Blades & Battles Review – A Short Sword Fight For Camelot

Another review, but a break from Steam – it’s Blades & Battles for the Switch 2. It must be tough having so many games to play and write about, but really, it is quite the ordeal – there’s a ton I want to play that are sitting on my devices, though I can’t refuse an old-school scrolling beat ‘em up, right?

Also, this is kind of a 2-in-1, as the game is from QUByte Interactive who allows me to play on a modern platform, but with retro throwbacks galore. Yes, I have a bias based on their Amiga offerings, though judging by my ‘research’, this is a new IP.

Picking from either Arthur or Lancelot, you have to save Camelot; only this variation errs more on the fantasy side with a few artistic interpretations. For starters, both Arthur and Lancelot are much younger, and those they fight are less peasants and nobles, and more Golden Axe extras.

That’s a good reference point, as Blades & Battles was inspired by Golden Axe, and it feels like it in places. There are some obvious differences, however. First, there are only two characters to select from; there are no ‘rides’ to hop in, and it feels significantly shorter. Rest assured, I have an ‘on the flip side’.

Check Out These Moves

On the flip side, Blades & Battles has alternative paths for repeat playthroughs, slightly different approaches to combat and defending, and it looks cool. The visual art is a strange one; like rotoscoping, and instead of anti-aliasing, they’ve sharpened up the edges with chunky pixels.

The result is a stylish and unique-looking game that doesn’t quite look like anything else. While it can’t be denied that side-scrolling beat ‘em ups are generic and monotonous, those additional moves make it a tad more engaging than most.

A standard attack will be your go-to for the vast majority of the game, with a stronger attack that can launch enemies into the air or break their guard with a charge. The only caveat here is they require a consumable mana, or, like Streets of Rage, eat into your health if you don’t have any mana.

Adopting a Golden Axe, or even Shinobi-like special, one of your heroes will throw up to three potoins into the air to do super damage to groups or one of the ug-mug bosses you’ll encounter. The best moves were for defensive purposes. A ‘desperation’ attack can be triggered mid-fall or to break a seemingly heavy attack, as well as a dodge to get out of harm’s way.

Evade, Marry Or Kill

I have a lot of experience with side-scrolling beat ‘em ups and grew up on them. Some of my favourites are Vendetta, Final Fight – even The Simpsons. That said, I was never that good at them and a bit of a knucklehead, and would soak up the hits (and my pocket money) as there were no defensive actions.

Blades & Battles has a fair amount of archers and mages that shoot from range. Dashing, a double tap of the stick, is good for moving back and forth horizontally, but rushing an attack isn’t wise. Pressing evade and up and down will jump out of the way and is subsequently very helpful.

When encountering the bosses, a danger zone will indicate where their move will land, and the evade is the only way to handle this. It’s all very formulaic and expected, so it’s fair to be able to get out of trouble, but there was one ice boss that kept juggling me and, in my hope of desperation (callback), I couldn’t spam that move to avoid a beating.

So, the boss pattern in Blades & Battles would be: save up super potions, use those, spam the heavy attacks to each into half my health, hit a chest for some food and another potion, repeat the above, and keep an eye on those danger zones and lesser enemies spawning.

Won’t You Join Me, Fellow Knight?

Again, Blades & Battles doesn’t reinvent the wheel or revitalise the genre, though as indicated, it looks good. That might not be enough to carry it through and recommend a purchase, as once you’ve completed the six or so stages, then what?

First, there are multiple paths, so that encourages a few more plays. When completing the game for the first time, a stage unlock is also available to jump through each one. Because the game isn’t that long, playing from start to finish isn’t a big ask.

And, as QuBytes likes to add value, there are built-in achievements for the Switch 2, indicating any missed feats like not using the special and being able to defeat every boss. There’s also a jukebox for the music, but that was just monotonous, and I’d rather fall on my sword than listen to that.

Blades & Battles is reminiscent of an old arcade game, but whether it would have been one of your favourites is debatable, as there’s still not enough on offer besides a couple more playthroughs and perhaps a co-op. It’s not bad in the slightest, just average if anything, and not as epic as Arthur’s myth.