Within the blade

About

"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

+17

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features precise controls and fast-paced gameplay, reminiscent of classic ninja games like Tenchu and Ninja Gaiden.
It offers a challenging experience with a hardcore permadeath mode, appealing to fans of high-difficulty games like Dark Souls.
The crafting system and skill tree provide depth and variety, allowing players to customize their playstyle and approach to missions.

The game suffers from translation issues and unclear instructions, making it difficult to understand some mechanics and objectives.
Some controls feel unresponsive or clunky, particularly during wall runs and jumps, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
The level design can be repetitive, and the randomized enemy placements may lead to unfair encounters, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its fast-paced, dynamic mechanics and satisfying stealth and combat elements, while others criticize its clunky controls and lack of polish. Many appreciate the nostalgic pixel art and deep mechanics, but note that the game could benefit from better tutorials and more refined stealth mechanics. Overall, while the core gameplay is enjoyable and immersive, it suffers from inconsistencies and bugs that detract from the experience.
- “The platforming, combat, and stealth mechanics happen quickly and fluidly, creating an engaging experience.”
- “Wall-running, insta-killing from the shadows, and using your ninja tools all work together to provide an immersive package.”
- “The stealth mechanics are simple enough, and stealthy assassinations require precise timing, making it feel extra rewarding when you succeed.”
- “A cool concept but very clunky gameplay and a severe lack of polish really make this game not very enjoyable to play.”
- “Unfortunately the graphics and controls are terrible, and the gameplay handling is awful as you bump and float unpleasantly while jumping.”
- “The stealth system still feels quite rough around the edges to me; the assassination mechanic is pretty buggy and glitchy and not ideally implemented.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
82%
6%
The game's story is generally considered simplistic and lacking depth, often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and challenges. While some players appreciate its retro ninja theme and find it engaging enough, many criticize the broken English translation and confusing crafting system, which detracts from the overall narrative experience. Overall, the story serves as a loose framework for missions rather than a compelling narrative, with players noting that it could benefit from clearer explanations and more engaging plot elements.
- “The story is not groundbreaking stuff but is interesting nonetheless - it's definitely 'second fiddle' to the gameplay itself.”
- “The story begins in a small village where a skilled ninja takes on the task of a gray-haired sensei, trying to stop the advancing forces of darkness.”
- “The plot is very pleasant; it does not really distract you from the most important component of the game - the weekdays of an ordinary avenger in a mask and with shurikens.”
- “The story is just a joke.”
- “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.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
48%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming retro pixel art and detailed character animations, while others criticize the overall visual quality as subpar and reminiscent of amateur game development. Many players appreciate the aesthetic appeal and thematic consistency, particularly in the context of a ninja-themed game, but some note issues with clarity and resolution that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for fans of pixel art, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “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.”
- “The pixel graphics are really well done, especially in the town, and the backgrounds have very nice scrolling.”
- “Unfortunately the graphics and controls are terrible, and the gameplay handling is awful as you bump and float unpleasantly while jumping.”
- “Like most GameMaker Studio construction kit games, this features lazy 2D retro pixel art instead of professionally done, contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Resolution is locked and there are no graphics tweaks which can improve the poor visual appearance, which pushes this below acceptable standards for PC.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, with many reviewers highlighting its classical and engaging compositions 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 is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's craftsmanship and enjoyment.
- “The animation, music, and every small facet is carefully gone over; this is a real work of craftsmanship!”
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling exhilarated and empowered by the fast-paced movement and dynamic gameplay. Despite some minor control issues, the overall experience remains enjoyable and immersive, allowing players to fully engage 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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 game's standout feature.
- “That game is fun, with snappy clever writing and hilarious twists.”
- “It won't stop you from beating the game; it's just kind of funny.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor PC controls and numerous spelling errors, leading to an overall negative impression given its lengthy development time. Additionally, the game's design choices, such as derogatory feedback for poor performance, detract from the 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 ruins the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding for minimal rewards.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of games made with GameMaker Studio is frequently criticized for resulting in shovelware and lazy cash grabs, indicating a tendency for developers to prioritize profit over quality.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “I can't enjoy the game when every feature is locked behind a paywall.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”

71%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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Within the blade
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Within the Blade PlayStation 4 Review

Within the Blade Review

Within the Blade PS5 Review

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Within the blade

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