Blades of Time

Blades of Time
Developer(s)Gaijin Entertainment
Publisher(s)Konami
Gaijin Entertainment (PC)
Iceberg Interactive (PC & OS X, EU)
Producer(s)Takayuki Fujii
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo Switch
ReleasePlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • NA: March 6, 2012
  • JP: March 8, 2012
  • AU: March 8, 2012
  • EU: March 16, 2012[1]
Microsoft Windows, OS X
  • NA: April 20, 2012
  • EU: May 18, 2012 (PC)
  • EU: May 25, 2012 (OS X)
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: May 14, 2019[2]
Genre(s)Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Blades of Time (ブレイズ オブ タイム, Bureizu obu Taimu) is an action-adventure hack-and-slash video game developed by Gaijin Entertainment and published by Konami and Iceberg Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Mac OS X.[3] The game is a reboot/sequel to Gaijin Entertainment's past work, X-Blades.[4] Blades of Time was released in North America on March 6, 2012, in Japan and Australia on March 8, 2012, and in Europe on March 16, 2012.[citation needed] The Windows and OS X versions were announced at a later date, originally for April 18,[5] before the release date was pushed back to April 20, 2012.[6] A Nintendo Switch version was released in Europe and North America on May 14, 2019.[7] In the English version, the lead character is voiced by Miranda Raison.

Gameplay

Blades of Time features an ability called "Time Rewind", which lets the player turn back time and produces a clone that replicates the last actions the protagonist Ayumi made[3] and is vital in solving puzzles and fighting hordes of enemies.[citation needed] The game also features a "Dash" ability which can instantly close the distance between Ayumi and her enemies, as well as travel quickly using environmental features.[citation needed] As the game progresses, Ayumi can unlock more than 40 sets of skills, including attacks and combos, as well as the powerful Order and Chaos forms of magic.[citation needed] The game also offers both a co-op campaign and PvP features.[citation needed]

Plot

A dual sword-wielding treasure hunter named Ayumi (アユミ, Ayumi) finds herself stuck on a mysterious and dangerous island. While rich with bounty, the island is also caught in the throes of Chaos magic. Ayumi soon discovers that it is also the home of thousands of long-held secrets, including special powers and abilities that she can gain for herself. Using everything she can, she must find a way to defeat armies of menacing villains and a multitude of treacherous traps in order to break free of the possessed island's grasp.[citation needed]

Reception

The game received "mixed" reviews on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but received "generally unfavorable" reviews on the Nintendo Switch, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[21][22][23][20] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions a score of all four eights for a total of 32 out of 40.[11]

Blades of Time for Nintendo Switch took 3rd place in the list of 15 Worst Reviewed Games of 2019 according to IGN.[24]

References

  1. ^ Ishaan (February 21, 2012). "Ayumi Picks Up A British Accent For Blades of Time". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  2. ^ Sal Romano (May 2, 2019). "SWITCH Blades of Time remaster coming to Switch on May 14". Gematsu. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.,
  3. ^ a b Ishaan (June 9, 2011). "Konami's Blades of Time Has Neat "Time Rewind" Feature To Clone Yourself". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  4. ^ Belin, Justin (August 26, 2011). "Blades of Time Seeks to Keep the Good of X-Blades (Thong) and Do Away With the Bad (Everything Else)". Games Abyss. 2farmedia. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. ^ Usher, William (March 22, 2012). "Blades Of Time Coming To PC, Mac On April 18th". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  6. ^ "Blades of Time". Steam. Valve. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  7. ^ Comments: 1, rawmeatcowboy | (14 May 2019). "Classic Hack 'n' Slash Blades of Time Launches on Switch". GoNintendo. Retrieved 2019-05-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Sterling, Jim (March 22, 2012). "Review: Blades of Time (X360)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Carsillo, Ray (March 22, 2012). "EGM Review: Blades of Time (X360)". EGMNow. EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Donlan, Christian (March 16, 2012). "Blades of Time Review (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Romano, Sal (February 28, 2012). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1213". Gematsu. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Cork, Jeff (March 21, 2012). "Blades of Time (PS3, X360)". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  13. ^ Kuulei N. (March 28, 2012). "Blades of Time Review (X360)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 17, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  14. ^ a b GameSpot staff (March 16, 2012). "Blades of Time Review (PS3, X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  15. ^ GameTrailers (March 28, 2012). "Blades of Time - Review". YouTube. Alphabet Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  16. ^ Workman, Robert (March 29, 2012). "Blades of Time review (PS3)". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  17. ^ Osborn, Chuck (March 29, 2012). "Blades of Time review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Review: Blades of Time". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 58. Future plc. May 2012. p. 85.
  19. ^ Howard, Luciano (March 26, 2012). "Blades of Time Review (PS3)". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Blades of Time for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Blades of Time for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Blades of Time for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on April 21, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Blades of Time for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  24. ^ Adler, Matthew (2019-12-04). "The 15 Worst Reviewed Games of 2019". IGN. Retrieved 2022-08-03.