Demon Punk Hack and Slash Game “Scarlet City of Devils” Gets Steam Release

Indie game developer Shademare has released the demon punk hack and slash game Scarlet City of Devils on Steam. While the visuals lean towards fan-service, I am intrigued by the gameplay elements.

Frankly, I wasn’t really interested in sharing my thoughts about Scarlet City of Devils when I quickly glanced at the press release sitting in my inbox. The promotional images featured scantily clad demon women with a variety of weapons. The overall look felt way too fan service-y for me to expect any sort of valid gameplay. However, for some reason, I decided to at least check out the trailer and that is what made me talk about this indie title with you.

Putting the visuals aside, the gameplay showcased in the trailer was surprisingly smooth. You can tell that the dev studio paid attention to delivering something substantial to players. The gameplay boasts a 2D Metroidvania setting with Soulslike combat. It is supposed to provide you with up to 9 hours of exploration. I might just end up playing this game myself.

Scarlet City of Devils takes place in the war-torn streets of Elovelle. There’s a whole lot of chaos going around. Rival demon clans battle it out to gain dominance over the legendary Fountain of Elovelle. The Knights of Virtue, known as the city’s most notorious faction, have managed to take control of the fountain. It has been fortified as for said faction to harness the powerful Essence.

One individual dares to challenge fate, with their goal being to heal the city’s shattered heart. The perilous journey will have them face the darkness engulfing Elovelle. However, according to the promotional material, this isn’t just their story because the narrative will also tell the tale of the one who tried to stop them.

Here’s the trailer!

I like the anime style visuals. Again, the battle mechanic comes across as very smooth, with the player being capable of exhibiting fast movements and seamless attacks. And while the story is a serious one, it seems there will be moments of levity sprinkled throughout the events. The lead character also seems to have a flying companion following them around. However, I’m not sure if the companion will aid during battle sequences or puzzle solving. She could just be there for comic relief and dropping some objective-related hints for the lead female character.

According to the promotional text, there are six free-flowing movement weapons for you to find across the city. The weapons are supposed to have unique attack patterns, allowing players to change up their offensive tactics whenever necessary. Beating the game once will unlock the Boss Rush Mode.

Scarlet City of Devils is currently available on Steam for $16.99 CAD. From what I can tell, the reviews are quite positive with players praising the game’s combat system and how certain weapons are necessary to better your chances of winning against specific bosses. And yes, the visuals are very male gaze-y. But at least, the marketing campaign doesn’t shy away from said fact.

As for Shademare, other projects include Velia, a mystery-driven adventure, and Miracle Mia, an action-packed journey of deflection and parrying. You can learn more about the studio by visiting the official website.

Are you interested in playing Scarlet City of Devils?

Let us know.

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(via Press Release)

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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