Akuma Rise Review: A Familiar JRPG That Plays It Safe

If you have spent any significant time with KEMCO’s library of titles, you likely know exactly what to expect from Akuma Rise. Following a recent attempt by the developer to experiment with the genre in Tears Revolude, this latest release feels like a retreat to the publisher’s well-worn comfort zone. It is a retro-style JRPG that executes its established formula competently, but it rarely dares to be anything more than that.

Presentation and Style

Visually, Akuma Rise hits all the familiar notes. You are looking at classic anime-style character designs, static cutscenes, and a standard world map traversal system. While the character designs—which include a pink rabbit—are a bit unusual, the overall aesthetic is pulled straight from the KEMCO playbook. The audio follows this same trend, featuring stirring battle music and standard sound effects for sword clashes and spells, but there is no voice-over work to be found.

Gameplay and Combat

The gameplay loop in Akuma Rise is remarkably predictable. You control a party of disparate characters, wandering across a world map where random encounters trigger roughly every seven steps. Dungeons follow a repetitive "walk, fight, walk, fight" structure, eventually leading to a boss encounter before moving on to the next narrative beat.

Combat is entirely turn-based. You choose between standard attacks, skills, or special "POW" skills. Because the systems are so traditional, the game’s auto-battle function is often sufficient to clear standard encounters, provided you are diligent about spending the gold you earn to keep your party’s gear updated at shops in the towns you visit.

Story and Narrative

The story focuses on Kaine, a demon who has lost his memory. He is joined by three demon princesses and a pink bunny on a quest to save the world of Adribune. With the previous Demon Overlord gone, the demon nations are fracturing while the people of the Radiant Realm invade. While the premise is functional, the amnesia-stricken protagonist is a trope that adds little freshness to the experience. It serves as a decent enough motivation for the journey, but it is unlikely to surprise anyone familiar with the genre.