Bad to the Bone: Bleak Sword DX
2D vengeance in a 3D world
‣ Bleak Sword DX
From: more8bit, Devolver Digital • Platforms: PC, Switch
Release: TBA
Steam Link • Demo Video
The kingdom is in peril, suffering under the rule of a cruel tyrant. A warrior, urged by visions, sets out into the dark forest to rescue their world. That means fighting through 12 chapters of waves of monsters in eye-catching lo-fi levels. Block, roll and strike your way to victory in this addictive brawler where timing attacks are key. Originally released on Apple Arcade in 2019, Bleak Sword DX is a revamped edition for the PC and Switch, including the original content and DLC levels, along with new game modes and enhanced controls for mouse, keyboard and gamepad players.
Explore The Game with Youtube Chapters:
📽 00:22 Tutorial: Learn the ropes.
📽 01:38 It Begins: Into the forest we go.
📽 03:55 First blood: But not the last…
📽 05:05 Spiders!: Can’t we stick to bats?
📽 06:59 Escalation: More things want to kill you.
📽 09:52 Horned ones: This is not a reindeer…
📽 11:13 Horned god!: Is that a Wendigo?
📽 14:04 Victory!: Die and try again.
AIIG's Take: The first thing that stands out about Bleak Sword DX is its captivating and grim visual style: a mix of very lo-fi retro early-Eighties pixel art with 3D depth and parallax effects. Every arena is a square field our hero navigates, smiting enemies as they spawn into the fight. Beat all the baddies to win the level and the chance for an upgrade that improves your chances (though upgrade slots are limited, so choose wisely).
Reflecting its mobile origins, Bleak Sword DX is very much a pick-up-and-play title. The demo takes players through the first chapter’s levels, culminating in a boss fight. Time your attacks and parries against different enemies, and don’t die: while you can restart a specific level, quitting means starting the chapter over. Fortunately, each level is very short and takes mere minutes to finish (or meet defeat). The final version will include extra content, plus remix, boss mode and endless fight game modes.
There is a real old-school sensibility to the gameplay and parts of the art. But Bleak Sword DX is also a very modern and slick brawler with responsive controls, and we look forward to the final version. Alas, it hasn’t got a release date yet, so wishlist and wait!
Thanks for reading Adventures in Indie Gaming! Subscribe to receive new posts.