Within the blade

In Within the Blade the world is transforming, and not always for the better.

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"Within the Blade" is a stealth and platforming RPG where you play as a Shinobi . Collect ingredients to craft weapons and experience is gained through killing enemies and using stealth. After each level, return to your home village to purchase upgrades and advanced ninjutsu. The story is set in 16th century Japan during the final years of the Shogunate's rule.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 153 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Fast-paced and dynamic gameplay that captures the essence of being a ninja.
Engaging stealth mechanics combined with a variety of weapons and crafting options.
Challenging levels with interesting enemy AI that require strategic thinking and skill.

Camera issues that can make gameplay frustrating and hinder visibility.
Unresponsive controls, especially with keyboard input, leading to inconsistent combat experiences.
Translation errors and lack of clear item descriptions that can confuse players.

gameplay
54 mentions
37 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, dynamic mechanics that blend stealth and combat, providing a satisfying experience for players. While the pixel art style evokes nostalgia, the game features deep mechanics such as wall-running, stealth kills, and a variety of ninja tools that enhance immersion. However, some players note that the stealth system could benefit from clearer tutorials and more polished mechanics, as well as a more structured level design to improve strategic gameplay.
- “Do not be confused by the 'simple' pixel artwork (which to me is amazing) as the game has deep mechanics: you are a fast-paced shinobi and you can sneak on enemies, dispose of them, kill them head-on, use projectiles like kunai, shurikens, bombs... the game is very nice and it has been patched several times.”
- “Wall-running, insta-killing from the shadows, using your ninja tools... all of the mechanics work together to provide an immersive package.”
- “The platforming, combat, stealth mechanics, everything happens quickly and fluidly.”
- “All-in-all, however, the game does not force you to play in any particular way, but the 'completionist' in me found these elements of the gameplay to be a detraction from an otherwise great experience.”
- “The execution of these ideas and mechanics, unfortunately, is where this game, at this as yet early stage of its development, stumbles, as well as in some other somewhat trivial, yet crucial areas, like the UI.”
- “The stealth system still feels quite rough around the edges to me; to begin with, the assassination mechanic is pretty buggy and glitchy and not ideally implemented.”
story
32 mentions
9 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as simple and somewhat predictable, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While it features classic ninja themes and some interesting elements, the broken English translation hampers immersion and understanding, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the narrative. Overall, the story is considered secondary to the gameplay mechanics, which are more compelling and enjoyable.
- “The story is what you would expect from a retro-style ninja game; it's kind of classic, and I like that.”
- “The ninja action here is every bit as fun and fluid as the slightly more well-known 'Super House of Dead Ninjas,' with the bonus of feeling like there's a loose story tying all of the action and level designs together.”
- “Story is solid; the currently in-development part ends on a cliffhanger, and I want to know the continuation!”
- “I'm not sure if it was a translation issue or a deliberate choice, but the English is so broken that I can barely understand what any of the skills actually are, and the story is extremely hard to get invested in due to how broken it is during cutscenes.”
- “Tough to recommend, but if you aren't bothered by broken English translations, an unsurprising story, a completely unexplained, hard to use, overambitious, but ultimately pointless crafting system, unintuitive menu controls, a tacked on tutorial, some cheap instakill hazards, and some general wonkiness.”
- “The story is just a joke.”
graphics
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro pixel art style, which combines modern animation techniques with detailed character movements and environments. While some elements, like crafting materials, may appear out of place, the overall aesthetic is considered visually appealing and a fitting homage to classic ninja games. The combination of vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay mechanics enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The visuals in general are particularly nice.”
- “The controls and core gameplay mechanics are super tight, the visuals are a treat if you love old-school pixel art pulled into the modern era with buckets of blood and dead samurai gore.”
- “Its graphic style is bent and broken at all times and never takes advantage of its strengths.”
- “Only real gripe I had was how long his fire cloud lingered, and how unclear the game was about it lingering (difficulty in telling apart the 'this will set you on fire' flame graphics versus the harmless and inert flame graphics).”
- “The graphics are simple enough you could run this on just about anything, but there's a lot of detail in the character animations and environment.”
music
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and craftsmanship, with many reviewers highlighting its classical elements and engaging soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. However, some users noted a technical limitation regarding the inability to adjust the volume of the music and sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack, including unique instruments like the shamisen, contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The animation, music, and every small facet is carefully gone over; this is a real work of craftsmanship!”
- “Great music -- I can't say enough about the music, especially the dude playing a shamisen (the Japanese guitar-like instrument) in the town hub.”
- “Gameplay is solid, controls are tight, story doesn't seem that compelling, and the soundtrack is awesome.”
- “Just a technical difficulty - no way to change the volume of sounds and music.”
- “Would you much rather self-craft an arsenal of stealth weapons and secretly infiltrate the enemy camp, all while playing the theme from Metal Gear on a background music player?”
- “The retro graphics, sound effects, and music are very pleasing.”
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its procedural story levels and engaging character progression, allowing players to experiment with various ninja abilities. However, some skills are deemed ineffective or buggy, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Has good replay value because even the story levels seem to be procedural in some way, and playing with all the ninja toys never gets old.”
- “The character progression is fun and provides replay value.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling exhilarated and empowered by the fluid movement and dynamic gameplay, despite minor frustrations with controls and customization options. The thrill of sprinting through environments enhances the overall enjoyment and engagement with the challenges presented.
- “Sprinting at full speed through castle corridors and barely ever touching the ground looks and feels pretty amazing.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by snappy, clever writing and amusing twists, providing a fun experience, though it may not reach the emotional depth found in other titles like pixel shinobi. Overall, while the humor adds enjoyment, it is not the primary focus of the game.
- “That game is fun, with snappy clever writing and hilarious twists.”
- “It's just kind of funny.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor PC controls and numerous spelling errors, indicating a lack of polish despite its lengthy development. Overall, players feel it falls short of expectations and does not deliver a satisfactory experience.
- “Bad PC controls, multiple spelling errors, and not optimized well. Just not a very good game considering how long it's been in development.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Performance drops significantly in certain areas, which detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its near-authenticity, creating a truly immersive and impressive experience for players.
- “The atmosphere is almost authentic, creating a truly awesome experience.”
- “The game's environment immerses you completely, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and stunning visuals combine to create an unforgettable atmosphere.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is criticized for its rough stealth system, with users reporting bugs and glitches in the assassination mechanic that hinder the overall experience.
- “The stealth system still feels quite rough around the edges. The assassination mechanic is pretty buggy and glitchy, and not ideally implemented.”