Blade Kitten
- May 21, 2014
- Krome Studios
- 8h median play time
"Blade Kitten" is a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game that follows the story of a bounty hunter named Kit Ballard. Players will explore various environments, battle enemies using melee combat and the character's "Darque Blade," and interact with NPCs to progress the story. The game features colorful anime-inspired visuals and voice acting.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a charming art style that appeals to fans of anime and platformers.
- The gameplay mechanics, including climbing and traversal, are engaging and allow for exploration of large levels filled with secrets.
- The dialogue and cutscenes are humorous and entertaining, adding personality to the characters and the overall experience.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including lagging controls and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- Combat can feel repetitive and simplistic, with enemies often stun-locking the player and making encounters frustrating.
- The story is disjointed and lacks depth, leaving players confused about character motivations and plot progression.
- story184 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "Blade Kitten" is often described as disjointed and lacking depth, with many players finding it confusing or unsatisfying without prior knowledge of the associated webcomic. While some appreciate its lighthearted and quirky elements, others criticize it for being bland, poorly paced, and reliant on DLC for a complete narrative. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with engaging characters and moments overshadowed by a lack of coherence and clarity.
“The story follows a bounty hunter named Kit Ballard, a pink-haired catgirl with a lot of sass and witty lines to share.”
“The story is shaping up to be interesting.”
“Great story with lovable characters, fun gameplay, plus a decent soundtrack and digital comics!”
“The story is muddled, the combat and enemies are kind of uninspired, and some more moves or combos would've been nice. The levels can sometimes confound, and the controls could be improved.”
“If you're not invested in the Blade Kitten webcomic, then the story is going to make almost no sense to you whatsoever, as it assumes almost full knowledge of who its characters are and what exactly is going on on the part of the player.”
“The story and presentation are all over the place, plain and simple. Apparently, this game is based on a webcomic, and I wish I knew that before buying this game, because the game never tells you anything. There are a lot of cutscenes, but they never tell you about the characters or the setting.”
- gameplay156 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Blade Kitten" is characterized as a fun yet flawed action platformer, featuring engaging climbing mechanics and a mix of combat and exploration. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetics and fluid movement, they also note issues such as glitchy mechanics, awkward controls, and a lack of depth in combat, leading to a generally mixed reception. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments but is hindered by technical shortcomings and repetitive elements.
“Blade Kitten is a fun and charming action-platformer similar in mechanics to Strider, in that your character (Kit) can climb on walls and hang from ceilings.”
“The gameplay is action-packed with a lot of hidden stuff to look for and very well-designed levels.”
“Awesome gameplay! It mixes a somewhat 360º platform gameplay (you can climb walls and ceilings), Trinity (Matrix)-like and cat movements (the jumps are awesome).”
“Overall, it's fun, but the buggy mechanics and poor control just weren't worth it to me.”
“The main problem I have with it is the combat mechanics.”
“To put it bluntly; this game had massive potential but lacks focused level design, gameplay, and the most basic bug testing.”
- graphics110 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and colorful visuals, particularly the cel-shaded design that evokes a charming, anime-inspired aesthetic. While some players find the graphics to be decent and well-executed for an indie title, others note that they feel somewhat dated and generic compared to modern standards. Overall, the visuals are appreciated for their creativity and appeal, but there is a consensus that they could benefit from a higher budget and more development time.
“The graphics are colorful and bright, and the main character’s pink hair really pops.”
“The game is set in a pretty, alien landscape and the cel-shaded 2.5D art style itself is pretty charming and somewhat anime-inspired, and it all blends together very beautifully.”
“Graphically, the game is above average for an indie game, but the animations are some of the best I've ever seen; AAA title or otherwise.”
“The graphics are definitely a little dated by today's standards, but they hold up better than some 10-year-old games.”
“The graphics are subpar even for an old Xbox game, the voice acting is bland with simple (in a bad way) characters, and the controls themselves are really bad for a mouse and keyboard.”
“The graphics are cel-shaded, but in a style that doesn't complement it too well.”
- music49 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and atmospheric qualities, while others criticize it as generic and forgettable. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's fusion of traditional and electronic elements, though some find it distracting or annoying, particularly in the menu. Overall, the music is seen as a decent complement to the gameplay, but opinions vary widely on its memorability and quality.
“The soundtrack is surprisingly great, fusing traditional East Asian rhythms and instruments with electronic music.”
“Great story with lovable characters, fun gameplay, plus a decent soundtrack and digital comics!”
“The music is pretty good, and the level design isn't half bad.”
“The other downsides other than the awkward controls are that it's still a bit buggy even though I've heard it was cleaned up from its original release and the music is garbage.”
“I turned off the music and listened to Meshuggah's 'Obzen' album instead, and even though Jens Kidman's voice breaks the vibe a bit during cutscenes, it's way better than whatever honks and farts they recorded and put into this game.”
“Bland techno music that has an Asian flavor to it, and sounds very generic.”
