Bleak Sword

This game shows that Apple Arcade games can be done well. While most AA games I’ve played have been riddled with various problems, this one controls well, has text that is large enough to read on a phone, can be played for a short length of time if thats all you have, and doesn’t crash. The gameplay is basically a boiled down version of the masterpiece PS3 game Demon’s Souls (the predecessor to the very popular Dark Souls series). Like that game you fight with a weapon using normal and hard attacks and you can roll, block, and parry. You can’t typically heal and your health level carries over from area to area, but in rare instances you can find healing items (Although I have picked up healing items, I have never figured out how to use them... which is frustrating but it didn’t dramatically impact my impressions of the game). If you die you lose your experience and items but you can get them back if you redo the area and survive the next time. Unlike Dark Souls, the different areas are separate instances like in Demon’s Souls. You are free to go back and replay areas for more experience or item hunting if you like.

This game is everything that should be in a game. It doesn’t have to have amazing graphics, but it does have to have amazing gameplay. Which it does. And a feel of achievement whenever you beat that one level that keeps completely destroying you. Quick tip you keep the hp from your previous fight, keeping this in mind if you have a lot of EXP and little health go kill yourself on the first level, when you die and lose EXP you have a chance to get it back if you beat the level you lost it on on the first try you get all your EXP back keep in mind you lose all your items so be prepared for that. Also master the counter it will help you infinitely. I know these tips are really beginner tips but they will help you forever. All in all this is the beat mobile game I have ever played and to be honest I wish even one fourth of other mobile games were half as good as this one thanks for reading and keep upgrading the game!

This game really surprised me. It reminds me a lot of Witcher 3 combat, where the pitch and roll are a must. When you dodge attacks and deliver your own in perfect harmony.. It’s is a great feeling. Every fight feels like it’s earned and I didn’t think I could experience that core feeling in a mobile game. They really just took the basic principles of what makes combat great in AAA and applied it to mobile use. This game is mind blowing, once you get use to the controls, the rest is a wrap. I also like that if you loose, you actually loose something, which has you a little more focused. Lol you have to play this game!

This game is a tight little gem. The game patiently explains the limited move set your little character can use as you fight your way through a series of fixed dioramas. The game has a welcome variety of enemies who will require different timings and strategies to fell, and there is a surprising amount of environmental variety, too (wind, fire, fog, crushing walls). The music and presentation is deliberately clunky and simple, but the animations and timing of the game is very smooth. This game plays fair and is exactly the type of challenge that makes you ALMOST quit in frustration, but you keep coming back for more because you know you’re just a hair away from beating the stage you’re on. The graphical simplicity does present some minor problems. Your character can easily be confused with onscreen enemies, and keeping track of the action on screen can become a little tough...tougher than it should be. Also, the riding sequences aren’t nearly as fun as other parts of the game. However, I am being tougher on this game than the majority of reviews. If you love twitch-based action play, like Mega Man, Dark Souls or any game that requires battle strategy and quick reflexes, Bleak Sword is an awesome low-fi treat for you.

I downloaded this just because it looked quite interesting. It definitely is, but I just had to delete it because it made me extremely frustrated. I get that a lot of people will like this but it’s not worth the stress for me. I’m a 30 year old male and I need as little stress as I can get. If you like stuff like Dark Souls, give this a go, but I couldn’t get past the first world. It starts off easy, yeah, but the controls are kinda awkward and it makes me feel like I mess up a lot whenever I shouldn’t. The difficulty spikes around level 1-8 so get ready. I couldn’t beat the first boss at 1-10 and I just gave up. Maybe one day I’ll try this again. It’s a gorgeous game. Side note: Apple Arcade is genius.