BLADE CHIMERA

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 161 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
BLADE CHIMERA Game Cover
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In "BLADE CHIMERA" , play as Shin, a memory-deprived demon hunter partnered with Lux, a shapeshifting sword with time manipulation abilities. Fight brutal battles against demons, explore a dangerous world, and unlock new skills via the skill tree to aid in your quest to uncover your past. Utilize Lux's abilities, firearms, and other weapons to navigate through Osaka. This action-packed game offers a unique and thrilling experience for players.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 161 reviews
story30 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The pixel art is stunning, with beautiful animations and detailed environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • Gameplay is fluid and engaging, with a unique combat system that combines melee and ranged attacks, as well as interesting mechanics involving the spirit sword.
  • Quality of life features, such as the ability to warp to any room on the map, significantly reduce backtracking and enhance exploration.
  • The exploration feels less rewarding due to progression being tied to a skill tree rather than traditional Metroidvania mechanics like defeating bosses or acquiring items.
  • Many side quests are repetitive and lack depth, often boiling down to 'kill X number of enemies' which can feel like padding.
  • The final boss and post-game content are criticized for being poorly designed and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story86 mentions

    The story in the game is generally considered engaging but predictable, with many players noting its reliance on familiar tropes and a lack of depth. While the main narrative keeps players interested, the majority of side quests are seen as repetitive and uninspired, primarily consisting of "kill x enemies" tasks. Overall, the story is serviceable and complements the gameplay, but it doesn't stand out as particularly groundbreaking or memorable.

    • “The art and music are great, and the story's very well told.”
    • “A very stylish metroidvania, with beautiful pixel art and a compelling story.”
    • “I was pretty shocked to find an interestingly crafted story, characters and lore that brought me in, which is something that games like this tend to gloss over.”
    • “80% of the side quests were 'kill x number of enemies in x area' which was just mindless padding.”
    • “The game's plot telegraphs its twists from the start and relies heavily on tropes to maintain some semblance of cohesion.”
    • “The story isn't really captivating; it feels like I've seen the kind of story it's telling many times, and it's not like it's doing anything particularly interesting for me.”
  • gameplay74 mentions

    The gameplay of this metroidvania is characterized by fluid mechanics, engaging combat, and stunning pixel art, making it enjoyable overall. However, some players noted a lack of challenge and depth in certain mechanics, with interesting features introduced but not fully utilized throughout the game. While the combat and exploration are fun, the game occasionally suffers from pacing issues and a reliance on fast travel that can diminish the sense of challenge and progression.

    • “Pixel art is beautiful, gameplay is fluid, mechanics are strong, engine is tight - they could easily make a series out of this.”
    • “This action metroidvania is one of the best in recent memory, thanks to fluid gameplay, strong mechanics that integrate both guns and melee weapons, and breathtaking art in practically every room.”
    • “Blade Chimera excels with its engaging combat, stunning presentation, and fast-paced gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is where I was really disappointed.”
    • “There's never any challenge that forces you to try and engage with the game's (few) mechanics on a deeper level.”
    • “The game also has a distinct lack of bosses; there were only 6 (if I recall correctly) and none of them stood out besides the 2 in the demo before these broken mechanics were introduced.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its high-energy and varied tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it less memorable. The soundtrack is often described as a standout feature, with some tracks being particularly memorable and enjoyable, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game. Overall, the music complements the stunning visuals and gameplay, making it a notable aspect despite some inconsistency in track quality.

    • “This game’s story, gameplay, enemy variety, and music are off the chain!”
    • “The music is stellar, with every area boasting its own high-energy theme that enhances the action.”
    • “Awesome art and music.”
    • “I would say the music for me was 50/50, with some tracks being just okay while others are absolute bangers!”
    • “The soundtrack also fits alongside the graphics going for techno in most areas, but isn't afraid to try something different for the more unique areas.”
    • “The sprite animation, music, and gameplay is something I always liked about their games.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous pixel art style, blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with futuristic elements, creating a unique and visually captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the detailed backgrounds, enemy variations, and overall clean presentation, which contribute to the game's distinct identity within the metroidvania genre. The visuals are complemented by a fitting soundtrack, enhancing the overall immersive quality of the game.

    • “The art style is gorgeous, with lots of enemy variation and nice pixel art. The backgrounds are both beautiful and ooze character, sharing a cool melding of futuristic and 1930s Japan that's really neat to see.”
    • “Visuals are obviously great, but having the enemies be almost entirely classical youkai gives the game a lot more of its own feel and identity, as well as a traditional Japanese aesthetic mixed with some future tech.”
    • “The aesthetics of the game are excellent and visually interesting, with details placed everywhere that had me peering down to appreciate them.”
    • “They already learned this ancient fork of game maker engine once, why learn any real engine with real graphics, if people are paying even for this.”
    • “And it's not like they skimp on graphical content, they are ready to put the time into creating assets, they are just too lazy to pay the transitional costs in time and money.”
    • “The game's visuals are pretty and clean, text is delivered in small chunks, the sound design is fantastic and the music is varied and distinct.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in post-game content where essential abilities and gear are locked behind enemy drops. The need to grind for resources can disrupt gameplay flow, as enemies respawn in different areas, leading to repetitive and unenjoyable farming experiences.

    • “Post-game content is a tedious mess.”
    • “The combat abilities are also traps for the player: the combat never really pushed me that hard, and the one time I bought a combat ability, I immediately ran into a section where I needed a movement ability I could no longer afford without grinding enemies first.”
    • “Also, the best gear is locked behind enemy drops, and farming for it isn't really fun.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game is perceived as lacking in replayability, with users noting its short length and limited incentive to revisit, especially when compared to similar titles like Touhou Luna Nights. While the execution and gimmick are praised, they do not significantly enhance the game's replay value.

    • “The game offers a unique experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.”
    • “With various paths and choices, each run feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “The mechanics and challenges change enough to keep players coming back for more.”
    • “It's executed well, it had an interesting gimmick, and it was a polished experience, but I don't see much replay value in it.”
    • “Too short, and nowhere near as replayable as Touhou Luna Nights.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes occurring approximately every 20 minutes, affecting both the demo and the full version. Additionally, players experience frustrating freezing mechanics that hinder gameplay, requiring them to repeatedly mash buttons to regain control.

    • “The problem is that every 20 minutes or so the game freezes and crashes for me. It happened with the demo when I was playing through it, and it is now happening with the full game.”
    • “One that freezes you in place until you mash out of it, and one that lets you move very, very slowly until you mash out of it.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the reviews highlight the stunning art style and unique setting that blends futuristic elements with 1930s Japan, they do not specifically address character development. Instead, the focus is on the visual aesthetics and enemy variation, suggesting that character development may not be a prominent feature in the game.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form meaningful connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the plot progresses.”
    • “The interactions between characters are rich and engaging, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers praise the atmosphere of the game, highlighting the impressive spritework and immersive environment created by Team Ladybug, which enhances the overall experience of their metroidvania titles.

    • “Another great game by Team Ladybug. I hope they keep making Metroidvanias because I love their sprite work and atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
7-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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