Bleak Sword Review
Played on iPhone XR
Developed by More8Bit
Released 19th September 2019
While I was initially discouraged at the thought of a mobile Souls-like and an Apple Arcade exclusive, the free 3-month plan of this game enlightened me to this brilliant, thumb-swiping fantasy.
Story
Set during the Blood Age, Bleak Sword follows a warrior whose dreams indicate that they'll be the one to end the 200-year tyranny of the Bleak King’s reign. While it doesn't reinvent any formula, both narratively and gameplay-wise, it's a genuinely decent story. The narrative is an odd blend of both unoriginality and suspenseful drama, since the medieval-fantasy classics of a 'curse', 'prophecy' and other similar sorts, are used here heavily; but does it ruin the world-building that was set upon the recycled foundations? Hell no. Each cutscene was insightful and dramatic in all the right ways, as it retold the story in a much better, more retro layout.
Gameplay
The brutal combat presented in this 3–4-hour journey is not only perfectly designed for a mobile setting, but is fantastic in general. The wonderful thing about the combat is that it recognises itself as a mobile game and doesn't try to be anything more or less than what it is. It recognises that it doesn't need detailed, in-depth aspects like a mana bar or special gear, but it doesn't rely on tedious mobile trends like clicker games. If you want to attack, hold for a duration that scales with damage, before swiping into any direction. If you want to block, tap; if you want to dodge, swipe. These rudimentary features work so well in favour of combat because the challenge and joy are stored within their simplicity. The difficulty does occasionally commit to unreasonable increases, making it fun to experience new challenges but frustrating to get past a single level. However, this short-lasting pain is quickly dusted under the rug as new mechanics are introduced exclusively for a single area. The Northern Passage challenges the player’s newfound ability on horseback, while Aryndale Village scatters flames to make players observant when dodging or attacking, before finally trying to fight against the onslaught of enemies and the blizzards in Frozen Peak. Another great factor is how the enemies also evolve with you. As you progress, you won't be dealing with an enemy type that is similar to its first area counterpart. The increase in health and damage dealt are the smallest differences between the two (and it's still a pretty big jump from one another). Standard, easily parried bats are the 'basic' enemy of the first area, while infantrymen are the same case for the second area. The 'basic' enemy then slowly evolves into a shielded one, before turning into a leaping foe, before ultimately becoming a leaping, shielded threat. While this seems like a basic form of progression, very few games diversify their range of enemies outside of numeric values, and when they do, even fewer do it in a way that leaves a positive impact on the game.
Bossfights
The bossfights are superb in all possible ways. They are fluid and lively in their animations of simple pixels, they are enjoyable in mechanics and difficulty - upping the quality of the regular gameplay - and while the music isn't the definitive aspect of the game, it is definitely able to set the tense mood. The lore behind the bosses is even in the Souls-like spirit; hell, they even have a Smough and Ornstein battle in the form of "nefarious generals who set ablaze villages when their work there is done". The added lore doesn't help breathe more life into this limping world, but it is a fun little bonus.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is a retro dive done successfully. The pixelated design that brilliantly blends with the amazing ingenuity of its three main colours is magnificent. While the black and white emphasise different environments and sprites to the player, the red is what causes the horrific and intimidating aura of everything to blossom. The music is good and helps boost the atmosphere at any given moment to be more special but not only is it unnecessary but it can blend a little too well into the level and become forgettable. The sound effects are awesome. The random pops of lightning, the contorted beast screams and the classic-sounding sword slashes sound supreme.
Story- 7/10
Gameplay- 9/10
Bossfights- 9/10
Atmosphere- 8/10
Great
A must-play title within Apple Arcade's catalogue of exclusives and a game that truly shows what More8Bit are capable of, even with a smaller budget.
