Wulverblade Review
Release Date: January 30th, 2018
Developer: Darkwind
Platforms: PSN (Reviewed), XBL, Steam, Switch
Price: $14.99
There are a so many options for the Indie gamer these days. Wulverblade is a great addition to any library. The Gamers Lounge got a chance to review this on PS4 and this is a must own for anyone that wants a co-op, action packed brawler.
Where to start? I first played this game at PAX West 2017 on the Switch. I enjoyed how simple and brutal the gameplay was. The screen was full of enemies dying and their severed limbs were flying about. The story is interesting for anyone that enjoys history, as players are playing as British barbarians and their tribe rebelling against the Roman Empire.
One of the best features of Wulverblade is the co-op and like Golden Axe, or Final Fight, there are multiple characters to play as. There is a quick character, someone who is a middle of the road, and big heavy slow brawler. There are a few combos to execute as players battle enemies coming from left to right. If you can parry at the right time or dodge and there is a chance to set up a combo which will deliver a lot of damage. If you can get that killstreak going players can execute a special attack with a wide range of damage. I saved this for crowds of enemies or boss fights.
Did I mention you can dismember enemies? Their body parts, and weapons they drop, will serve as weapons you can utilize. The game also reminded me of Shank due the brutality, both in combat and in difficulty. While the regular enemies come in waves and fill the screen, the boss battles were the toughest challenge. There is a decent checkpoint system which should let most gamers come back for more and continue the fight.
The graphics are good; they have a nice cell shaded artwork with lots of color in the background. The lore, and the enemies are all drawn in a great amount of detail. I didn’t notice any slowdown when the game gets packed with enemies and action.
The story interweaves around the history and is interesting as the tale is told between levels much like Metro Redux. The sound effects and music do a fantastic job of setting the tone. There is more than just a simple 16 bit inspired brawler here. We had a chance to review this on PS4 but I highly recommend it on the Switch as well.
Pros
-Great art design and story
-Brawler with lots of options
-Challenging
Cons
-Challenging
-Ultra gory and not for the younger audience
Big thanks to the publisher for letting us review this great game.