrets, has faded into obscurity as explorers ventured into its depths, never to return. Now, the witch Dronya and her apprentice Lucy arrive, armed with the Tractatus de Monstrum – the journal of the sole labyrinth survivor – determined to unravel Refrain’s enigmas. This Nippon Ichi Software title, published by NIS America, offers a unique dungeon-crawling RPG experience. Let’s delve into what makes this game so captivating.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Complex Yet Detailed Mechanics

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk shines in its intricate and customizable battle system. Recognizing the labyrinth’s lethal magic, Dronya deploys puppet soldiers, organized into Coven Pacts, for exploration and combat. With up to eight puppets per Pact and five Pacts per party, players can command a formidable force of up to 40 puppets. While such a large party isn’t always necessary, it proves invaluable for challenging boss encounters and achieving the true ending.

Six distinct puppet types, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, and stats, offer extensive customization options, from appearance and voice to name, nickname, lucky number, and stat growth. Furthermore, each Coven possesses unique properties, influencing puppet abilities based on their level and Coven placement. This allows for an almost limitless number of party configurations.

Battles revolve around standard attacks and Donum, special skills akin to magic. Commands are issued to entire Coven Pacts, adding a layer of strategic depth. Key mechanics like Attack Resonance, Power Source, and Donum Echo further enhance combat. Attack Resonance increases damage from consecutive physical attacks, while Power Source, charged by Resonance and other actions, amplifies Donum. Donum Echo, triggered by repeated Donum use, can unleash devastating damage, but carries the risk of empowering enemy Donum as well.

Managing resources is crucial. Silver Coin serves as currency, while Mana unlocks special abilities like treasure detection, monster detection, enhanced stealth, and improved escape chances. Reinforcement, a versatile resource, enables various actions, from interacting with the environment (breaking walls, creating save points) to enhancing combat (allowing individual puppet actions within a Coven). Reinforcement management is vital for survival within the labyrinth.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Wall-Breaking and Experience Management

One of the game’s most distinctive features is wall-breaking. Players can demolish specific walls to uncover hidden paths, revealing secrets and side quests. Another notable mechanic is experience accumulation. Instead of immediately gaining experience, players can store it for later use. The longer experience is stored, the higher the accumulation multiplier, resulting in greater gains. However, defeat or retreat forfeits stored experience. Even in defeat, players retain some spoils, and adjustable difficulty settings cater to different playstyles. Increasing the difficulty yields greater Mana rewards.

The myriad of mechanics in Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk encourages continuous learning and experimentation to discover optimal party compositions and strategies. This complexity, combined with the core dungeon-crawling gameplay, keeps the experience fresh and engaging.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Compelling Narrative and Visuals

Beyond its intricate combat, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk offers a compelling narrative and stunning visuals. The story unfolds gradually, revealing character backstories and interwoven plot threads. While not groundbreaking, the narrative enhances the overall experience. The labyrinth itself holds hidden stories waiting to be discovered.

Visually, the game excels in its 2D character portraits and animations. Dronya, Lucy, and other characters are beautifully rendered, with expressive animations and superb voice acting. The town of Refrain and its surroundings are depicted with vibrant detail. Enemy designs, from common foes to imposing bosses, are equally impressive.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Exploring the Depths of Refrain

The game boasts a wealth of content, from items and side quests to expansive labyrinths and diverse creatures. The wall-breaking mechanic opens up numerous opportunities for exploration, and straying from the main path often leads to rewarding discoveries. Deeper levels house more formidable enemies, making thorough preparation essential. Six powerful optional bosses await in different areas, offering ultimate challenges for seasoned players. Each area has a Mana collection limit; exceeding it summons a literal Grim Reaper. Boss battles are particularly noteworthy, with impressive designs and challenging mechanics. These encounters demand careful planning and strategy.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Minor Shortcomings

Despite its strengths, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk isn’t without flaws. The 3D labyrinth environments, while functional, lack the visual appeal of the 2D elements. The repetitive nature of dungeon crawling can exacerbate this issue. Furthermore, the game lacks an in-game encyclopedia or tutorial log, requiring players to rely on external resources or meticulous note-taking. Vague progression hints can lead to frustrating periods of aimless wandering.

Some graphical glitches, particularly a black screen issue affecting Intel processors, have been reported. The sudden appearance of enemy encounters can also be jarring for some players. Unlocking the monster detection ability mitigates this issue.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Conclusion

Despite these minor drawbacks, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk remains a compelling and unique dungeon-crawling RPG. Its complex mechanics, engaging narrative, and beautiful 2D visuals offer a rewarding experience for fans of the genre. While not perfect, the game’s innovative approach and wealth of content make it a must-play for those seeking a challenging and rewarding dungeon-crawling adventure.