Blade Kitten, Seriously?
By Vanek 14 Comments
I know what you're likely thinking, "That's a pretty stupid name." -- I thought the same thing, but hear me out ...
The basic premise of a pink haired half cat bounty hunter generally would set off my bad game alarm, and it's something I would normally stay away from, but after downloading several higher profile arcade games and finding them unsatisfying I thought why the hell not. I tried Blade Kitten, a game I expected absolutely nothing from and ended up not only finishing the demo but subsequently buying the full game.
As far as the gameplay is concerned Kit has a floaty feel to her movement and is incredibly agile which allows her to climb most walls with ease. This in turn allows you to easily explore every corner of an area in search of treasure chests and collectables while also encouraging you to replay levels and collect everything. You're constantly collecting gems and finding treasure chests which in turn allow you to later buy new blades, costumes and health upgrades from a street vender later on.
The presentation is generally high throughout with attractive character models and some bright and colourful levels with multiple layers. The voice acting is delivered well and helps with the funnier lines of dialogue with the main characters performance standing out as the best. Blade Kitten also has a surprising catchy soundtrack, which I have to admit it got stuck in my head for some time. It's truly impressive that it all comes together so well however a few glitches and one instance where the game refused to continue and I was forced to restart the level bring the game down slightly. It did only happened once, and by no means is a deal breaker, but is something worth noting.
I've checked out several reviews of Blade Kitten and most are not kind. Everything from it's difficulty to it's simple nature is criticised and yet I feel this is a game with likeable characters, an amusing script and some enjoyable platforming with a lot to collect. If that sounds interesting and you don't mind a little repetition and the odd glitch then ignore the mainstream reviews and consider this the game for you. At present it's current 1200 MS Point price may feel a little steep, but don't let that stop you trying the demo and scoping it up once the price eventually drops.