GanaBlade

About

"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

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

music10 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Addictive gameplay with a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Offers a variety of ships and weapons, along with a shop system that adds strategic depth to gameplay.
Accessible difficulty levels make it suitable for both newcomers and veterans, with replay value through branching routes and multiple difficulty settings.

Lack of save progress can be frustrating, requiring players to complete levels in one session.
Some enemy projectiles can be difficult to see, leading to occasional confusion during intense gameplay.
Controller support is inconsistent, and the settings can be cumbersome to navigate.

music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and nostalgic qualities, often reminiscent of classic NES and retro titles, particularly chiptune and electronic styles. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience, with many noting its ability to energize and immerse players. Overall, the combination of memorable tunes and effective sound effects contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “A really addictive shmup, with a great soundtrack.”
- “Enjoyable shmup/stg, cool pixel art, memorable OST, and great gameplay.”
- “The music definitely has its moments, and when the final theme kicks in after you beat the game, it's super satisfying.”
- “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 map music is NES Gyruss.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, showcasing a blend of 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics that appeal to retro enthusiasts, with vibrant pixel art and effective use of scaling and rotation. While some players noted issues with bullet visibility and dated visuals, the overall presentation, including chiptune music, enhances the gameplay experience. However, a few critiques mention that certain graphical effects, like bloom, detract from the pixel art style.
- “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
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is praised for its enjoyable mechanics, solid controls, and engaging level design, complemented by a charming 8-bit aesthetic and memorable soundtrack. Players appreciate the depth offered by various weapon upgrades and the auto bomb feature, although some express frustration with certain mechanics like the floating number icon for weapon changes. Overall, the game encourages replayability with multiple difficulty levels and different ships to try, making it accessible even for those less experienced in shoot 'em ups.
- “Enjoyable shmup/stg, cool pixel art, memorable OST, and great gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game offers good replayability through branching routes, similar to Star Fox, allowing players to explore different paths and test their skills with various weapons and ships.
- “Branching routes like Star Fox add significant replay value.”
- “Replayability is great if you want to test your skills with multiple weapons and ships.”
- “The branching routes, similar to Star Fox, do add some replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the stability of the game is affected by buggy controller settings, indicating that controller support is currently unreliable.
- “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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect includes a single-player mode where players can enhance their crafting abilities through a shop, using points earned from completing missions.