If there’s one publisher that simply refuses to slow down when it comes to old-school RPGs, it’s KEMCO. Barely a month seems to pass without another retro-inspired fantasy adventure appearing on Xbox, and now the latest has arrived in the form of Akuma Rise.
Launching across pretty much every modern platform imaginable, Akuma Rise leans heavily into classic turn-based JRPG traditions – memory loss, demon realms, invading heroes, mysterious powers and plenty of dramatic destiny-filled conversations included.
At A Glance
- Title: Akuma Rise
- Publisher: KEMCO
- Developer: Exe Create Inc.
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Play Anywhere
- Price: £16.75 Standard Edition
Special Edition
A £33.49 Special Edition is also available, bundling together the base game with a range of progression-focused DLC packs, including:
- Experience x3
- Orb EXP x3
- Experience & Orb EXP x2
- Damage x2
- No Skill Cost
All add-ons can also be purchased separately.
Demons, Lost Memories And A Realm On The Brink
Akuma Rise takes place in the demon realm of Adribune, a world thrown into chaos after the sudden disappearance of its Overlord.
Naturally, that means rival nations immediately start fighting for power while heroes from the Radiant Realm decide it’s the perfect opportunity to invade and take control for themselves.
Right in the middle of all that arrives Kaine, a demon who wakes up on a remote island with absolutely no memory of who he is, where he came from or why he possesses enormous hidden power.
But there’s still something comforting about these kinds of stories when they fully embrace the genre. Akuma Rise hits that nostalgic structure, pairing its central mystery with demon princess companions, magical relics and a slightly strange mascot character that KEMCO games always seem contractually obligated to include.
Old-School Battles With Plenty Of Progression
Combat sticks closely to traditional turn-based mechanics, using a side-view battle system where timing and smart skill management play a big role.
The standout mechanic here revolves around magical orbs. Characters can equip these to gain skills, while continued use allows those abilities to grow stronger and evolve into more powerful attacks over time.
Each party member also brings unique POW skills into battle, offering bigger momentum-shifting abilities once gauges have been filled during combat.
Alongside all that sits the usual JRPG progression loop of levelling up, customising builds and unlocking increasingly powerful combinations. It’s very much designed for players who still enjoy that slower, systems-heavy style of RPG progression.
Another Busy Year For KEMCO
At this point, KEMCO’s release schedule has become almost impressive in itself.
Whether it’s traditional fantasy adventures, sci-fi RPGs or dungeon crawlers, the publisher continues to deliver a steady stream of throwback JRPG experiences across Xbox and other platforms. Akuma Rise certainly looks like it fits neatly into that growing catalogue.
The addition of Xbox Play Anywhere support is a nice touch too, letting players switch between console and PC progress without issue.
Akuma Rise is available right now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. If you’re playing on Xbox, pick up either the Standard Edition or Special Edition from the Xbox Store.
