Blades & Battles is an old-school title that’ll appeal to lovers of Golden Axe and possibly Streets of Rage. Although it isn’t as intense as the latter, it has an early Mega Drive vibe that’ll make retro lovers smile.
QUByte Interactive have published and developed this wonderfully pixelated side-scroller. It is a single-player or couch co-op title, and it reeks of 90s gaming nostalgia. Sadly, it is a little easy, and the controls are clunky by modern standards, but I loved it regardless. Many of the bosses are huge and ghastly, and they’ll make you chuckle when you defeat them.
Blades & Battles has an Arthurian edge.
We all know the tale of Camelot, Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, and Morgana. However, Blades & Battles takes their creative licence to the next level. This Arthurian tale doesn’t follow the traditional path. No, instead, it has the King and his faithful knight Lancelot fighting monsters in the weirdest of places.
Morgana has kidnapped Merlin in a crazy power move. This causes a nightmare for Arthur and Lancelot, and they will not stop until they defeat her and save their magical friend. Yet, this is easier said than done! There are plenty of monsters, bosses, and locations to explore before they get to their friend. Therefore, they must be patient and hope that they survive the twisted ordeals they face.
Simple mechanics.
Much of Blades & Battles is unbelievably dated and simple. Moving between zones requires you to kill every monster. Once this is done, you collect the treasure, food, and other items and move on to the next fight. You’ll face a boss at the end of each stage, and then the loop begins again.
It may be a little repetitive, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed the action and the chance to play 2 unique characters. Unlike other side-scrolling titles, each of the heroes has unique abilities and weapons. Moreover, both have a special power to attack everything on screen. This was a nice to have as it was a get out of jail free card. If you play this with a friend, be aware that you don’t get additional healing items or boosts. This can cause arguments, as one of you is guaranteed to die.
Blades & Battles is wonderfully dated.
Retro gaming is a huge part of my life, so I adore Blades & Battles’ pixelated approach. Moreover, I love how the backdrops are varied but clean. This shows a modern take on a dated idea, and it was fantastic. The game runs smoothly even if it pushes that old-school style. Animation is clunky and a bit ugly, but it doesn’t matter.
The audio evokes a classic fantasy edge. The music is limited, but when it appears, it is dramatic and loud. The sound effects are OTT and suitable for each weapon. I loved the huge bangs and ridiculous nature of your special abilities.
Clunky controls.
The controls were a little wayward and clunky. Hitboxes were off, and you couldn’t always hit your foes. This was annoying, but to be expected when you consider the influences.
Replay value is sadly limited. Some branching pathways add replay value and longevity, but it isn’t enough. Moreover, there are 3 difficulty settings, but these won’t push you either. Thankfully, each short playthrough is worth it, though.
Blades & Battles is a good but limited retro experience.
I enjoyed Blades & Battles. Its influences were clear, and I liked the simple approach, pixelated visuals, and couch co-op. However, the clunky controls were frustrating, and it was too short. Despite this, it is a good but limited retro experience, and I recommend buying it here! Can you defeat Morgana and save Merlin? Pick your hero, slash your weapon like a maniac, and save the day.
