Thy Sword
- November 14, 2017
- GamePhase
Thy Sword feels more like a follower than a leader in the fantasy game and roguelike space. It does not do anything bad, but it does not do anything out of the ordinary either.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Thy Sword" is a hack 'n' slash platformer with roguelike elements, drawing inspiration from classics like Barbarian and Golden Axe. Embark on a quest to defeat the Dark Overlord, battling challenging enemies and epic bosses in procedurally generated levels. Play solo or with a friend in local co-op, where you can cooperate or engage in player vs. player combat. Equip your hero, unlock new characters, and earn achievements in this nostalgic pixel art game.
Reviews
- Thy Sword offers fun and compelling gameplay with satisfying action and combat mechanics, making it a nostalgic nod to classic arcade games.
- The game features well-designed pixel art visuals and a charming retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of old-school gaming.
- Procedurally generated levels and a variety of enemies keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, providing a good balance of challenge and enjoyment.
- Some players find the game to be a bit short and lacking in depth, with limited content and variety in gameplay elements.
- The difficulty can be quite punishing, with some players feeling that it may become frustrating, especially if they lose progress after tough boss battles.
- There are occasional issues with controls, such as sluggish response times when too much is happening on screen, which can detract from the overall experience.
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro aesthetic, featuring well-designed pixel art that appeals to fans of classic styles. Reviewers appreciate the smooth visuals and cohesive design, highlighting the game's enjoyable 8-bit graphics and nostalgic feel reminiscent of amiga-era games. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, especially for local co-op play.
“A very nice mix of slash them all/platformer, nice 8-bit graphics, very enjoyable playing this in local co-op... my wife and I love it!”
“Gameplay is tense, there is good feedback, the graphics are gorgeous (at least for retro lovers) and the music is a perfect fit.”
“The aesthetic is pretty solid - they have a consistent pixel style, it's a grungy early PC-era look, but it works, and they run with it.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character designs are bland and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the game.”
“The environments are poorly rendered, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smoothness and balance, effectively blending retro aesthetics with modern technology. While it features straightforward mechanics and a fun flying neck-chop decapitation move, players face a significant challenge as losing to the spider queen forces a complete restart, which can be frustrating. Overall, the combat is responsive and engaging, with predictable enemy behaviors that enhance the sense of player agency and enjoyment.
“The moment-to-moment gameplay just feels right and strikes a perfect balance for what the game is intended to be.”
“Now that technology is more capable than ever of meeting the expectations of our imagination, retro-style games like this can allow us to have smooth gameplay that we wished the games of our childhood could possess.”
“As far as gameplay goes, though, it's fairly simple and straightforward.”
“The game is good, but if you lose the battle with the spider queen, then you are forced to start the game from the beginning and repeat gameplay (again around one hour).”
“The combat mechanics are simple but responsive, and since enemies have clearly defined and predictable behaviors, you never feel like you get punked by random bad luck. Any failure is your own fault as a player, which is crucial in making a game like this feel fun and challenging, as opposed to just frustrating.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it charming and a perfect fit for the gameplay, others describe it as mediocre and unremarkable. Overall, many appreciate the soundtrack's nostalgic qualities and its ability to enhance the gaming experience.
“Gameplay is tense, there is good feedback, the graphics are gorgeous (at least for retro lovers) and the music is a perfect fit.”
“Soundtrack is great, love the coin-op nuances and gotta say I don't believe it's possible to create better pixel graphics.”
“Really enjoyed the music too.”
“The game is charming, the bosses are fair, the combat is good but tight and hard; I have some problems with the stairs, but the music is mediocre and I don't care for the SID chip.”
“And the music, oh my!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse characters and numerous power-ups, which encourage experimentation and mastery of different strategies, even after completing it on easier difficulty levels.
“I've only beaten it on the easiest mode, which was a challenge itself until I learned all the tricks and enemy patterns. The different characters and many power-ups make it very replayable.”
“The variety of characters and power-ups keeps me coming back for more, as each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“Every time I play, I discover new strategies and approaches, making each run feel unique and worth revisiting.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is highly praised for its perfection and exceptional level of detail, creating an immersive experience for players.
“The atmosphere is pretty much perfect, and the level of detail is ridiculous!”
“The game immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to an incredibly immersive experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the clever use of a CRT emulator, which elicited genuine laughter from players.
“Special mention to the CRT emulator; it made me laugh out loud.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me chuckling throughout the game.”
“I love how the game uses humor to lighten the mood during intense moments.”