- humor32 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the witty dialogue, charming characters, and funny interactions that contribute to a light-hearted atmosphere. While some moments may fall flat or feel cringeworthy, the overall comedic tone, especially through characters like Kit and the humorous merchant, adds a delightful touch to the gameplay experience. The combination of cute graphics and engaging voice acting further enhances the game's appeal, making it a fun choice for those seeking a humorous platforming adventure.
“Kit's sarcastic humor is top-tier 😂”
“The writing for the game is witty and filled with great humor and care, complemented by excellent graphics and music.”
“Cute and funny writing and characters with great platform action make this one a must-play!”
“Where it was supposed to be funny, it makes you cringe.”
“The jokes fall flat and often feel forced.”
“I expected humor, but instead, I just felt awkward.”
- stability25 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with players encountering various glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with controls and physics. While these bugs can be annoying, many reviewers note that they are not severe enough to ruin the overall experience, and some even find them endearing. Overall, the game is seen as fun and worth its low price, but it definitely requires more polish to improve stability.
“Twice I had to reload the game from bizarre glitches that made it impossible to continue.”
“Overall, it's fun, but the buggy mechanics and poor control just weren't worth it to me.”
“The controls are not solid, the game is buggy, the kit is one-dimensional, and the story of the first doesn't make any sense.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging platforming mechanics, numerous unlockables, and the incentive to explore for secrets and achievements. Players appreciate the inviting nature of the gameplay, which allows for easy pick-up-and-play sessions, making it worthwhile to revisit. The combination of large, non-linear levels and appealing production values further enhances the game's replay value.
“Very nice production value game with nice controls, nice platforming, huge levels, and a lot of replay value.”
“Replayability is rather good for a platformer, especially if you go for all of the secrets.”
“The game can feel a bit short, but the amount of unlockables and exploration greatly make this game worthy of revisits, and its replayability makes it much more inviting.”
“The game can feel a bit short, but the amount of unlockables and exploration greatly make this game worthy of revisits and its replayability makes it much more inviting.”
“There are also plenty of unlockables that can extend the replay value out for another few hours.”
“The levels are large enough and have a little bit of non-linearity that adds a surprising amount of replay value.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Reviews on the emotional aspect of the game are mixed; while some players found it heartwarming and engaging, others felt disconnected from the characters and story, leading to a lack of emotional impact. Despite some technical issues and cringeworthy elements, a few users discovered a surprisingly heartfelt experience that stood out amidst the game's flaws. Overall, the emotional resonance varies significantly among players, with some enjoying a rollercoaster of feelings and others feeling detached.
“It's not just good; it's heartwarming.”
“It's the ultimate gaming rollercoaster, with eye-popping graphics, action-packed gameplay, lovable characters, a heartwarming story, and more fun than a barrel of monkeys!”
“But found a surprisingly heartfelt gem I almost missed out on.”
“The story felt rushed and lacked depth, making it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
“The voice acting was cringeworthy, which detracted from any emotional impact the game tried to convey.”
“Overall, the emotional experience was underwhelming due to the short and unengaging narrative.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often exacerbated by unresponsive controls and awkward mechanics. Many feel that the excessive grind required for upgrades detracts from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable and more of a chore. Overall, the combination of these issues leads to a lack of engagement and a sense of frustration during gameplay.
“I do feel the prices for them are a little excessively grindy for my tastes; I just bought what appealed to me and didn't bother with the rest.”
“But, to be honest, I'd rather them be easy than have them kill the pace and become tedious roadblocks every time they're encountered.”
“A hack & slash platformer, Blade Kitten suffers from sluggish, unresponsive controls, problematic hit detection, unchallenging enemies who only frustrate the player with their cheapness, problematic animations, and generally being downright tedious.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant performance issues while others report smooth gameplay. The controls are well-optimized for both keyboard and mouse as well as controllers, making it accessible for different play styles. However, the overall combat and emotional moments may feel lacking, detracting from the experience.
“One of my favorite platformers! The good comic art design makes it look gorgeous, the music is good, and the sounds are perfect. It's atmospheric and relaxing. The controls are perfect for any platformer, but this game is optimized for keyboard and mouse perfectly. It may be a little hard in the beginning, but it's quite intuitive and easy to learn. The storyline helps move the game along well, and the ending makes you want to play the next one right away!”
“Horrible optimization.”
“Various performance issues for some, though I did not have any.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its simple yet engaging level design, vibrant comic art, and relaxing music, creating a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic PSX action games. Players appreciate the intuitive controls and a storyline that enhances the overall experience, making it both enjoyable and immersive.
“The simple but atmospheric level design is a joy.”
“One of my favorite platformers, the good comic art design makes it look gorgeous. The music is good, sounds perfect, atmospheric and relaxing. The controls are optimized for keyboard and mouse, making it intuitive and easy to learn. The storyline helps move the game along well, and the ending makes you want to play the next one!”
“It has a nice atmosphere, reminiscent of the PSX era of action games like Rockman Dash, with bright colorful visuals and some cute interface gimmicks.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development has been criticized for its poor design, yet the graphics and overall aesthetic, reminiscent of classic sci-fi comics like Valerian and Laureline, have garnered positive attention for their quality and appeal.
“Poor character design.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any emotional connection.”