Demonschool

Bottom line, Demonschool delivers a fulfilling RPG experience using a forgiving and enjoyable turn-based combat system. Bundled with a light, fun supernatural story with enjoyable characters and there’s no way you can "Be Chrool to Your Scuel" with this game, highly recommended!

Demonschool is a perfect mix of all the things I love - cheesy retro horror, tactics-based role-playing, kicking bad guys in the face, and hot characters I can chat up. What’s not to love?

Yeah, it’s a small release and it is unlikely to take all of the air out of the room in a year that has already seen some incredibly strong RPG releases, but if you love this genre? Get yourself in to Demonschool. I give it full marks and a fair helping of extra credit, but I still want it to see me after class because it impressed me.

Demonschool is a quirky tactics RPG that is sure to entertain players in many different aspects. From odd but lovable characters, stunning visuals, an interesting plot that transcends the human and the demon world, and engaging strategy gameplay with unique mechanics, there’s a lot to like about it. Its complex tactical mechanics may not be for everyone and may not be the best tactical RPG for a newbie, but it’s got charm.

Devilishly moreish and hard to put down, only failed by performance snags and the absence of key quality-of-life features.

If you’re a fan of charming RPGs with unique systems, great music, and a fantastic use of pixel art, you really owe it to yourself to pick up Demonschool.

Demonschool gets high marks for its inventive and tightly designed combat system, but what really sets it apart from the rest of the class is how assured and cohesive its overall design and presentation are. While its attempts at variety and RPG depth come up a little short, Demonschool is nonetheless a vivid, stylistic mesh of Argento and Persona that, alongside strong writing and a fun cast, was a great companion over a semester of time. Come for fun innovations in turn-based tactic design, but stay for the humour, aesthetics and characters.

Demonschool’s hard to score, because most titles—including the AAA variety—don’t have the bold vision and intense style of Demonschool. We play indies to witness new ideas with a healthy degree of polish, though they also come with their issues. All in all a memorable and pleasurable experience, Demonschool is at times a slog, at others food for the soul. If you have the time to enjoy a novel jaunt through early adulthood, settle in for an otherworldly experience.

Demonschool is infectious. The tactical clicks as I fired off a masterful turn that wipes out swathes of demonic creatures kept me coming back, day after day, week after week. Each new character pushed me in new directions, opening new horizons, while also luring me into new bonds and relationships. Though it takes a while to get going and falls a bit short in its side activities, Demonschool still manages to be a haunted PS1 disc of tactical joy.

While Demonschool has a few issues to be fixed, it will leave you wanting to play more. With relatable characters, fun dialogue, and atmospheric music, Demonschool is a fun experience for fans of turn-based battle.

Demonschool is the renaissance of classic Shin Megami Tensei design principles in a tight-knit retro package. Charming side content and colorful students will captivate players into its pre-established world, filled with stylish horror and strategic action-oriented battles. Whilst its fast-paced plot may leave some struggling to keep up, its simplified UI and protagonist Fayes' energetic disposition help guide you through every new development. Its streamlined approach to strategy makes it inviting to anyone who is looking for a short yet clever tactical RPG.

Demonschool has a methodical pacing to it from story to combat that largely works in its favour. There are moments where the story drags out simply to match its established weekly formula, but the charming characters and thoughtful combat more than make up for that shortcoming. It is easy to appreciate the impressive amount of ways that its innovative combat system uses something as novel as strategic positioning. The level of thought and care put into the presentation and gameplay experience in this ambitious title is rewarded in spades for anyone that enjoys an entertaining romp into a strategic campy horror experience.

Demonschool’s stylish presentation, clever tactical combat, and charismatic cast certainly make it into the honor roll. However, the seemingly nonstop battles and myriad of technical problems prevent it from being at the very top of its class.

Demonschool is a stylish indie tactics RPG from Necrosoft Games that stands out for its creative combat and bold visuals but struggles to deliver a cohesive story. Its unique planning-based battles offer satisfying puzzle-like encounters, and its cast brings energy and humor. However, uneven pacing and late-game bloat undermine the narrative, and technical issues can disrupt progress. Demonschool has clear strengths, especially in its gameplay loop, but misses the mark on emotional depth and polish.

