The words ‘mobile game’ almost always come with unwelcome connotations when they’re ported over to another platform. For us Nintendo Switch owners, we’ve seen plenty of poorly executed optimisations pop up on the eShop, so we’re naturally a little hesitant whenever another free-to-play ‘hit’ gets the console treatment. We’ve experienced the highs of Arena of Valor, but we’ve also endured the lows of Modern Combat Blackout and Bullet Battle: Evolution. So which camp does the Korean-made Blade II - The Return of Evil fall into?
For a start, hats off to the developer for bringing a top-down action RPG to a platform that already hosts the best example the dungeon crawler genre has ever witnessed. Long in the tooth Diablo III: Eternal Collection may be, but it’s still a slick and engrossing effort that brings monster slaying and gluttonous loot drops to Ninty’s hybrid hardware. So, of course, it's almost a given that Blade II isn’t going to be as good as Blizzard’s seminal classic. But is it good enough to justify a silver medal? And does the microtransaction-driven nature of its previous form cast an even longer shadow?
Well, for a start, developer ActionSquare has opted to remove all microtransactions – which is a welcome change considering Blade II comes with a £20 asking price. Too many games these days opt to charge an asking price and slot in microtransactions, but in an attempt to give the game a much better chance of success both on console and in the West, the studio clearly wants to avoid the negative backlash that often comes with such a decision (*cough* NBA 2K19 *cough*).
What’s left is a highly polished action RPG that does its best to marry cinematic cutscenes with over-the-top combos and myriad, trope-filled fantasy settings. Rather than offering you access to a larger and more open dungeon, each level is instead presented as a linear path that leads to a final battle with a boss battle. Sometimes you’ll be fighting across the cobblestone streets and wooden rooftops of a Bloodborne-aping town, or battling through lava-filled canyons, but you’re always along a predetermined corridor like a blade-swinging rat in a maze. This is, after all, a title with mobile ancestry, but it’s odd that a game that’s aiming for triple-A production values is often more restrictive than, say, Victor Vran: Overkill Edition.
Combat manages to walk the line between button-bashing and actual tactical inputs, which makes it palatable to both less experienced players looking to smash a werewolf in the face with your fists, and those hoping to exact well-timed combos. There are four heroes to choose from – the Gladiator, Assassin, Wizard and Fighter – with each one possessing three unique special moves and a slew of unique moves to combo together. The Assassin, for instance, can call up a crowd-clearing sea of chain blades, which can make all the difference when you’re facing off against a super-tough stage boss in the latter acts.
As you level up, you’ll unlock new moves in the skill tree, which you can purchase with gold dropped by fallen enemies. With no transactions in this version of the game, the drop rates for gold are a lot higher, as is the rarity of gear you’ll earn for completing missions. As a nice touch, you’ll keep the XP earned in a level when you die and have to return to the start. It’s a consolation prize for sure, but one that won't punish less combo savvy players.
Most levels last for around two-to-three minutes each, which is considerably less than we’re used to with the likes of Diablo III. However, load times are very fast so even if you’re not looking for a quick dose of action on a commute, it doesn’t take long to string missions together. The problem is, stages are reused a little too often, so even though there are seven acts (each with 10 missions per act), you’ll fight through the same street and end up in the same town square, even if the final boss you’re fighting is a little different. Considering how strong the character animations are – and how strong the overall presentation is – something had to give on a mobile budget, and this was clearly it.
Performance-wise, Blade II runs really well. There’s very little blurring, screen-tearing or general slowdown, mainly because the game was designed with less powerful chipsets in mind. There are some low-res textures here and there, and they’re more obvious when playing in docked mode, but even then they’re never enough to detract from the smoothness of the overall, combo-chaining experience.
Conclusion
While there are a fair few top-down dungeon crawlers and action RPGs on Switch today, there’s always room for more – especially when they fly in the face of mobile gaming’s unpredictable quality levels. And while Blade II's aesthetic is nothing new – in fact, we’d say Bloodborne and The Witcher III are really having their style cramped – the quality of its presentation and performance on Switch really makes up for it. Its slick and fast combat has plenty of depth to offer, but it’s let down by samey and uncreative level designs that repeat themselves far too often.
Comments 38
Stick to Victor Vran or Diablo 3 if you are wanting some high quality top down loot games on the go.
Sounds like a fun game. What is the frame rate? Is it targeting 30fps or 60fps? Is it single player only? I'm curious to try this one out.
So no Wesley Snipes or Kris Kristoffersen then?
Pass.
Sounds like it's worth playing, but not at the current asking price. It's going on the list.
@Joker13z
Don’t forget the upcoming Torchlight 2.
This looks like a decent game, obviously nowhere near as packed with content as the games it’s being compared to, but $20 is a bit steep for a mobile port.
I’d have to try a demo before I bite at that price point.
I think I wait for Minecraft Dungeons for my next Diablo type game. This does look good at a discount.
Correctly chosen thumbnail.
