video here

The first thing that stands about Blade Chimera is its artwork, which is drop-dead gorgeous at times. Making use of pixel art, Blade Chimera quite easily stands head and shoulders above other similarly designed titles thanks to just how vividly detailed its sprites, animations and environments tend to be. While just about any scene of the game looks great on its own, seeing characters move around, attack, or otherwise be in motion is where the game’s visuals truly start standing out.

The smooth animations and Chimera Blade’s great implementation of its art style is further compounded thanks to excellent use of an excellent color palette. The game is able to seamlessly provide a fantastic atmosphere in just about any of its various locations by making use of striking color combinations. This can range from the muted ones to dull colors of an underground train system, from scorching orange hues in the sky in its more industrial zones to the lush greenery when you enter the science lab. Even the streets of the game’s main setting, a cyberpunk rendition of Osaka, absolutely oozes with atmosphere thanks to well-lit neon signs, flickering vending machines, and even animatronic displays of a roadside stand.

"The first thing that stands about Blade Chimera is its artwork"

Backing up the great visuals is its engaging soundtrack. While Blade Chimera has its fair share of intriguing ambience, especially when there is a lot of exposition happening, the game’s soundtrack manages to easily put you in the mood to hunt down some demons thanks to its thumping electronic soundtrack. The fast-paced techno music might not top any gaming list charts, but it’s definitely well-suited for on screen actions like jumping around, avoiding energy beams, and taking out Japanese yokai inspired demons.

However, what separates a good platformer from a great one are the gameplay mechanics, and while Blade Chimera largely feels addictive to play, there are some minor nagging issues with it. The biggest issue is that the game doesn’t tend to explain its mechanics very well. Sure, you’ll be jumping, shooting, and doing all sorts of cool things in no time, more advanced ideas, however, like how certain abilities might interact with each other, or even just a more convenient way to compare equipment, is never really explained. In fact, the game feels decidedly old school in that respect; you’re going to have to grab a pen and paper to write down the stats of your currently-equipped plasma gun so that you can easily compare it to a new one in the shop to figure out if it’s an upgrade.

Information about side quests is similarly obscured from the player. While you can quickly figure out what you’re supposed to be doing once you’ve accepted the side quest, there is no real way for you to see these details before the quests begins. This problem is somewhat mitigated by the game having no penalties for abandoning side quests and picking up ones more suited to the area you’re currently exploring, but the quest system could have been fined tuned for a much smoother experience.

"What separates a good platformer from a great one are the gameplay mechanics"

One notable spot where the lack of information provided led to some frustration for me was the first time you come across a demon termination zone. Wielding a giant floating sword “Lux”, that is essentially a shape shifting demon, means you can’t cross this zone without the sword taking damage, which could lead to the character’s death. While the game intends for you to stick the sword on the floor, run through the zone, and then summon it to you through a wall, Blade Chimera doesn’t even hint it to you that this is an option. I managed to accidentally sidestep the puzzle entirely by teleporting to its end. In this instance, having a simpler version of the same puzzle earlier in the game would be of great benefit in training the player to think about the demon sword as its own entity that can go through walls for the difficult puzzles down the line.

With all of that out of the way, the gameplay in Blade Chimera is definitely some of the best in recent times. The controls feel incredibly responsive, and the game makes good use of its unique demon sword mechanics to present fun and interesting platforming and exploration challenges. These abilities range from the relatively mundane, like being able to swing across a large gap by using the demon sword as a grappling hook, to more complex ones, like summoning a bridge that existed at the spot at some point in the past, allowing you to cross the gap. The abilities that Lux provides you with are what contribute quite a bit into making Blade Chimera feel like a traditional platformer.

Much like you would expect from the genre, quite a bit of your time will be spent exploring the game’s labyrinthine map. In the process, you will unlock new abilities for yourself and Lux, allowing you to enter previously-inaccessible zones. The game also locks off a few areas behind having you hunt down collectibles shaped like puzzle pieces, but at no point in the main story do you actually need to go out of your way for them. Instead, exploration tends to be rewarding with quite a few great pieces of equipment hiding in obscure corners.

"Much like you would expect from the genre, quite a bit of your time will be spent exploring the game’s labyrinthine map."

