Blade Strangers Reviews

Blade Strangers is ranked in the 48th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
2.9 / 5.0
Aug 29, 2018

Blade Strangers isn't an outright terrible game; it just doesn't feel like the concept ever got off the ground. While characters retain their charm, story suffers from a lack of originality. There is also a distinct lack of depth, as combos are fairly straightforward, with some moves using repeated inputs adding unneeded mistakes. Add in lackluster and in some cases awful sprites and it's an experience that really comes down to if you like the characters enough to see them in a new setting. If this is enough, then you might like this, otherwise it's a paint by numbers fighting game that doesn't do anything well enough to stand out beyond the fact notable characters are present.

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Ofisil
Top Critic
6 / 10
Sep 6, 2018

Decent. That's the only thing that comes to mind when thinking about Blade Strangers. Besides the novelty of being able to choose amongst indie game characters from Studio Sanzensen and Nicalis, there's nothing special about this fighter, other than the fact that it's built in such a way that it makes it a perfect entry for genre greenhorns.

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6 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2018
Blade Strangers: REVIEW (Indies Clash) video thumbnail
6 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2018

While Blade Strangers is a perfectly competent fighting game it will struggle to find an audience. Too simple for fighting fans, too niche for kids and not enough story for fans of the source material, it simply fails to meet the mark.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2018

Blade Strangers is a less-than-unique fighting game with excellent graphics. Unfortunately great visuals alone don’t make a fun game. If you have an affinity toward the characters and don’t mind a paint-by-the-numbers fighting game, then definitely pick this one up.

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Heavy
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Sep 2, 2018

You'll get a quick dose of fun from it, but quickly move on to something more fulfilling in the fighting game genre soon after.

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Sep 11, 2018

For $39.99 Blade Strangers is the kind of game where you will know right away whether or not it is for you. It’s not a hardcore fighting game which is fine since it’s really not trying to be one. This is just a fun little game to appreciate some of the lesser known characters in gaming and give them some spotlight. For that, Blade Strangers is a lot of fun, however that does mean its audience will likely end up being very limited. While it can provide a few solid hours of fun, its lasting value will depend on how much you enjoy the characters featured here. If you are someone who really enjoys Code of Princess or Umihara Kawase, you should check this one out and can probably add half a star to the review score.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
7 / 10
Aug 27, 2018

Eschewing the Byzantine systems of many modern anime fighters, Blade Strangers invites fans weaned on early 90s arcade fighters back into the fold.

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Sep 6, 2018

Will you be picking up Blade Strangers, or do you have it already? What do you think of the game? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, and keep an eye on Rice Digital for more coverage of both fighting games and other Japanese titles.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 30, 2018

It's not going to keep you entertained for as long as a Street Fighter or BlazBlue game, but those familiar with its characters will have fun pitting the likes of Shovel Knight against Issac. Those unfamiliar with its characters will just enjoy it for the fact that there are no barriers to enjoying its gameplay. Blade Strangers is simple, and all the better for it.

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7 / 10
Sep 3, 2018

Blade Strangers' unique approach to fisticuffs won't appeal to everyone, but those looking for something with both depth and accessibility will find it here. It might not be FGC-ready, but it manages to provide a good time for those with an open mind.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2018

An incredibly user-friendly game that is basically developed for the casual fighting game fans. It lacks proper depth but offers a fun combat system and plenty of fan service moments.

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Aug 28, 2018

As a first effort out it's genuinely impressive, offering a clean and enjoyable combat system that can also be used to introduce new players to the joy of modern 2D fighters. I firmly believe there's a role for fighters like that in the market, and Blade Strangers is a very fine first effort indeed.

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7 / 10
Dec 17, 2018

Blade Strangers may not look like the most obvious crossover when it features characters from series that few would ever imagine starring in the same game but life is full of surprises and this fighting experience not only brings a varied cast, it also has some very simple gameplay and control mechanics that make the game accessible to nearly everyone, while also thinking that its 3D rendering could use some improvement.

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7 / 10
Aug 28, 2018

There's no denying it - this is the most accessible 2D fighter we've played in years. If you're new to the often impenetrable world of twitch-style brawlers, this serves as an ideal way to learn the craft and feel powerful without too much work. Not every one of its crossover fighters gels as well as the others, but it's still an empowering experience for beginners and intermediate fight fans. However, if you're looking for a purposefully nuanced combat system with a bit more bite, you're probably best sticking with BlazBlue's mechanical purity.

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70 / 100
Aug 25, 2018

For the most part, I was happy with this fighter and I really hope we see some additional post-release content added, such as more characters from Nicalis published titles.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2018

Blade Strangers is a fun, friendly, accessible fighter. It allows newcomers and experienced players alike the opportunity to throw down with some great characters, without necessarily concerning themselves with one-frame-links or meaty reversals. Whilst that lack of tech-depth may prevent Blade Strangers from holding the attention of the pros, or blowing up on the competitive circuit, it's sure to be a hit at any good-natured rumble with friends, battling for pride within your own four walls.

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7.1 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2018

Although I enjoyed Blade Strangers quite a lot, it still doesn't reach any particularly high notes for a fighter.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 21, 2018

Nicalis kicks off its original game universe with Blade Strangers. A 2D fighting game with great animation and a solid fighting game that can knuckle up with the greats of the genre. With characters from their own franchises and some indie darlings we love, there's a fighter for everyone here.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 5, 2018

Blade Strangers is fun for what it is, a smaller-scale fighting game with a bizarre set of crossover characters you would never expect to see in a Japanese-developed fighting game. Even the Japanese stuff that is involved is weird together, frankly. While it struggles with how simple it does or doesn't want to be, Blade Strangers has a cute vibe, an earnest sense of humor, and flashy enough gameplay that running through it with all the characters is definitely worth a few weekends in-between Evo training.

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