Over the last generation I’ve had the opportunity to broaden my RPG horizons past the typical SNES-era JRPG classics, or Western RPGs in the vein of titles like Skyrim. Whether it was more tactical RPGs or ones with their own sense of style like the Atelier or Persona series, I’ve come to appreciate the more varied personalities of the genre. In the case of Demonschool it’s absolutely yet another distinctive flavor to add to the list, blending some of the life sim and style aspects from Persona with its own unique take on tactical combat that can be quite satisfying when it clicks with you. Add in the fact that its storyline and characters all tend to be a bit odd and it can absolutely be a good time for the right crowd.

You’ll play as Faye, a young woman trained by her grandfather to be a demon hunter, who is determined to do whatever it takes to prevent an approaching demonic invasion which will lead to the apocalypse. First enlisting the reluctant help of one of the classmates she meets on the way to school, who it turns out is also descended from an important bloodline, she’ll slowly assemble her crew to fight off gangsters and demons, while being sure to also complete her school assignments on time. 

Narratively it can all be rather odd and even silly at times, but when it comes to fights it’s all business. The great thing about the game’s battles is that they tactically play out in a way I can’t say I’ve seen before. You’ll move your team in straight lines around a grid, working to do whatever you can to set your enemies up and then knock them down. Given that your characters each have their own roles in combat, whether offensive, healing, or buffing and debuffing, it’s critical that you mentally work through how you’ll be able to most quickly control the battlefield, with the combat almost feeling more like a puzzle to be solved sometimes than typical generic turn-based slugfests. The thing is, this unique approach can just as easily be its Achilles heel as its strength, depending on your tastes, so the pretty consistent battles you get into will either be welcome or begin to grate on your nerves. Regardless, it is polished, has both a visual and a play style all its own, and for the most part the combat remains challenging throughout, since it can be far from predictable how things will play out.