Blades & Battles Review

I’m a lover of all things retro. Therefore, when I saw Blades & Battles, I couldn’t resist. It is inspired by early Mega Drive titles such as Golden Axe. Accordingly, if you love that franchise or you love old-school action, this will be right up your street.

Blades & Battles twists a well-trodden story.

We all know about King Arthur and Lancelot. Blades & Battles runs with this idea in its fantasy Arthurian setting. This wonderful twist on a well-trodden story was fun, straightforward, and easy to digest. Moreover, it doesn’t take itself seriously, so it works well with the arcade edge.

The wizard Merlin has been taken by the sorceress Morgana. This is a blow to Arthur and Lancelot, so they’ll stop at nothing to rescue their friend. The tale takes you across an array of dark locations that are filled with monsters and bosses who wish to thwart your plans. It is refined, easy to follow, and very cliché.

Pick your hero.

Unlike other games in this genre, the 2 heroes have a set of skills and weapons that are unique. This offers varied ways of enjoying the action. Furthermore, it gives a fine tactical layer when working with a friend. Each of the heroes must balance health and their mana bar as they execute abilities and dodge attacks.

The fighting forms the majority of the action. Sadly, it is a little boxy, but I didn’t mind. Hit boxes are unreliable, and perfecting each attack isn’t that easy. This wasn’t a problem for me, as I remember the early 90s. Younger gamers may become frustrated by the lack of finesse, however.

Sadly, there are no upgrades or weapons to gather. This means that what you start with is what you must use. This was a little restrictive, but it works with the dated theme and the fantasy edge.

Blades & Battles is nicely pixelated.

Blades & Battles wears its inspirations on its sleeves. It is nicely pixelated with a clean backdrop. Each location has a pleasant layer of details, and there is a moderate roster of monsters to overcome. I experienced no performance issues, and it runs at a consistent and smooth frame rate. The audio has a chiptune edge and many uncomfortable moments. There are dramatic elements and sombre tracks. Additionally, the sound effects are OTT and a little repetitive.

The controls are a little clunky but simple to understand. The layout is refined, and the helpful tutorial gets you up and running in no time. Unfortunately, this is a short title. I completed everything in around 3 hours. My gaming partner made it considerably easier, but I wanted much more. Yes, there is a difficulty scale, but this wasn’t enough to push me all the way.

Blades & Battles is a good indie experience.

I loved every moment with Blades & Battles, but it was too short. I wanted so much more, but it wasn’t to be. A new set of characters would have been interesting, or some secrets to discover. Despite this, I enjoyed it, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox Store!