Blade Strangers

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 167 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Blade Strangers Game Cover
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
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"Blade Strangers" is a classic-style fighting game where heroes from various parallel universes compete in one-on-one combat to defeat a malevolent force called Lina. The game features a simple four-button control scheme, making it accessible for beginners, while also offering intricate combos and special moves for experienced players. The diverse roster includes characters from Studio Saizensen and Nicalis games, as well as surprise entrants.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews
gameplay14 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • Blade Strangers features a diverse roster of characters from beloved indie games, providing a unique crossover experience.
  • The game is easy to pick up and play, making it accessible for both newcomers and casual players while still offering depth for veterans.
  • The visuals and animations are appealing, and the music enhances the overall experience, making battles enjoyable.
  • The gameplay can feel overly simplistic, lacking the complexity and depth that hardcore fighting game fans may expect.
  • The online multiplayer experience is often disappointing due to a lack of players and poor matchmaking options.
  • The story mode is minimal and lacks engaging content, making it feel like an afterthought compared to other fighting games.
  • story75 mentions

    The story in "Blade Strangers" is generally considered weak and unoriginal, serving primarily as a backdrop for the fighting mechanics rather than a compelling narrative. While each character has their own story mode with some humorous dialogue, the overall plot lacks depth and coherence, often feeling like a series of disconnected fights with minimal context. Despite its shortcomings, some players appreciate the lighthearted writing and character interactions, though many agree that the story is not a significant draw for the game.

    • “Each character has their own story mode, and it can be pretty funny.”
    • “While the story isn't anything to write home about, it has a very decent plot that shows how each character is brought in, and although short, it's consistent with minor changes depending on the character.”
    • “The story is comical, and the characters are entertaining.”
    • “The individual story routes for each character aren't that interesting for the most part, but two of the characters have unique cutscenes in them.”
    • “The story mode is short, has a weird story that doesn't make much sense, but it's there and it's fun to play; it's pretty much just arcade mode but with dialogues between each fight.”
    • “The story is not good, but I was not expecting anything from it.”
  • gameplay57 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, making it beginner-friendly but lacking depth for advanced players. While some mechanics promote creativity and variety in combat, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become monotonous and unbalanced, with characters feeling similar and lacking unique traits. Overall, it offers a decent experience for casual play, especially with friends, but may not satisfy those seeking a more complex fighting game.

    • “Bladestrangers incorporates traditional 2D fighter gameplay with simplified commands while losing none of the appeal of a traditional 2D fighter.”
    • “I love how a lot of the mechanics work like the juggle timer and how you get punished for repeating attacks during combos, forcing you to be creative. The different ways you can mix up and pressure someone are really enjoyable, and in general, the game just feels good to play.”
    • “The controls are made easier and more accessible so many people can get the game and quickly pick up on it, and I actually like all the mechanics introduced in the game such as the offensive skill, strong skill, and heat up.”
    • “The mechanics are extremely simplistic, and the game is pretty beginner-friendly, but there's little to no potential for high-level gameplay.”
    • “Despite being easy to learn, the gameplay gets monotonous really quickly; the CPU in story mode or arcade mode can all be beaten with punch-punch-low kick (at least on normal), which makes me done with the game.”
    • “Overall gameplay is a 4/10; it's fun at first, but after the first 5 matches, it gets boring and repetitive.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally appreciated for their appealing art style and large character sprites, though many users note that the character models exhibit noticeable jaggedness and poor outlines. The limited graphics settings, which only allow toggling between windowed and fullscreen modes without resolution options, detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are considered nice and consistent, there is a desire for more depth and polish in the graphical presentation.

    • “The art style as well is something I really dig from this game.”
    • “I love the visuals and the huge character sprites.”
    • “This game's graphics are nice to look at, nothing too fancy yet not too simple.”
    • “The graphics settings are also very limited - you can choose window or fullscreen but not the resolution.”
    • “The only options in the graphics/display settings are a toggle for windowed and fullscreen - no resolution or quality options.”
    • “None of the models, backgrounds, or animations look bad to me, and I actually like the art style of the game.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its quality and consistency across various instances, including menus, stages, and character themes. The soundtrack features recognizable tunes from the characters' original games, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the gameplay effectively. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's content and story, the music stands out as a highlight, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The music is surprisingly good - exhilarating yet easy on the ears.”
    • “The soundtrack, in my opinion, is really good.”
    • “Great soundtrack with recognizable tunes from the featured games.”
    • “You know, this should be a thumbs down since movement is janky, the music feels empty, there's an overall lack of content, etc.”
    • “The game leans on hard recommendation as some people may be tempted to try this game due to recognizable characters from series such as Umihara Kawase, Code of Princess, and Cave Story, but outside of having some characters, stages, and a few music tracks from their respective franchises, it falls short.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its interesting and brief writing, which enhances the experience without disrupting gameplay. Players find the character interactions and dialogue, particularly from Isaac, to be amusing, often relying on juvenile humor that resonates well with those familiar with the characters. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the game's enjoyment.

    • “Each character has their own story mode, and it can be pretty funny.”
    • “While I usually skip dialogues in story modes, this game has pretty interesting and hilarious writing; they are also relatively brief and don't destroy momentum.”
    • “The story is nothing to write home about, it's just an excuse to get the characters fighting against each other; some of the lines are hilarious, mostly juvenile humor, but it works.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game shows significant potential but suffers from numerous bugs, including issues with mission mode, hitboxes, and netcode, leading to a generally unstable experience for players.

    • “A lot of potential, but very buggy, at least for me.”
    • “The game is very barebones and buggy.”
    • “Mission mode is buggy; CPUs can sometimes have no hitboxes, and the netcode is shoddy.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, with some noting that early difficulty levels feature overly aggressive AI, making battles feel repetitive. Additionally, issues such as game crashes during missions and a lack of content contribute to the overall frustration with the grinding experience, particularly when it comes to unlocking cosmetic items.

    • “It's incredibly tedious and not fun.”
    • “Some noticeable nitpicks I've noticed are that the CPU tends to be slightly aggressive on the earlier difficulties, making fights a bit tedious. Normal and above make sense with some characters, but missions can cause the game to crash, especially if you go through them quickly. The game also feels a little light on content.”
    • “Unlocking colors and the face plates can be tedious.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find the game's replayability lacking, with some expressing that it doesn't offer enough incentive to play multiple times. However, individual experiences may vary, suggesting that some players might still enjoy it despite this limitation.

    • “I bought it for the gameplay, but my only complaint is that it's not very replayable for me at least.”
    • “The game lacks the depth needed for replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much to draw me back for a second playthrough.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be profoundly impactful, often describing it as heartbreaking, which suggests that it effectively evokes deep feelings and resonates with personal experiences.

    • “The story was absolutely heartbreaking, leaving me in tears by the end.”
    • “I felt a deep emotional connection to the characters, their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
    • “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, making every moment impactful.”
    • “The story was heartbreaking and left me feeling empty.”
    • “I expected an emotional journey, but it fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “The characters' struggles were supposed to be moving, but I found them unrelatable and dull.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

30hMedian play time
30hAverage play time
30-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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