Slash ‘n’ Dash!
One thing that sometimes gets overlooked when talking about the current state of graphics and how far we have come is how life-like they now look, and it isn’t just real-world games that benefit. Another form the of art is the hand drawn animation style of graphics, such as the Ori games, Ni No Kuni, and Mark of the Ninja. The technical improvements in those areas is just as impressive as elsewhere, seemingly turning a video game into an interactive cartoon. One recent game that has caught my eye is Bladed Fury; a hack ‘n’ slash 2-D platformer from NExT Studios.
Set in a mystical ancient China, Bladed Fury see a young Princess, Ji, who has been accused of her father’s murder. However, with her memory a haze, she is convinced that she did not commit such a crime and with the help of some Chinese deities, plans to unravel the truth regarding her father’s death and the warring factions of China.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox One (reviewed)
Price: $19.99
Price I’d pay: $12.99
The game’s setting is its inspiration for the design of the game in both visuals and audio. Each character, background and detail are modelled after ancient Chinese artworks, and the audio and music pay incredible homage to the location and time period. But it is the artwork that stands out the most. Each area oozes atmosphere and each frame of a character’s movement flows with color and style. The game is striking in many ways. The game’s cast are also well defined, from Ji to many of the smaller roles, each have a detailed and often tragic backstory as to how they ended up in the situation they are in. This enriches the main story with details and lore, that while not always needed, gives the game an extra level\ of depth and is appreciated none-the-less. The voicework is all in Chinese, which I found better immersed me in the period.
Each area is made up of several screens and Ji will need to move from one to another, dispatching a wide array of foes in order to reach her goals. Something akin to a metroidvania game. And while most screens involve going from the left to right, there will be times where separate areas will need to be explored in order to progress. It is here that the game feels a little clunky. The map is basic and not very well laid out. It is also only accessible from the main menu, and although many games of this type do this, I would have much preferred the map to be on the HUD. There is also some lack of direction, with some of the puzzle elements being vague in how they must be solved. Whilst not a total pain, I did find myself lost as to what to do or where to go on more than one occasion.
Another part of the game that I felt was slightly lacking was the combat. Sticking to the tried and tested light/heavy combo action, it didn’t stand out in the same way the visuals did. Sure, the action looks nice, but it didn’t feel great or unique. Killing foes grant Ji souls that can be exchanged for new combos and upgrades, which prove invaluable as the game progresses, and the many Chinese gods will also offer new abilities to Ji, but these are locked into the story beats of the game. The combat can certainly be challenging though, with new enemies being introduced all the time, each needing a different tactic to break down and defeat. That at least keeps things from growing too stale too quickly.
Whilst Bladed Fury was a joy to look at, I feel it was let down slightly where it counts. This isn’t to say it is a bad game, or even an incompetent one. It just felt like a lot of games that came before. It is certainly worth checking out for the gorgeous visuals and atmosphere, and the story is pretty decent as well. Just don’t expect anything too fancy or groundbreaking in the combat.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.