Demonschool Switch Review: Is It Worth Your Time?

For players seeking a unique tactical role-playing game on the go, Demonschool for the Nintendo Switch offers a compelling mix of strategic combat and quirky storytelling. You step into the shoes of Faye, a demon hunter leading the Black Magic Club at a strangely named island university. While the premise suggests academic life, the reality involves weekly assignments focused on unraveling campus mysteries and preventing an apocalypse, with actual studying limited to unlocking combat skills and facing weekend quizzes. Between missions, you’ll develop relationships, tackle side quests, and enjoy minigames scattered around the island.

Combat serves as the core of the experience, built around what the developers call “new-style tactics.” Before each skirmish, you assemble your team into four slots, Faye always occupies the first, with story-related battles sometimes locking other members into place. Movement and attacks happen simultaneously on a grid; stepping into an enemy triggers your character’s ability, which might shove foes into others or stun them as you pass by. You manage eight action points per round, with costs rising for repeated actions, your first move costs one point, the second costs two, and so on. This system turns every encounter into a dynamic positioning puzzle, where managing points, skills, and enemy placement keeps you engaged.

A major advantage is the freedom to experiment during planning. You can rewind moves and rearrange character actions until you finalize your strategy. Once confirmed, the action phase plays out in a synchronized spectacle, with your team darting across the battlefield, chaining attacks, and dousing the screen in vibrant effects for each defeated demon. Surviving enemies then take their turn before the next round begins. Battles are graded A through C, rewarding opals (the game’s currency), trophies, and credits based on performance. To earn an A, you must eliminate a set number of demons within the round limit and send a character to seal a portal at the map’s rear. Falling short or losing a member lowers your grade, but the game doesn’t penalize you for imperfect runs, accommodating both perfectionists and casual players.

That said, the sheer volume of combat can feel repetitive early on. With only a few characters and abilities available initially, facing the same demon types repeatedly becomes a grind. Thankfully, the tactical depth expands after the first few weeks as new enemies and allies join the fray. Starting with just Faye and Namako, you gradually recruit up to 15 unique characters, including early additions Destin and Knute. Bonding with your squad is encouraged through dialogue choices, karaoke sessions, shared meals, and personal quests. While relationships take a backseat to action, the diverse, eccentric cast ensures these moments remain entertaining.

Demonschool’s narrative balances horror and humor, never taking itself too seriously. The dialogue brims with jokes and nostalgic ’90s tech references, lightening the mood amid the gore. Visually, the art style nods to that era while feeling fresh today, blending isometric gameplay with occasional camera shifts that highlight a mix of 2D and 3D artistry. A synth-heavy soundtrack sets the tone perfectly, complemented by crisp sound effects and a catchy jingle marking each new day. On the technical side, the Switch version runs smoothly with no noticeable lag, and loading times between battles are brief and unobtrusive, ensuring a seamless handheld or docked experience.

(Source: Nintendo Life)