If you’re a fan of the classic Record of Lodoss War anime/books, you should probably mark March 13 on your calendar. That’s the date when Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth, a “2D-syle Metroidvania”, releases on Steam in Early Access.

Developed by Touhou Luna Nights developer Team Ladybug, the story of the game “fills in the gaps” of the most recent novel, making it a canonical addition to the franchise. You play as the high elf and series heroine Deedlit, whose new adventure is set in an unfamiliar setting.

Here’s the description:

“Deedlit awakens in a strange, unknown place. As she explores her surroundings, she encounters “”Ghim”” and more of her old friends. Where is this place? Receiving help from spirits including “”Sylph”” and “”Salamander””, Deedlit wanders this mysterious new world in search of answers…”

The spirits are central to Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth’s gameplay. Each provides Deedlit with different abilities. Sylph, for example, gives her wind resistance and helps her to hover, letting her reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

You’ll also rely on weapons like swords and spears. Each will have a role to play, as the game says that picking the right one for the situation is “part of the fun”.

The novel that Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is connected to is Record of Lodoss War: The Pledged Diadem. It shipped on August 1 2019, months after the original shipping date of April 1.

The first Record of Lodoss War book, The Grey Witch, featured characters from different races banding together to defeat the titular Grey Witch and save the country of Lodoss. The main character was a swordsman called Parn, while Deedlit was capable of wielding magic. Joining them were the dwarf Ghim, the priest Etoh, sorcerer Slayn, and the thief Woodchuck.

Written by Ryo Mizuno, The Grey Witch was first released in 1988. According to Anime News Network, an OAV series came out in 1990 and ran for 13 episodes. A sequel anime titled Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight was released in 1998 and ran for 27 episodes.

Coincidentally, I stumbled upon the opening song of Chronicles of the Heroic Knight shortly before finding out about the game, and it’s absolutely amazing.

While I’ve no familiarity with the series, I hope that the game ends up as a worthy entry.