Should I Buy Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth? – Switch Port Review

Fans of the 80's-90's D&D replay, Record of Lodoss War, as well as those of the widely popular anime series are in for a real treat. Record of Lodoss War - Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a Metroidvania style game recently released on the Nintendo Switch that takes one of the series' most popular characters, Deedlit, and plops her down in a game that looks eerily similar to one of the genre's greatest games, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Thrust into the unknown, both Deedlit and the player must explore their surroundings to find out exactly what is going on as visions of other series favorites and "glitches" appear before their eyes. Players start the game in the same boat as Deedlit, learning about the Labyrinth as they explore and encounter friends and foes, both new and old.

Old Feel, New Mechanics

While Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth looks and feels very similar to SotN, it does have its own strengths that make it more than just a clone. There are two Spirits Deedlit can switch between, one of Air and one of Fire. Different enemies, as well as environmental effects, react differently to whichever is currently active. Deedlit is also a bit more nimble than Alucard and can attack in a multitude of directions. The animation in the game is also much more fluid, so while on the surface it looks familiar, it is a much smoother feeling and is much more detailed.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth features a wide variety of weapons, skills, foes, and bosses despite its smaller size. The world of the Wonder Labyrinth is also varied, with many beautifully detailed areas to explore. This vast amount of detail makes for some interesting puzzles that will prove challenging even to the most veteran fans of the genre.

A Bit of a Stutter

Unfortunately, the Switch port suffers from a bit of a performance problem, making it feel jankier than the original Steam version of the game. At times the game slows down for no apparent good reason, while some of the animations, like Deedlit's backslide, feel seemingly less smooth. While the game is certainly playable, those who are familiar with the PC game will certainly notice a difference when trying to play the Switch port. Hopefully, this is an issue PLAYISM can correct in a future update.

Verdict

Fans of the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and other Metroidvania-style games will certainly find themselves falling in love with Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. It provides many familiar elements from SotN while adding in its own mechanics to keep the game feeling fresh and new. The story is engaging, but certainly not the focal point of the game. What Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth provides is a nostalgic platformer experience to keep fans occupied for more than just the time it takes to initially beat the game.

The game is not very long, consisting of several "Chapters" opening up the map more and more as the game progresses. With enough gameplay to be worth the game's price, it still feels a bit like there could have been more, as many players of the Metroidvania genre tend to expect.

Currently available in the Nintendo eShop for $24.99, it is a game any lover of Record of Lodoss War should jump all over. Unfortunately, the Switch port is a bit lacking, so those able to get the game on Switch should certainly pick that version over this one.

Score: 7/10

For more guides, check out Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth on Pro Game Guides.

A review key for Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth was provided free for review by PLAYISM