Rogue Lords

Sometimes it really is good to be the bad guy, and when it comes to bad guys, it's hard to get any more "bad" than Old Scratch himself: the Devil. Rogue Lords doesn't make any attempt to dilute this with pesky things like redemption or morals. There's an interesting twist in which the Demon Hunters have created their own religion, but seem to be a different brand of evil in the guise of doing good. As such, they've got their own devoted and demented followers, many of which are twisted monstrosities in their own right. There's nothing bright or cheery here, but it's all done in a crisp, clean cartoonish art style with fluid animations that make the game look like it's just begging to be turned into a gothic horror anime series.

Gameplay in Rogue Lords initially feels like your standard cut-and-dried turn-based role-playing game. You start off choosing three Disciples out of the eight available (technically nine if you count Frankenstein's Creature as a separate character). Each has a small selection of abilities, which quickly grows and evolves as the game progresses. Players need to make the most of what they have too, as Action Points are shared amongst the party and, once used, abilities have to be recharged manually. It's here where some players, especially those on consoles, may find themselves lost diving through the significant numbers of menus that pop up to control Disciples. It's not a big problem, but it can slow things down. But where the game really stands out is the "Diabolic Essence." This is the Devil's power, which can be used to influence and alter the gameplay in multiple ways. Cashing in Essence allows everything from altering characters' life bars to changing the odds of success in events and more. Basically, it lets you cheat the system. This is a finite resource though, and difficult to refill. Run out and it's game over. But in Rogue Lords, each ending is just another beginning, as you restart your quest once again to ensure the Devil gets his due.