

But, like I love to puke about, the memory of the tidal wave of pixel art games at the turn of the last decade remains burned into my brain. This may be due to my entry into games coming during the early polygon graphics era, denying me that increasingly elusive nostalgia for 8 and 16-bit systems. However, I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it – pixel art doesn’t scratch the same itch it did 10 to 15 years ago. Visually, Within The Blade is one of the better games of its style I’ve played. Enemy designs are clear and crisp, always telegraphing exactly who you’re up against. Animations aren’t afraid to implement more modern effects such as motion blur, making each action smoother and more rewarding. Colours, especially that of blood, are bright and colourful without losing their edge thanks to some delicious shading. The first, and most obvious, is in its pixel art visual direction. Now ported to consoles, Within The Blade channels every drop of its late 1980s influences in a number of ways.
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Within The Blade first appeared as Pixel Shinobi: Nine Demons of Mamoru in 2017, making its way to PC under its new (better) title in 2019.

Within The Blade, from Latvian indie developer Ametist Studio, continues this illustrious tradition – both willingly and not. From 1987’s Shinobi to 2004’s Ninja Gaiden Black, any game influenced by ninja folklore seems destined to be as controller-breakingly hard as possible.
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It’s simply one of the laws of (gaming) physics, right next to movie license games being stinkers and couch multiplayer being objectively more enjoyable than its online counterpart.
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WTB ticks all the boxes for us, so if you like retro-styled ninja hack’n slash platformer games with a twist of RPG elements, then you should seriously check it out!ĭisclaimer: Xbox Series S/X review code for Within The Blade was provided by PR Hound.Ninjas plus video games equals difficulty. Distinct visual style, with a distinct medieval feelįeaturing 25 levels and some unforgettable boss encounters, players can also complete additional tasks to gain more experience and money to help level up their ninja.Secrets to unlock, with epic items to find.Branching skills to level up and master.Over 100 types of weapons that players can find or craft.

Oh yeah, the blood and gore as your ninja hacks through each enemy is so visceral, so if you are squimish of the site of virtual blood and that squirting sound, then you may need a sick bag while playing WTB. WTB is a platforming hack’n slash, but the devil is in its details as your ninja encounters new and unique enemies which forces him to learn new battle tactics, improve the quality of weapons and learn new skills. The retro style presentation of WTB and the easy to pick up and play are the strong suits for this game. Within The Blade’s aesthetic is inspired by those sprites and pixels from the 8-bit day of ole, but with a polish for contemporary gaming systems. We knew there was a good reason for buying the Xbox Series S console! With games like Within The Blade (WTB) by Ratalaika Games – a feast of ninja action with a retro flair, it hits the sweet nostalgic spot for us.
