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The trope of gods versus demons, or even mortals rising against deities, is a long-standing tradition in JRPGs, notably in the Shin Megami Tensei series. While this narrative framework might feel overused, D3 Publisher attempts a fresh take on it with Maglam Lord, originally released in Japan on March 18, 2021, and internationally on February 4, 2022. Does it succeed? Let’s delve into this review to find out.

Maglam Lord features charming character designs and a lighthearted art style.

A Lighthearted and Humorous Narrative

The game opens with a dramatic declaration: The gods seek to destroy the protagonist, Killizerk, a Bladelord whose very existence defies natural order. This sets the stage for what initially seems like a dark, brooding tale of rebellion, reminiscent of Shin Megami Tensei. However, this grim tone quickly fades, revealing a much more lighthearted story.

After a thousand-year slumber imposed by the gods, Killizerk awakens to a changed world. Gods, demons, and heroes are relics of the past. Humanity now reigns supreme under the watchful eye of the Administrative Council. Upon discovering Killizerk’s revival, the Council designates him an endangered species – the last of the Bladelords. Suddenly, Killizerk is plastered with “endangered species” labels and advised against venturing out, leading to a cascade of humorous situations that provide plenty of laughs.

Killizerk interacts with a diverse cast of characters, leading to humorous and often unexpected situations.

The story unfolds as a visual novel, allowing players to shape Killizerk’s personality through dialogue choices. These choices influence relationships with other characters and impact certain stats, offering a degree of player agency in shaping the narrative. The narrative, with its unexpected twists and secrets, offers a consistently entertaining experience throughout its 20-30 hour playtime.

The visual novel presentation enhances the comedic elements of the story.

Romance Blossoms

As an endangered species, Killizerk’s reproductive prospects become a matter of concern, introducing a dating sim element to the gameplay. Players can pursue relationships with a diverse cast of characters, regardless of gender, from heroes and puppets to even idols. These encounters, orchestrated by the enigmatic Love Guru GG, are filled with the same comedic flair as the main story. The excellent voice acting further elevates these interactions, bringing the characters to life and adding depth to the narrative and romantic pursuits.

The dating sim elements offer a unique twist to the JRPG formula.

Repetitive Combat and Grinding

Unfortunately, Maglam Lord‘s combat system doesn’t hold up as well as its narrative. Killizerk, weakened after his long slumber, transforms into weapons called Maglams, wielded by other characters in battle. With three Maglam types affecting attack speed and damage, combat initially seems promising, drawing inspiration from the Tales series with its linear battle system. However, controlling only one character with limited attacks and a single spell and item quickly becomes repetitive.

Combat, while initially engaging, becomes repetitive due to its limited options.

While crafting and customizing Maglams with various attachments offers some variety, it’s not enough to offset the tedious grind required for story progression. The game would have benefitted from streamlining the combat or focusing solely on its visual novel aspects.

Lackluster Exploration

Maglam Lord attempts to incorporate exploration, a staple of JRPGs, but falls short. The small, bland maps populated by re-skinned enemies feel underwhelming. The graphical quality in these sections pales in comparison to the visually appealing character designs and environments during the visual novel segments. This disparity creates a jarring disconnect, making the exploration feel like a tacked-on afterthought.

The exploration segments suffer from repetitive environments and a lack of visual polish.

Conclusion

Maglam Lord shines with its witty writing, engaging characters, and unique dating sim elements. However, the repetitive combat and lackluster exploration detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a charming and humorous story, the gameplay ultimately holds it back from reaching its full potential.