Developer: Daijyobi Institute (Published by Kagura Games)
Genre: Management sim
Store: Steam, GOG, Denpasoft, Kagura Games store, DLSite (only in Japanese)
Reviewed version: 1.01
Censored: No, except for the DLSite version
Patch Needed: No, except for the Steam version
OS: Windows
Language: English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese
I have to admit what caught my attention the most about The Demon Lord is New in Town was its gorgeous art. I liked the game a lot at first because its game mechanics were different than I imagined, plus the story was fun, but I noticed some issues after a while.
Pros
Its art is a feast for the eyes
Story-wise, it’s fun and somewhat original
The game’s soundtrack is alright
Cons
Its game mechanics are a bit basic for a resource-management game and get repetitive over time
Some CG is reused in a good chunk of sex scenes
Story
Its plot is lighthearted and full of jokes, plus it has some elements that make it different from your usual harem fantasy game. Instead of playing as a hero in a quest to save the world, you play as Ghitorah, a demon king who took over the body of the royal knight Van in a last-ditch effort to not die in the fight against him and has lost his memories in the process.
That's not the only thing that's different from the norm, though. Instead of featuring the typical shy male lead with no personality, the protagonist is full of flaws and so dumb and horny he acts as if his crotch does all the thinking. The girls are decently written despite not getting much character development. There's the stoic assistant who barely tolerates the MC's shenanigans, the narcoleptic nun who doesn't care about anything in the world, the energetic dark elf, and the haughty but unskilled swordswoman.
Gameplay
Not going to lie; I expected a bit more of its gameplay. The resource-management part is limited to managing your energy to get Demon Nuts, earn money by doing quests and working for the Estate, and progressing your relationship with the girls. Moreover, it gets repetitive after you spend a good chunk of time doing the same actions to advance the story. Quests take place as three consecutive automatic battles that reward you with money and some weapons and armor once you complete them. On rare occasions, you clear them automatically and obtain special gear.
Audiovisuals
It has been a while since I saw a game with such good art. The characters and backgrounds are very polished and detailed, aside from the typical lack of facial features the male protagonist has. The spicy content is equally great, but there's a good chunk of reused CG in the game. I don't mind when it's done in minor, filler scenes, but it's a problem when this happens in the plot-relevant ones too. As for the soundtrack, it's alright. The tracks may not be very memorable, but they are nice to listen to and enhance the scenes they play in.
Verdict: Good
Whether you're going to enjoy playing The Demon Lord is New in Town ultimately depends on what you expect from it. You're going to enjoy it if you see it as a visual novel with some gameplay added to the mix but, you'll be sorely disappointed if you expect it to be a full-fledged resource-management game. Get it if its plot and art catch your interest, and its gameplay elements, while bare-bones, are a nice plus to you.