Video Game Review: Labyrinth of Zangetsu

The Switch is a safe haven for dungeon-crawler fans. The genre is known for hardcore RPG play and being somewhat inaccessible to new players, so the hybrid console makes dungeon-crawler much easier to pick up play than the other available consoles. This has led to many remakes, remasters, and new dungeon-crawling games for the hardcore crew to sink their teeth into. Labyrinth of Zangetsu is the latest dungeon crawler to provide a challenging and entertaining time.

At a glance, Labyrinth of Zangetsu might look like a modern take on the genre. The gorgeous visuals and presentation would initially make someone think that this is a modern turn-based RPG. It won’t take long for players to realize that this is just another dungeon crawler with a fresh coat of paint. I don’t mean for this to seem as critical as it sounds, because this will be a hit with the target demographic. It simply means that it won’t convert those who already aren’t into the genre. It holds onto old-school gameplay and there are plenty of better options if someone is wanting something unique.

In Labyrinth of Zangetsu, players will form a party of 6 between two different rows and go into dungeons to explore and fight stuff. The neat visuals and standard story don’t change the gameplay up in any significant way, so anyone looking to experience the highs of discovery and grinding characters will know exactly what they are getting into. The story is slim and there aren’t any noteworthy characters since the party is made up completely of player-created characters. There isn’t much opportunity to get attached to the party unless the player uses their imagination to create narratives along the way. The only real reason to dive into Labyrinth of Zangetsu is to explore dungeons.

Players will move between spaces one at a time and encounter turn-based battles while doing so. Everything is in first person, a dungeon-crawling staple that helps cover up the lack of noteworthy characters. The combat itself is standard, and the grind is mostly traditional as well. The leveling appears to be random which will infuriate some players, especially because the variance seems to be more significant than that of the Fire Emblem series.

The story is built around ink monsters, and so the ink aesthetics enhance the narrative just a touch. Everything has a distinct look and the HUD mostly complements this. The sound design is standard and doesn’t astound, but at least it doesn’t offend.

Unoffensive is probably the best way to describe Labyrinth of Zangetsu. Everything works fine and nothing truly stands out. If a fan is itching for a new dungeon-crawler, this is a fine budget choice, but it isn’t much more than a means to scratch an itch.