Has Diablo 3 even gone on sale. I'd buy but I want a discount this late in the game
@Kang81 I keep forgetting that's actually coming. If so then yes, Torchlight 2 rocks.
Yeah, the thumbnail made me click on the article, what of it?
@Kang81 - This needs more love.
Yea it's gone on sell tons of times @sixrings usually like 50% off. You can also find a decent deal on it physically if you look around. It's $37 on Amazon U.S
@60frames-please You remain impressively true to your namesake.
@JohnQuixote Yeah, it's usually what I'm most curious to know about releases.
It appears to be stuck at a choppy 30fps. Bummer, could've been interesting. I know it isn't easy to program games, but with Diablo out there with 4 player coop at 60fps it's hard to want to play this.
As another sort of top down mobile to Switch game I'd recommend Implosion. It looks really nice at 60fps and is fun to play.
Glad for the review. I couldnt even tell what type of gameplay it has from the useless e-shop images.
I had fun with diablo and torchlight in the olden days, but this genre no longer interest me.
The framerate is not too stable but the gameplay is good fun.
I'd try it after a drastic price drop. Mobile/Android games shouldn't cost that much.
Will add to the list. But I'm waiting on torchlight 2.
@60frames-please Implosion is good fun. Grabbed it on sale awhile back. Nice to see someone give it a shoutout.
Looks like every other The Free Generic mobile stuff. At least on Mobile you can try it for free
"studio clearly wants to avoid the negative backlash that often comes with such a decision (cough NBA 2K19 cough)"
Best Selling games in USA:
All Platforms 12 Months Ended May 2019
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
3. NBA 2K19
4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
5. Madden NFL 19
Am interested in this one, I own diablo 3 but the fact that Iv been playing it since the PC release in 2012 makes me want to try any new slash and hack rpg the switch is offering.
@Yasarx - May I recommend (been mentioned a few times in this thread too) Torchlight? It's from the original creators of the Diablo franchise, so there is a lot to love from it if you were a Fan of Diablo 2.
Downloaded my copy day 1 but no time to dive into it yet. Still wondering around the massive post game in Dragon's Dogma.
@Kang81 yeah its a port free to play mobile game not available in the U.S. just pay a few less bucks and get 9 parchments or go all in and get Diablo 3.
Is marvel ultimate alliance going to be aeasier to play than diablo
Not a great header image choice in my opinion. How many screenshots were included in the press pack NintendoLife? 6? 12?
Pick the one that best represents the game, not a developers wet dream.
Actually, there's a rather good reason for me to get this game over "Diablo III." Diablo is rated M, while this is rated T. I refuse to play M rated games.
Anyway, I'm confused about the differences between this review and the only other one available right now on Digitally Downloaded. That review claims the game is trash.
While some of his complaints are silly (a game like this doesn't need longer levels or a thrilling narrative, and replaying levels for level achievements is perfectly acceptable game design to lengthen a game's appeal), he also rants on the game's combat system and performance. You claim that it has fun and balanced combat and good performance, while he claims the combat is broken and unbalanced (such as overly weak standard attacks, special attacks that don't differ enough from each other, and the block/counterattack mechanic being too unreliable) with rather poor performance and animation. Who is closer to the truth? I guess I'll have to wait for some more reviews to come in.
@Paraka Thanks for the recommendation, i played Torchlight 1 and 2 and if it is coming to switch that will be really nice.
Can you use one handed sword and shield combination?
So this isn't based on the movies?
@RadioHedgeFund I was just thinking the same thing.
@60frames-please Implosion is a port of a mobile game. Are you being serious right now, or is your username some gimmick joke about the state of frames per second in the video game industry and gaming in general?
@Herman187 My user name is a joke and serious. I think it's kind of funny. I also really like 60fps smoothness. I don't like fighting or arguing with people, especially online. So I try to joke about it, but I really do strongly prefer 60fps graphics no matter what compromises have to be made to get to that level of smoothness.
@Kang81 Torchlight 2 was the reason I stopped playing Diablo 3 a few months after I launched. Torchlight was way more fun and having the ability to send your pet to town to sell items or buy potions was a game changer.
@Xombie13
I forgot about that, but even though I own it on PC, I barely played it. M&K just kills my wrists, so I never really played on PC. Now I don’t even own a PC anymore as I can do everything I need on my smartphone or tablet. I was also tired of having my PC’s die after a few years of moderate use.
I feel Diablo style games are best with a controller, and I was always bummed Torchlight 2 never made it to consoles. Especially considering how well Torchlight 1 worked on the Xbox 360.
Torchlight 2 on Switch will be a day one purchase for me. The only downside is the lack of mods.
@Kang81 I would use an Xbox 360 controller with a dongle and map the keys to the buttons, because I have the same problem with wrist pain.
I just downloaded this game today and it is good. Fighting likens and other underworldly demons is very nice. Very nice...hi 5!
Tap here to load 38 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...