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Within the blade

In Within the Blade the world is transforming, and not always for the better.
Within the blade Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
music, grinding
83% User Score Based on 166 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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Within the blade Game Cover

About

Within the blade is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Ametist studio and was released on August 17, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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.

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+17
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83%
Audience ScoreBased on 166 reviews
gameplay22 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Fast and dynamic gameplay that captures the essence of being a ninja.
  • Challenging mechanics with a rewarding skill progression and crafting system.
  • Charming pixel art and engaging sound design that enhance the overall experience.
  • Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
  • The camera and level design can hinder stealth mechanics, making it difficult to navigate without being spotted.
  • Translation issues and unclear crafting mechanics detract from the overall immersion and understanding of the game.
  • gameplay
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 gameplay is quite solid, reminds me of a very fast-paced, action-oriented version of Mark of the Ninja.”
    • “Wall-running, insta-killing from the shadows, using your ninja tools... all of the mechanics work together to provide an immersive package.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are simple enough, and stealthy assassinations require some exact timing to pull off—exactly as it should be—which makes it feel extra rewarding when you slaughter everything without being seen.”
    • “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

    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, others criticize the broken English translation and confusing crafting system, which detracts from the overall narrative experience. Overall, the story serves as a basic framework for missions rather than a compelling element of the game.

    • “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
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 lacking polish and professionalism. Many players appreciate the vibrant aesthetic and thematic coherence, particularly in the context of a ninja setting, but some note issues with resolution and graphical options. Overall, the visuals are seen as a highlight for fans of old-school styles, despite some inconsistencies and 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

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, with many users highlighting its classical and engaging compositions that enhance the overall experience. However, there are some technical limitations, such as the inability to adjust sound and music volume. 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.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress, likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 may feel 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

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling exhilarated and empowered by the fast-paced movement and dynamic gameplay, despite minor frustrations with controls and customization options. The overall experience remains enjoyable and engaging, allowing players to immerse themselves in the challenges presented.

    • “The game made me feel like a ninja!”
    • “Sprinting at full speed through castle corridors and barely ever touching the ground looks and feels pretty amazing.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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. While the humor adds enjoyment, it is not a central element that significantly impacts gameplay.

    • “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

    The game's optimization has been criticized for poor PC controls and numerous spelling errors, leading to an overall negative impression, especially 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, not optimized well; just not a very good game considering how long it's been in development.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of games developed with GameMaker Studio is frequently criticized for resulting in low-quality, "shovelware" titles that appear to prioritize profit over player experience, leading to perceptions of lazy cash grabs.

    • “Very often, game maker studios are used to create shovelware and lazy cash grabs.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is praised for its near-authenticity, creating a truly immersive and impressive experience for players.

    • “Almost authentic and creates a truly awesome atmosphere.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Within the blade is a platformer game.

Within the blade is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

Within the blade was released on August 17, 2019.

Within the blade was developed by Ametist studio.

Within the blade has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its music.

Within the blade is a single player game.

Similar games include RONIN, Demon Peak, Shadow Blade: Reload, Caveblazers, Castle In The Darkness and others.