Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled Review
13-Jan-2023
When Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled was announced, noone was really sure what to expect – the developers were fairly unknown (and actually a recently started company), and the game didn't seem to feature anything in particular that made it stand out from the rest of the RPG titles for the Nintendo DS.
However, after it was released, gamers quickly realized that this was a small gem waiting to be discovered by the gaming community – a game packed full of innovative ideas for the RPG genre, and a captivating storyline to go with it all.
Gameplay
The game can be played by either using the NDS's touchscreen functionality, or playing with the physical buttons entirely – you can also choose a combination of both. It's played from a top-down perspective, characteristic for most RPGs on the NDS, and features the traditional elements of exploration, NPC interaction, collecting items and upgrading your character. The combat is performed in a turn-based format, however you'll find it to be much more interesting and varied than what most other RPGs offer you – it has a stronger element of thinking to it, and your actions should be really carefully weighed.
There's a large world with various locations for you to visit, and apart from moving around on foot you can also use the different kinds of vehicles you'll find at certain points. There are plenty of characters for you to talk to, and the dialog is very well-written and accompanies the already captivating story nicely. You can also build a party of several other characters, and they have all been designed almost perfectly in terms of balance and gameplay, as they each offer something different to your party.
Graphics and System Requirements
BS:BOTE looks very cute, featuring the classic pixel art graphics for NDS RPG titles. The characters, despite the small resolution, are very easy to identify and each has been drawn in an entirely unique way, featuring different character traits. The environments are varied and well-drawn, with some small exceptions on some of the snow textures (which seemed rather poorly-detailed compared to the quality of the rest of the assets).
The game utilizes the NDS's screen space very well, with the bottom screen being used for the actual gameplay interaction, and the top showing various pieces of useful information related to your current status. You should keep an eye out on that top section, as it sometimes provides important details that you need to adhere to in order to progress.
Other
The game sadly has a few bugs which can prove to be highly irritating – some of them can even cause your savegames to become corrupted, but those need some very specific circumstances in order to occur and are generally considered safe.
Conclusion
BS:BOTE is an overall enjoyable experience, with some minor notes on the level of polish and the programming aspects – it should've been slightly more extensively tested.
- Rise of Prussia Review
24-Sep-2022
Rise of Prussia is the type of game that attracts its own crowd. You generally don't hear much talk about the slower turn-based strategy games, as their fanbase is simply limited to a specific mindset. That doesn't stop this genre from having a steady following though, and fans of grand turn-based str...
- Skate 3 Review
12-Aug-2022
The skating genre in video games has generally been dominated by two franchises – the Tony Hawk series, and Skate. While Tony Hawk's line has been seeing more and more additions since it was started a while back, Skate hasn't been that much actively developed – only a handful of games have come out so...
- Section 8 Review
25-Aug-2022
Section 8 comes out as an odd game right from its title – some of you may already know the meaning behind the term; it's a reference to a regulation in the US Army related to discharging personnel for mental issues – and this relates quite well to the game's characters, which are presented in an almos...
- Blur Review
2-Jan-2023
Arcade racers are a special kind of genre that has always enjoyed a lot of popularity – with that in mind, it's very strange that the genre has been so dormant lately, with no real notable titles coming out. Even the Need for Speed series, which were the icon of that genre for most people, started mov...
- Dark Void Review
9-Dec-2022
Dark Void is a third-person shooter published by the hugely famous Capcom and developed by the not so well-known Airtight Games. The game borrows its plot elements from various places in popular culture, and even though it didn't sell so well, players and critics alike still acknowledged it for the in...
- Katamari Forever Review
31-Oct-2022
The Katamari series is certainly not for everyone – the game is oriented towards the more casual crowd, players who're looking for games that don't focus so much on creating a deep gameplay, while instead offering a more simplified experience that can still provide challenge and competition against ot...
- Cursed Mountain Review
20-Dec-2022
In Cursed Mountain, you'll get a tasty dose of survival horror mixed with adventure and exploration, with just a perfect balance of the two to keep the game entertaining for long enough. And unlike most other titles that have the word “horror” simply slapped underneath their names, Cursed Mountain foc...
- Scribblenauts Review
31-Aug-2022
Underneath an exterior of what initially seems to be a rather childish game, lies a true gem that many players have adopted as their favorite lunch break title. Scribblenauts is based on a truly unique premise, but it's also been executed very professionally – the game feels smooth, varied, and last b...
- Fat Princess Review
26-Nov-2022
Fat Princess is one of the rare examples of how you can have a good teamplay-based game on the PS3 that doesn't involve modern guns or soldiers. Even though it didn't turn out to be such a good seller, it still holds some great qualities that can make it worth your while and definitely a game to keep ...
- Hearts of Iron 3 Review
7-Nov-2022
The recent influx of grand strategy games has been welcomed by fans of the genre in the gaming community, as lately there haven't been many worthwhile titles coming out in this corner of the gaming industry. If you're a fan of this type of strategy games, Hearts of Iron 3 may be a title you're already...
- Beaterator Review
21-Jan-2023
Mobile platforms like the PSP make the perfect ground for experimentation in new genres and gameplay styles. Music mixer games are gaining more and more popularity, and they're becoming a lot more sophisticated than what we saw in the first products of this genre. Beaterator, one of the latest games o...
- Closed Beta Test for SD Gundam Ca...
28-Dec-2022
OGPlanet, an innovative provider of multiplayer online games, announced the first closed beta test for SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, the popular multiplayer third-person shooter game. The beta test will run from November 2nd through the 6th, and OGPlanet is partnering with several prominent websit...
- Monster Hunter Tri Review
15-Oct-2022
The Monster Hunter series has enjoyed moderate success worldwide, which is weak compared to how the game is received in Japan, where it's a huge hit. The lack of its international popularity may have prevented you from hearing of this franchise, and of the recently released third installment in it. Th...
- TibiaME Mobile MMORPG Now Availab...
22-Jul-2022
TibiaME continues its path across platforms. Originally released in 2003 for Symbian phones only, the first MMORPG subsequently conquered all other platforms which crossed its path. Just recently, CipSoft has released the eagerly awaited Android client for its critically acclaimed mobile MMORPG TibiaM...
- Mini Ninjas Review
23-Oct-2022
In this age where every new game looks like a rehash of the one before it, it's always refreshing to see developers being brave and stepping in a different direction for a change. Mini Ninjas instantly grabs your attention even with its title, and as soon as you've seen just a few screenshots of it, y...
- WindSlayer 2: Free Closed Beta Ke...
6-Jul-2022
Gamers looking for their next online fantasy adventure can join the closed beta test (CBT) for WindSlayer 2,Ignited Games' 2D side-scrolling, multi-player, online role-playing game (RPG), which is now live. Players interested in experiencing WindSlayer 2′s fast-paced action can register for a beta key...