Die by the Balde – Review, a knockout blow

A melee fighting gameWhere one shot is enough to be defeated, or emerge victorious. This is the simple but interesting concept that he made at his announcement Die by the Balde a title that has intrigued quite a few players, but which behind its simplicity would need a certain depth, both to attract players and because the concept of “single shot” to win can hide many problems behind it, in addition to opportunities to exploit. Will they have been exploited by Triple Hill and Grindstone? The answer… you can imagine it.

Too little to do

Die by the Blade is a title that, unfortunately, has very little to offer at present. Where is the problem? Everywhere. Fighting in Die By The Blade means being able to take advantage of the versus mode against the AI ​​on your computer, or facing someone locally… but there is no truly rewarding single player mode. There is at least one challenge mode, which will at least manage to entertain you a little. Paradoxically, it is a title that does not have a campaign single player, nor a training section worthy of the name. Locally and online it will also be possible to create a tournamentas long as you have enough people to invite to your home and challenge to the death, or that you find enough players online.

It goes without saying that the first hour in the game will be particularly boring for youbecause you will have to take measures with the game, and clearly with the personages.

Speaking of these, there are only 7 in totaland the weapons to choose from only 5. Not that in a title where victory is decided with a single shot we would have expected much more, but it almost seems as if no more was attempted. The statistics of the characters affect very little, while at least the weapons differ from each other with different movesets to master.

The good thing is that the matches, based on how many victories you want to set, will still happen very shortand you can try out all the characters and weapons in a very short time.

A Harakiri disaster

All of this would be glossable if the game itself didn’t really have very little to say. Unfortunately we are talking about a title that struggles to entertain, etcwhich doesn’t even shine from a technical point of view.

The gameplay is based on horizontal and vertical attacks, which we will direct with the analog stick in a system similar to For Honorbut at the same time we will have to be able to dodge opponents’ shots or to parry, so as not to end up defeated. If you are fast and lucky enough, the match can end on the first attack. There is a lot wrong with the formula, starting frominaccuracy of the sticksmovements, and dodges, even arriving at aembarrassing difficulty and inaccuracy of the combos, which can be carried out stringing together unthinkable movements even for experienced fighting game players.

Despite also the physics they effects are not able to give their best, luckily every now and then it is possible to witness some really interesting exchanges between the two fighters, which at least on a scenographic know how to be enjoyableAnd brutal at the right point. Of course, it also happens that an opponent’s head pops off after being hit in the side, or limbs splash randomly here and there, or something like that. Everything is normal, right?

At the level graphic the character models are almost unwatchable, which is totally different on the loading screen, with artwork static not bad. The arenas are few, but at least well characterized. Could more have been done? No Yes where you go Do more. a disaster on all fronts.