If You Miss Grungy PS1 & PS2 Horror Games, I Have The Perfect Demo For You

Gritty, difficult, and horrifying, Labyrinth Of The Demon Kingis bringing back the spirit of horror games in the PS1 and PS2 era for modern PC gamers. The first game by single developer J.R. Hudepohl, Labyrinth doesn’t have a release date yet but does currently have a demo available on Steam. Players can experience the spiritual successor to old-school titles like the King’s Field series right now, which includes all the intense dungeon-crawling gameplay of a more difficult, bygone era.

Labyrinth Of The Demon King takes players on a journey of vengeance set in an era of feudal Japan. After a Demon King tricks a lord and his army into an ambush, a single survivor is left. This lone man begins a quest to get revenge on the Demon King, leading him into a labyrinth of monsters and demons.

Labyrinth Of The Demon King Isn’t For Everyone

Clunky Features Of A Bygone Era

Throwback games like Labyrinth Of The Demon King are much more common in the current indie-friendly world of PC gaming, but most try to take more modern gaming sensibilities into account. This includes quality-of-life changes and removing clunkiness from animations are usually done in modern throwback games, but not in Labyrinth Of The Demon King. Because of this, Labyrinth might not be for everyone but rather for players who would enjoy a nostalgic love letter to the horror games of an earlier phase in gaming. Thankfully, its easy for anyone to try the demo on Steam.

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Every part of Labyrinth Of The Demon King speaks to an earlier era of games, with all the good and bad that entails. Picking up items won’t place them into the player's hand, but rather in an antiquated inventory to be manually equipped. Every interaction requires a confirmation, like trying to climb a rope or pray at a shrine. These details make the upcoming game both clunky and charming.

Atmosphere Reigns Supreme In Labyrinth Of The Demon King

Grimy Visuals And Quiet Settings

A highlight of Labyrinth Of The Demon King is its gritty atmosphere. With visuals and sound design reminiscent of the first Silent Hill, this historically set horror game makes an immediate impression of fear. Every location is grimy and eerily quiet, with only the player’s footsteps to listen to until a new horror apears. Grainy visuals and stylized animations take precedence over anything else, as players explore the confusing hallways of the Labyrinth and fight demons.

Inside the Labyrinth are sword-wielding skeletons, shambling ghouls, and various demons from Japanese mythology. All of these monsters can be taken down with the weapons available, including blades like katanas and naginatas, as well as ranged weapons like bows and more modern muskets. Players won't just be hacking and slashing their way through Labyrinth Of The Demon King, as conversations with the residents of the Labyrinth will be just as important.

PC

Brand: Apple, HP, Microsoft, Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, Toshiba, Asus, Acer
Original Release Date: 1971
Hardware Versions: PC
Original MSRP (USD): The Kenbak I is considered the very first PC, which cost $750 back in 1971. Adjusted for inflation, the first PC cost around $4,659.
Weight: The Kenbak I weighed around 20 pounds, but today, computers vary in weight depending on the equipment used for gaming.