Speaking of skill points, Blade Chimera features a relatively simplistic form of progression. Killing demons gets you experience points, which in turn will level you up, rewarding you with a new skill point. These skill points can be spent in a small tree to unlock new abilities, which can range from having niche uses like having Lux shoot out a barrage of projectiles at enemies at a significant MP cost, to skills that feel absolutely mandatory, such as one that allows you to fast travel between different points in the map.

The game’s combat also works pretty well despite its simplicity. While there aren’t many complex combos that you will have to learn, most melee weapons only tend to have 2-3 hit combos. However, the depth in the game’s combat instead comes from the types of enemies you’ll be facing. Just about every demon has its own quirks, and you will be constantly switching between your swords, guns, Lux, and even magical abilities to take them down depending on the situation. This also carries over into boss fights, which tend to be a lot of fun without being obnoxiously difficult. Bosses tend to have complex move sets that can be easily learned in the course of a single fight, and these moves tend to be satisfying to avoid or even exploit.

Tying all of these aspects up together is the story. Blade Chimera is trying to be a gritty cyberpunk story with hints of a neo-noir vibe, and it largely tends to succeed. While there aren’t any grand plot twists, the game’s story still manages to be quite interesting thanks to some surprisingly intricate world building. As noted earlier, Blade Chimera takes place in a cyberpunk version of Osaka which is seemingly ruled by a cult that has taken it upon itself to cleanse the land of demons. Players take on the role of one such demon killer named Shin, and in the wreckage of the fight against a particularly big demon, finds and befriends a seemingly innocent shapeshifting demon named Lux.

"Blade Chimera takes place in a cyberpunk version of Osaka"

Together, Shin and Lux set out to complete more demon hunting quests. After a mission where Shin finds himself embroiled in complex scenarios (like can a person be killed based on just a suspicion whether they are a demon or not), the duo set out to further explore to find out what happened to the world and their loved ones. Generally speaking, Blade Chimera’s story gets the job done when it comes to sending players out to explore its world. The voice acting is also well done, as is the fact that you don’t really need to piece things together by yourself.

All in all, Blade Chimera is a fantastic platformer, and is an easy game to recommend to fans of the genre. For players that might not be too familiar with some of the genre’s more esoteric elements, however, the way Blade Chimera tends to hide some crucial gameplay information might just end up feeling obtuse and annoying for some players. Thankfully, these issues are relatively minor, and don’t spoil what is otherwise an intriguing experience.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Just when it seemed like Nintendo wrapped up all its big releases ahead of its next console reveal, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches on January 16th for the Switch. Featuring the return of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, the classic campaign supports revamped visuals, JoyCon support, and new levels from the 3DS port. There’s even New Mode, which provides an easier on-boarding difficulty for newcomers.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

“No more open world” is already a massive selling point for Dynasty Warriors: Origins. However, Omega Force is cooking up even more with the prequel ahead of its launch on January 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. A new protagonist, tactics, and combat improvements alongside multiple weapons and famous warriors as teammates (who you can control for limited periods) are just a few notable features. If the demo is any indication, Dynasty Warriors: Origins should restore the series ‘ glory.

Tales of Graces f Remastered

It’s still remaster season for Tales fans, with Tales of Graces f the latest title to get said treatment. Unlike Symphonia, the next remaster is handled by Tose instead of Bandai Namco, ensuring 60 FPS on all platforms (except Nintendo Switch, sadly). Tales of Graces f Remastered also features quality-of-life additions like auto-save, English and Japanese audio, a destination marker for quests on the world map, and more. It launches on January 17th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Switch.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PC)

The critically acclaimed sequel finally arrives on PC after remaining on PS5 for the better part of 2024. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth offers numerous improvements to Remake’s combat while heavily expanding on the mini-games, characters, exploration, and story. PC players can look forward to more extensive graphical settings, support for upscalers like DLSS, and improved lighting rendering. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth arrives for PC players on January 23rd.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC)

If another 100-hour RPG isn’t what you’re after on PC, then Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may be the solution. Featuring not one but two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Mile Morales, it offers new locations, combat abilities, and activities to go with the darker narrative and addition of the infamous Symbiote, Venom. It’s out on January 30th for PC.

