PM Studios recently announced the console launch date for its 2018 release, Bladed Fury. While it was originally released back in 2018 for PC, the historically set action title will finally become available to console owners, with physical and digital versions scheduled for launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch systems on March 25th.
Bladed Fury is a 2D action title featuring fun combat, a complex combo system, and beautiful 2D graphics with gameplay reminiscent of popular hack-and-slashers like Viewtiful Joe and Bayonetta. It’s noteworthy that the game’s art looks incredibly similar to Vanillaware’s Muramasa: The Demon Blade, which was released back in 2009 for the Wii.
The title is set within Ancient China and features art inspired by traditional Chinese art. Bladed Fury’s story and setting are based heavily off Chinese history and mythology, with many of the characters and enemies tightly connected to Ancient Chinese myths.
Throughout Bladed Fury, the player steps into the role of the young Chinese princess Ji of the Qi Kingdom. At the onset of the game, Ji sets off on a quest to combat various rival clans in order to restore peace to her kingdom after the untimely death of her father. Throughout her journey, Ji will take on armies of skeletons and other supernatural beings, using a fast and fluid combo-system, not unlike other popular hack-and-slash titles that came before it but backed by a unique art style.
The game’s story is loosely based on the Warring States period in China, with many supernatural elements thrown in that mix surprisingly well. The game’s setting, while not particularly historically accurate, helps shine a spotlight on a period and region not typically seen in gaming.
Upon its initial release, Bladed Fury was received relatively well by both fans and critics, with the title garnering a Metacritic score average of 74. It will be interesting to see how the game’s console ports stack up to the original PC release and if any additional features or changes will be added in.
Bladed Fury was developed by NExT Studios, whose previous work includes such titles as Crown Trick, Biped, Death Coming, and Iris.Fall, all of which have very positive reviews across Steam. The game’s second publisher, PM Studios, has published several indie titles, including Guts N’ Goals, Exophobia, and Good Pizza, Great Pizza.
Fans can pre-order Bladed Fury now, with limited physical copies available via retailers. Launch edition copies also come bundled with a voucher code for the game’s digital soundtrack. The game can be pre-ordered at most major retailers, including Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy, or digitally on either the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, or Nintendo eShop for $19.99.
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At Epoch Xperience, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse Epoch Xperience’s service on our parent site, SJR Research.
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(This article is credited to Ben Price. For as long as he can remember, Ben has always loved playing, discussing, and writing about video games. Since receiving his B.A. in English, he now writes about them for a living.)