Blade Prince Academy
- March 7, 2024
- Angel Corp
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Blade Prince Academy," players control a squad of elite warriors, defending the city of Abjectalia against various threats. Balance combat and academics to maintain order in students' lives, utilizing a "true real-time with pause" system to plan strategic combos and exploit the environment for maximum effect. Manage time effectively to ensure success in this engaging combination of action and strategy.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The tactical pause combat system is engaging and allows for strategic planning, making battles enjoyable and satisfying.
- The game features a unique artistic direction and character design that is visually appealing and reminiscent of other successful titles.
- There is a good variety of characters with different skills and roles, encouraging players to experiment with team compositions and strategies.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with saving progress and softlocks that can disrupt gameplay.
- The writing and character development are often criticized as mediocre, lacking depth and coherence, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The user interface and controls, especially for controller users, are reported to be clunky and not well-optimized, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- story19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story is described as having a dark academia vibe, with interesting characters and a decent narrative, though it suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of depth in character development. Players express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the storytelling experience, such as the underutilization of the academy setting and the need for more engaging mission structures. Overall, while the story has potential and some enjoyable elements, it is hampered by gameplay issues and a simplistic writing style.
“The overall story has a dark academia vibe to it that I really enjoy.”
“The story and characters so far are decently interesting, but the occasional jokes and colorful art style kind of clash with the darker tone the rest of the game seems to want.”
“This game is fun, looks good, and has a nice story.”
“I wasn't enjoying this game enough to go through the terrible plot points and braindead encounters again.”
“The story and characters so far are decently interesting but the occasional jokes and colorful art style kind of clash with the darker tone the rest of the game seems to want.”
“Writing is fairly simplified; some parts establish a good world, but we never really go 'deeper' than a short story.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a unique tactical pause mechanic that enhances the real-time combat experience, complemented by a charming artistic direction and a diverse cast of characters with evolving relationships. While the mechanics can initially be confusing, they become enjoyable and accessible with time, though some players have noted issues with bugs and a lack of clear explanations for certain systems. Overall, the gameplay is engaging, but it could benefit from improved UI and writing.
“A very cool game with tactical pause mechanics, which we don’t often see, and on top of that, it has a very cool artistic direction and universe.”
“So far, in 3 hours of gameplay, I've already encountered a good number of characters with different skills, roles, and synergies, which is encouraging for the rest of the game.”
“It definitely fulfills the promise of real-time with pause gameplay being fun and active; there's no doubt about that.”
“Mediocre writing, decent gameplay at best, but so buggy it didn't properly save my progress, I guess?”
“Pact enchantment RNG is the worst mechanic and is why people quit Genshin Impact in droves.”
“I feel like a number of the mechanics aren't really explained; I've been trying to figure it out on my own.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are noted for their unique and colorful art style, effectively blending anime visuals with tactical combat mechanics. While the visuals are generally well-received, some users pointed out issues with character portraits and a clash between the art style and the game's darker tone. Overall, the artwork is praised for its creativity, though some find it less standout compared to other titles.
“Very good visuals, the developers worked carefully on the graphics and animations.”
“While this isn't as standout as other games, I think they did a nice job of creating a sort of monster-high school aesthetic that generally looks really good.”
“I'm giving it a thumbs up because there is not much indie game that tries to blend anime-type visuals with such a tactical combat system; it's really as bold as it is cute, and that's what I came for!”
“The visuals sometimes have issues with showing the correct character portraits.”
“The story and characters so far are decently interesting, but the occasional jokes and colorful art style kind of clash with the darker tone the rest of the game seems to want.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, including problems with saving progress. While some users note that improvements are being made, they recommend waiting for further patches before fully engaging with the game.
“Mediocre writing, decent gameplay at best, but so buggy it didn't properly save my progress, I guess?”
“The rest of this review contains all the notes I collected about the things that are either buggy or feel poorly designed.”
“This thumbs up is with a caveat: it's recommended after a few patches come out, since the game is still fairly buggy, but improving at a fairly good pace.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its intricate level and character design, which enhances the depth and individuality of each character. Players appreciate how these elements contribute to a more immersive and engaging narrative experience. Overall, the thoughtful design choices significantly enrich the character arcs throughout the game.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
“The intricate backstories and personal arcs of each character add layers of complexity that enhance the overall experience.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the limited growth options for characters; it feels like they don't evolve throughout the game.”
“The storyline doesn't provide enough context for character motivations, leaving their development feeling forced and unconvincing.”
