GanaBlade

About

GanaBlade is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by Liao Kai and was released on August 19, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"GanaBlade is a fast-paced action game with local multi-player for up to 2 players, offering both co-op and single-player modes. Shuttle through a vibrant universe, battling enemy planes and bosses with various weapons and skills, all presented in a nostalgic 1990s retro pixel style. Immerse in the epic 8-bit soundtrack as you evade barrages and save the universe."

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews

music18 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Great retro aesthetic with modern gameplay mechanics, offering a fun and engaging experience for both newcomers and veterans of the shmup genre.
Variety in gameplay with multiple ships, each having distinct firing modes and a shop system for upgrades, enhancing replayability.
Excellent pixel art, memorable soundtrack, and well-designed levels and bosses contribute to an enjoyable overall experience.

Lack of controller support and some bugs in the control settings can hinder the gameplay experience.
Some enemy projectiles are difficult to see, which can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.
The camera is too zoomed in, making it hard to navigate through the action, and the settings menu is poorly organized.

music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack, reminiscent of classic NES and Konami titles, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the driving electronic themes that energize the action, with standout moments, particularly during boss fights and the final theme. While some feel certain tracks may be generic, the overall composition and sound effects contribute positively to the game's retro aesthetic.
- “Music really fits the game, is catchy and is again reminiscent of the Compile series.”
- “Game play and music are ace here.”
- “My only real complaint (putting aside that the visuals look cheap and some of the music feels a bit generic) is that there isn't a fully featured practice mode.”
- “The soundtrack though sounds exactly like a NES game, very hard driving and intense.”
- “The music definitely has its moments, and when the final theme kicks in after you beat the game, it's super satisfying.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The game's graphics successfully blend an 8-bit aesthetic with more advanced 16/32-bit design elements, resulting in appealing pixel art and a vibrant visual style. While some players noted issues with bullet visibility and dated visuals, many praised the overall presentation and the effective use of scaling and rotation. The combination of solid graphics and engaging chiptune music enhances the gameplay experience, despite minor criticisms regarding certain effects and a lack of controller support.
- “Overall, it's a great little trip through something that is aiming for an 8-bit aesthetic with 16/32 bit game design and for the most part pulls it off well.”
- “Great pixel style graphics, tight controls, and really great chiptune music!”
- “The 16-bit graphics look fantastic.”
- “No controller support, really dated 8-bit graphics and sound that were both irritating to look at and listen to.”
- “My only real complaint (putting aside that the visuals look cheap and some of the music feels a bit generic) is that there isn't a fully featured practice mode.”
- “The graphics are more advanced than what you'd find on the NES but more blocky than anything on a 16-bit console, and make use of stuff like scaling and rotation.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The gameplay is praised for its enjoyable mechanics, solid controls, and engaging level design, making it accessible even for less experienced players. Players appreciate the depth provided by various weapon types and upgrade options, alongside a unique auto bomb feature. While some mechanics, like the floating weapon change icons and coin collection, received mixed feedback, the overall experience is enhanced by the game's retro aesthetic and memorable soundtrack, encouraging replayability through multiple difficulty levels and ship options.
- “The game controls well, has a good 8-bit visual and audio aesthetic, and there is enough mechanical depth between different weapons and options for upgrading your ship to suit your tastes via money earned from defeating enemies and in the stage.”
- “Gameplay-wise, although simple, there are a few smart systems that'll make the game attractive even to those that aren't very good at shoot 'em ups.”
- “The gameplay elements involve cycling through 3 different shot power types, being able to farm coins for upgrades by either defeating enemies or using your special shot and collecting bomb refills for autobomb.”
- “In particular, I really wish the money would disappear once earned rather than flying into my ship, and I have never been a fan of the mechanic where you have a floating number icon bouncing around the screen that, when picked up, changes your weapon type and frequently to something I really don't want.”
- “Gameplay-wise, although simple, there are a few smart systems that will make the game attractive even to those that aren't very good at shoot 'em ups.”
- “The gameplay elements involve cycling through 3 different shot power types, being able to farm coins for upgrades by either defeating enemies or using your special shot, and collecting bomb refills for autobomb.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is marred by buggy controller settings, leading to inconsistent controller support that users have noted as a significant drawback.
- “The controller settings are a little buggy.”
- “If I had to name a negative, that would be that as of right now, controller support is kind of buggy.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is minimal, focusing primarily on gameplay mechanics rather than narrative depth, as players engage in missions to gather points for upgrading their craft.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers good replayability, particularly for players interested in honing their skills with various weapons and ships.
- “Replayability is great if you want to test your skills with multiple weapons and ships.”