Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel adopts a classic turn-based RPG structure, dividing play into exploration (Quest Mode) and combat (Battle Mode). In Quest Mode, you guide Janis and her companions through villages, forests and dungeons, triggering random encounters that transport you into Battle Mode. NPCs offer insight into the main quest, sell useful items such as healing potions and antidotes, and sometimes provide side-quests that reward experience or rare equipment. This layered exploration encourages back-tracking once new abilities or items become available, giving the world a sense of connectedness.

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The Battle Mode uses a straightforward energy system: each character has a finite pool of energy points that fuels their attacks and special skills. Janis’s unique “Kamuitama” powers allow her to unleash magic that can heal or damage multiple foes, while series staples like InuYasha’s Wind Scar or Shippo’s fox magic lend tactical variety. Battles require balancing powerful attacks with energy conservation. If you run low, you can “Spirit Up” to recover, but spending too many turns doing so may leave your party vulnerable. The frequency of random encounters keeps the tension high, though some players may find the rate a bit grind-heavy over long dungeon stretches.

Beyond standard combat, Secret of the Divine Jewel weaves in light puzzle-elements—lever switches, breakable floors and simple item-based obstacles—that punctuate exploration and keep the pacing engaging. Character progression feels rewarding but not overwhelming: each party member’s skill tree unlocks new techniques at a steady clip, so you rarely hit a wall where your damage output feels too feeble. The ability to swap active party members before a fight offers strategic depth, as you’ll sometimes replace Sango with Miroku or vice versa to gain access to particular skills. Overall, the gameplay loop of exploring, talking, battling and leveling strikes a comfortable balance for newcomers to RPGs and fans of the series alike.

Graphics

On the Nintendo DS, InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel delivers bright, anime-styled visuals that faithfully echo the look of the original series. Character sprites are well-detailed for the hardware, with clear color palettes and smooth animation frames when executing special moves. In cutscenes, you’ll see expressive character portraits with dynamic posing, though full animations are limited to a handful of key moments. The overall art direction leans into the familiar InuYasha aesthetic—pointed ears, flowing hair and traditional Japanese architecture—so fans will feel right at home.

Environmental design varies from lush forests and sleepy villages to dimly lit caverns and foggy marshes. While some dungeon tilesets can start to feel repetitive after multiple visits, decorative touches—like swaying torches, animated waterfalls or drifting pollen—add life to each area. The two-screen layout helps here: the top screen shows your character moving through the environment, while the bottom often displays your map or battle commands. Occasional frame-rate dips during heavy spell effects are rare and never linger long enough to break immersion.

Special effects for powerful abilities stand out, thanks to crisp particle bursts, glowing energy rings and screen-shake flourishes. Even subtle details—Sango’s boomerang echoing across the battlefield or Janis’s aura brightening before a magic attack—underscore the Divine Jewel’s mystical power. Menus and HUD elements retain the series’ color scheme and typography, ensuring that the interface feels like an extension of the world rather than an afterthought. Overall, the graphics achieve a commendable balance between technical feasibility on the DS and the spirited energy of the anime.

Story

Secret of the Divine Jewel introduces an original protagonist, Janis, whose sudden transfer from America to Japan sets the narrative in motion. When she stumbles into the Bone Eater’s Well and is cast back into the Sengoku era, players experience feudal Japan through fresh eyes. The hook—that Janis unwittingly absorbs a shard of the Shikon Jewel and awakens “Kamuitama” powers—gives the story its driving force, as she seeks both to control her newfound abilities and to return home.

Janis’s interactions with established series characters—Kagome, InuYasha, Sango, Miroku and Shippo—capture the group’s characteristic banter and camaraderie. Writing faithfully recreates InuYasha’s gruff humor, Kagome’s level-headed leadership and Miroku’s cheeky advances, making the original series persona pop even in text-based dialogue. Occasional side stories spotlight secondary characters, such as helping Sango recover a lost talisman or assisting Miroku in breaking a minor curse, which deepen the party’s bonds and flesh out the world beyond the main quest.

Pacing is handled thoughtfully: early chapters focus on character introductions and basic mechanics, middle chapters ramp up with plot twists—ambushes by familiar villains, moral dilemmas about the Dark Jewel’s corruptive pull—and the finale ties Janis’s fate to the greater mythos of the Shikon Jewel. While the narrative rarely ventures into profound territory, it remains consistently engaging, weaving fan-service cameos with enough novel elements to hold interest. The occasional filler mission can slow momentum, but there’s enough narrative payoff to keep players invested until the credits roll.

Overall Experience

InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel stands as a solid portable RPG, especially for fans of the anime series and newcomers seeking a character-driven adventure. Its blend of light exploration, satisfying turn-based combat and a fresh protagonist ensures that the game never feels like a straight retread of familiar television arcs. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it hits all the right notes for a handheld title, providing about 20–25 hours of content at a comfortable difficulty.

Controls are responsive whether you use the D-pad or the touchscreen for menu navigation, and save points are generously placed before major boss fights or at key crossroads. The soundtrack features rearranged themes from the anime, lending an emotional resonance to pivotal scenes, and the sound effects—clashing swords, magical chimes—feel punchy despite the DS’s limitations. Players who appreciate a moderate learning curve and don’t mind occasional grind will find much to enjoy here.

In the end, Secret of the Divine Jewel is a love letter to InuYasha fans and a well-crafted introduction to the world for RPG enthusiasts. Its charming graphics, heartfelt story moments and polished battle system make it a worthwhile addition to any DS library. While it may not challenge hardcore JRPG veterans, it delivers a memorable, portable journey through feudal Japan that captures the spirit of the beloved series.

Retro Replay Score

5.6/10