Demonschool makes punching a parade of gloriously grotesque creatures an absolute riot. An approachable tactical RPG with a radioactive amount of style and flair. However, for a game about punching demons in the face, there's not a lot of crunch.

What I’ll remember about Demonschool are the little things: the jokes, the quiet character moments, when a fight clicks and what had seemed impossible becomes routine, the bliss of a plan well-executed. When I beat ol’ skeleton face from the opening paragraph, he and his minions barely touched me. Namako survived the whole thing with barely a scratch, and my whole team ended the fight feeling like they could lasso the moon. I came, I saw, I conquered. And you’d best believe I got that A rank. And then we did some karaoke. It was a good day.

Demonschool cleverly blends Persona's social mechanics with tactical RPG combat and B-movie giallo horror, creating a distinctive experience fueled by humor and an excellent soundtrack. Although its puzzle-like turn-based battles are dynamic, the game's pacing falters, sometimes feeling prolonged with repetitive encounters and a notable absence of modern quality-of-life features.

For a Persona fan, this game might not be exactly what you’d expect. Many of its simplified mechanics and the lack of more meaningful consequences for your choices may disappoint those looking for a deeper social experience or a calendar system that demands strategic planning. Even so, it clearly demonstrates qualities that make it a game worth recommending: its narrative is intriguing, the combat is extremely well executed, and the world it presents is full of personality. It’s worth giving Demonschool a chance, especially if you’re looking for a lighter, stylish game with thoughtfully designed battles.

Demonschool is a peculiar tactical RPG that draws on many different inspirations: Japanese role-playing games, strategy titles, and, finally, the Italian cinema of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Even so, the whole thing feels more like a season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In fact, its refusal to take itself too seriously, its school setting, and its humor-filled characters end up creating a narrative that is more amusing and ironic than unsettling. Its crown jewel is undoubtedly the combat system, at times so interesting it almost feels like a puzzle, though unfortunately it gets squeezed dry as an interlude between one dialogue and the next. Despite all its limitations, Demonschool remains an enjoyable debut work, with a rich cast and a very appealing artistic identity.

Demonschool is an interesting title with a unique, puzzley approach to turn-based combat and phenomenal art direction and aesthetics. The story in this story-driven game, however, is all over the place and fails to feel cohesive or satisfying, while also playing more into laughs than solid characterization. If the game has caught your eye, I still suggest trying it out, but beware that you may also find the writing disjointed, confusing, and whacky in a not-so-intentional-feeling way. But maybe you’ll find more fun in the randomness than I did.

Demonschool stuffs itself with activities that achieve only the suggestion of meaning.

The island and its minigames, side conversations and beautiful backdrops hold their charm, and part of us earns to remain in Demonschool's world. Unlike Faye, though, we begin to resent that demons keep tearing us out of it. [Issue#419, p.114]

Charmingly unique, and extremely stylish, Demonschool is a game of several interesting ideas. Unfortunately, despite its deep combat system, as a whole, the game fails to stay consistently engaging.

Demonschool flirts with brilliance in its tactics and aesthetics but can’t keep its coursework consistent. You might enjoy the vibe but expect the semester to feel twice as long as it actually is.

Demonschool is a game I appreciated more than I enjoyed. It’s a collection of great ideas, brilliant artistic choices and fun moments but they don’t quite stitch together into a game as good as the one you imagine from the screenshots and GIFs. There’s definitely something here; when I’m not actually playing Demonschool, I think of it more fondly than I do when the controller’s in my hand. It’s still worth playing if you have a soft spot for cool indie games with impeccable style, and can forgive them when they don’t quite hit the mark.

Demonschool is definitely going to be a “your mileage may vary” kind of game, and I suspect fans of classic Persona games or Necrosoft titles may end up appreciating it most. The art direction and design looks gorgeous. The concept is good, and handling demons each week leading up to a possible apocalypse is interesting. But it does feel more like the script takes more cues from sitcoms than dramas with occasional comedic moments, which may not appeal to everyone. This take on a tactical combat system also involves some design choices that might be off-putting and not appeal to everyone. It’s an interesting concept for a game, but also quite niche.