Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
This indie cracker is as sharp as ever
Within the Blade Various ●●●●●
It’s easy for indie releases to be lost in the slipstream of some of the blockbuster titles from the big studios, so it’s a shame that some real gems are often lost in the rush.
Within the Blade is a case in point. It was an incredible game when it arrived on Steam as Pixel Shinobi: Nine demons of Mamoru in 2019. Now enjoying a fresh release on consoles, it’s been re-named Within the Blade (WTB), but none of the fantastic action has been lost.
On the surface this game looks like a retro-styled platformer, but it doesn’t take long for you to realise that it’s much more than that.
As I worked my way through the opening few minutes of the game, I have to admit to being a bit puzzled as to how this 2D side-scroller with cute, pixely graphics could be rated 18 for gore.
The answer came just seconds later, as I dispatched two bandits as they stood over the bloody corpses of their victims, and decapitated another standing guard.
WTB’S gameplay is surprisingly deep, a beautiful blend of combat and stealth, with a sprinkling of RPG elements added to the mix.
You play as Hideaki, a ninja of the Black Lotus clan, and the only thing standing between Japan and the evil Steel Claw clan, that has the powers of an evil samurai warlord.
How you kill your foes also dictates how many coins you earn, and currency is important as it allows you to buy new weapons and skills.
At under £10, Within the Blade is an absolute steal .