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles

Aspyr has been working overtime to bring various Star Wars classics to modern platforms, with Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles being the latest. It arrives on January 23rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. While the prospect of higher resolutions and better performance is tempting, fans can also look forward to playing unlocked characters from the beginning and using a new modern control scheme.

Hyper Light Breaker Early Access

Hyper Light Breaker is an open-world rogue-lite for PC that features intense boss battles, weapons and hoverboards. After facing several delays, Heart Machine is releasing Hyper Light Breaker in early access on January 14.  It will feature three player co-op along with a variety of skins and weapons.

Eternal Strands

Action adventure title Eternal Strands, which sees players relying on the elements and environments to battle massively imposing threats, launches on January 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Besides intriguing us with its visuals and overall combat, the premise and journey of Brynn, a Weaver on a mission of redemption, is intriguing. If that’s not enough, post-launch content developed alongside the Final Fantasy 16 development team is also in the works.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

Franchises come and go, and yet somehow, Orcs Must Die! still showcases the appeal of constructing elaborate defenses and slaying hordes of Orcs. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is the latest iteration of the series, out on January 28th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It offers co-op for up to four players, but you can still go it alone, choosing from six new War Mages and partaking in new rogue-lite runs. Offering more extensive customization, random modifiers in each run, and more, Deathtrap retains the series’ signature chaos and charm.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

Odd Bug’s long-awaited sequel to its brutal 2D side-scrolling action RPG finally arrives on January 28th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. On top of a new violent story, players will once again engage in settlement building, slaying enemies (this time with new elemental effects), and even embarking on hunts against massive beasts for greater rewards. And yes, Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt from The Witcher 3, returns to provide the same impeccable narration.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Long-range snipes into body parts with explosive results, carefully showcased with an X-Ray Killcam? You’ve come to the right place with Rebellion’s Sniper Elite: Resistance, a spin-off that runs parallel to Sniper Elite 5 and stars Harry Hawker of the SOE. Between sniping, sneaking, and assassinating Nazis across large maps, you’ll also take out Kill List targets and embody Resistance fighters in new Propaganda Missions. All this and more await on January 30th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

A new Sleeper, a new Belt in the Helios System, and many of the same problems (with a few new ones thrown in for good measure). Jump Over the Age’s mix of sci-fi narrative, tabletop dice mechanics, and role-playing gives you a ship and various jobs to complete amid an ongoing conflict between corporations. Making new friends, temporary and permanent, and bringing them along to complete jobs is key, as is managing stress and your slowly deteriorating body. If you even mildly enjoyed the original’s characters and stories, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector launches on January 31st for PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

Trying to unravel the origins of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana can be a headache (especially since it’s a remaster of a remake). All you need to know is that it’s one of the better titles in the series, now presented with sharper visuals, a new voiceover for protagonist Adol, new character illustrations, and every iteration of the excellent soundtrack. It’s available on January 7th for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Freedom Wars Remastered

The underrated dystopian action RPG first released in 2014 by Sony for the PlayStation Vita makes its long-awaited return on January 10th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. As a prisoner in the Panopticons, players must effectively work off their sentence, battling Abductors and competing against other cities for valuable resources. Offering 4K/60 FPS on PlayStation and PC, improved controls, visual improvements, and more to go with eight-player co-op, Freedom Wars Remastered is a long time coming.

Blade Chimera

From the team behind Touhou Luna Nights comes another immensely sleek platformer. As the amnesiac Shin, players work alongside Lux and fight against various monsters to unravel the mysteries of his life. Alongside shapeshifting and time manipulation, players will unlock new abilities and weapons in their quest. Launching on January 16th for PC and Nintendo Switch, Blade Chimera is shaping up into an excellent side-scroller.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

The follow-up to Ender Lilies, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist travels to the Land of Fumes and stars a new hero – Lilac, an Attuner who can control the Homunculi, each with different abilities. While there are no signs of the Rain of Death from decades prior, the world has fallen into ruin after mysterious Fumes infect the Homunculi. Survival is paramount, but Lilac must also recover her memories. While offering more excellent 2D art and animation and a new soundtrack by Mili, Ender Magnolia also provides new skills, difficulty levels, and combat changes. It exits early access on January 22nd for PC while also launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.