Blade Strangers

The popularity of games such as Marvel Vs. Capcom show just how much players love pitting their favorite, familiar characters against each other. If you love pitting old favorites against each other than Blade Strangers will be right up your alley. This 2D fighter focuses on indie characters such as Isaac from The Binding of Isaac and Gunvolt from Azure Striker Gunvolt. The story goes that powerful computers called the Motes are strong enough to simulate the different universes these characters come from, and are doing so to protect themselves.

Something “adorable” but also terrifying is threatening to destroy them, and in order to save themselves they must find a character to defend themselves. That is why all of these characters are coming together to fight—in order to be chosen as that fighter. While the story may seem a bit silly, it does a good job of explaining the game. All your favorite indie characters from a whole host of different universes fighting each other.

Simple Controls

Whether you are an advanced player or just starting out, you’ll have no problem understanding the simple control system in place for fighting. The game features two attack buttons, a skill button for that characters unique skills, and a special button.

In order to perform new moves and skills, you need to press the buttons in different combinations. This is what makes the game appropriate for fighters of all abilities. While the simple controls allow even the newest player to have fun and maybe win a fight, there’s room to grow with new combinations.

Enormous amount of play options

Blade Strangers has a surprising number of options available, considering its lower price point compared to others in its genre. The game offers standard VS, Tutorial, training mode, Story Mode, Survival, an Arcade ladder, and Combo Trials. Online and local multiplayer are available, but it’s not always easy to get a match with another player. This is easily enough to keep you busy, and with 14 characters to choose from, there’s no shortage in the amount of new things to try.

Decent graphics and sound

Studio Saizensen put some effort into the quality of the sound and graphics for the game. The characters are clear and detailed, and there are short animated sequences throughout the game. One flaw with the animated sequences is that while the art is fine, the animation itself is a bit rough.

The music and sound effects are also well done with fully-voiced characters, a decent soundtrack by U.S. band Ridiculon, and satisfying battle sounds.

Pros:

• Large cast of characters
• Simple, easy to use controls
• Wide number of play options

Cons:

• Glitchy animations