Bleak Sword DX

Bleak Sword DX is a simple action game, but its combat is simply sublime and it had a whole lot of enemy and level variety to keep things interesting.

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"Bleak Sword DX" is a challenging, retro-style action adventure game with strategic combat. Wield a mighty sword to battle through a dark and ominous realm, facing off against grotesque creatures and bosses. The DX version offers updated visuals, more content, and improved gameplay over the original.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 173 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a unique and charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
Combat mechanics are satisfying and responsive, with a good balance of challenge and skill required.
The game offers a variety of enemies and levels, keeping the gameplay engaging despite some repetition.

The RPG elements and leveling system feel poorly designed, as upgrading defense or health is often pointless.
Players can lose all items and experience upon dying, which can lead to frustrating grinding and repetitive gameplay.
The game suffers from inconsistent hitboxes and enemy mechanics, making some encounters feel unfair.

gameplay
48 mentions
44 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, with many praising its engaging mechanics and satisfying combat, particularly the parry and counterattack system. However, several players criticize the inclusion of unnecessary mechanics, such as inventory and RPG elements, which detract from the core experience. While the art style and atmosphere are well-received, the gameplay can feel repetitive and is marred by frustrating design choices, such as the phasing out of the parry mechanic and the punishing death system.
- “Excellent gameplay and an engaging visual style.”
- “It's a hack and slash with very responsive and precise mechanics; it's unforgiving but fair; it's easy to understand but difficult to master.”
- “The variety in the game's bestiary allows for a varied combat experience and keeps the gameplay really engaging.”
- “Bottom line: it's a 2D top-down parry/counter game that has layers of pointless presentation and game mechanics heaped on top.”
- “One thing that disappointed me is that the game has a parry mechanic, but unfortunately you are likely to use it more at the beginning of the game; after you progress, a lot of enemies will begin to deliver attacks that you must dodge because you can't parry them, and there are about 70% of enemies who deliver such attacks in the game.”
- “The RPG mechanics are just utterly pointless.”
graphics
43 mentions
44 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Bleak Sword DX" are widely praised for their unique and stylish aesthetic, combining a minimalist 1-bit style with a gothic atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the beautiful level designs, engaging sound design, and the immersive, retro-inspired visuals that evoke nostalgia while maintaining a modern touch. However, some critiques mention that the pixelated graphics can occasionally hinder clarity, particularly in distinguishing enemy types.
- “Beautiful graphics, fantastic sound design, and an overall good time.”
- “The HD2D art style, monochrome color scheme, and diorama-esque layouts for each level are charming.”
- “Great gameplay and some of the most unique and inspiring visuals I have ever seen!”
- “So there are tons of enemy types, but a lot of the humanoid enemies are a tad difficult to distinguish because of the art style.”
- “Perhaps there is a telegraph, but the overly-pixelated graphics mean I couldn't see it.”
- “There's more to be desired from the art style in my opinion, but it works for what it is!”
music
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with Jim Guthrie's compositions being highlighted as particularly effective in creating an immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's fitting somber tone and its contribution to the game's aesthetic, although some note that certain tracks can be repetitive or less engaging. Overall, the music is considered a strong asset that complements the game's visuals and gameplay.
- “But I was able to overlook this nuisance because the game is so good at what it does; the atmosphere of the desolated, dangerous world is spectacular, and the soundtrack complements it with ease.”
- “Frankly put, Bleak Sword is really aesthetic—the random flashes of thunder, the eerie sway of the camera over the hand-crafted diorama below, the 3D/pixel mix, the satisfying kill animations, and the music (done by Jim Guthrie!) all add to make an immersive grimdark fantasy setting where the hero must surmount impossible odds to rid the world of the evil which plagues it.”
- “The music is immersive, the monsters sound great, and the battle sounds are satisfyingly impactful.”
- “Aesthetically awesome game with good enemy variety, but one of the most braindead, plodding main themes to an OST I have ever heard.”
- “I love the blocky red/white/black visuals and the soundtrack, but it also regularly gets on my nerves with some cheap deaths and a block/parry animation that feels a bit too unresponsive to be completely reliable.”
- “Intense music, but it can be overwhelming at times.”
story
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple yet engaging, providing a sense of purpose and atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While it may not be groundbreaking, the narrative, complemented by quick cutscenes, contributes to an epic fantasy feel, making players eager to progress and explore additional modes post-campaign. Overall, the combination of story and combat keeps players invested throughout.
- “I'm not that much into games without a good excuse to play, and this game has an interesting story. Of course, nothing to go crazy about, but at least it gives me some purpose to see what is next.”
- “Story and cutscenes were epic.”
- “The simple story and quick cutscenes help create an atmosphere of generic but epic fantasy that I really enjoyed.”
- “Tall, lumbering monstrosities that dwarf you in sheer size and strength in which you must do battle with them as a means to progress with the game and the story.”
- “Even if the story wasn't there, the combat would keep me going to the end.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
88 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stylish, minimalistic art and pixelated graphics, which create a captivating and immersive world. The soundtrack enhances the experience, complementing the desolate and dangerous environment, while the overall design fosters a sense of epic fantasy. Players appreciate the robust enemy variety and the seamless integration of visuals and music, contributing to a highly atmospheric gameplay experience.
- “But I was able to overlook this nuisance because the game is so good at what it does; the atmosphere of the desolated, dangerous world is spectacular, and the soundtrack complements it with ease.”
- “The lofi look and pixelated graphics create an amazing atmosphere to an already addicting gameplay.”
- “The art style is very cool; the music and atmosphere fit perfectly.”
- “The strong minimalistic art style creates an atmosphere that feels empty and uninspired.”
- “While the music is decent, it fails to elevate the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The atmosphere lacks depth, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and often frustrating, as it overshadows the minimal lore and transforms the experience into a tedious chore. The mechanics, such as losing items upon poor performance and the need to farm for upgrades, further incentivize grinding rather than enhancing enjoyment, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, while some elements may seem engaging, they ultimately contribute to a grind-heavy gameplay that detracts from the overall experience.
- “There is nothing to the game other than 2% lore and 98% grinding.”
- “Well, what was a fun fast-paced adventure became a grindy, loveless chore.”
- “It's very hard even on normal, and while it's still possible by farming permanent upgrades, playing very patiently and using recovery items, it's still way too annoying to be fun.”
replayability
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, "Bleak Sword DX" offers high replayability due to its challenging gameplay and multiple difficulty levels, making it enjoyable for players seeking a quick yet satisfying experience. Despite some flaws, many users find it compelling enough to revisit, enhancing its overall appeal.
- “So even with these harsh things, I do recommend the game. It has a couple of flaws, but overall the replayability is high for me; it's quick and fun.”
- “Overall, Bleak Sword DX is a very compelling game; it's hard but satisfying to play, and there is a lot of replayability in it.”
- “Pretty fun one-sitting game with a fair amount of replay value and difficulty scaling.”
- “Replayability and difficulty - there's higher difficulties to learn if you're up for the challenge.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while the game generally runs smoothly, there are occasional issues with bugs and glitches, particularly related to pad controls.
- “There are some occasional issues, bugs, and glitches with the pad controls at times.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced several stability issues that disrupted my gaming experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game evokes a sense of adventure and emotional engagement early on, suggesting it will continue to explore and experiment with these feelings throughout the experience.
- “It's early in the experience, and it made me feel like the game would continue to experiment, as if I was on an adventure.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal and relatable.”
- “I was moved to tears by the storyline; it beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”