Die by the Blade, the preview of Bushido Blade's spiritual sequel
Die by the Blade
Who among you remembers Bushido Blade? The atypical fighting game published by Square Soft arrived on PlayStation in the late nineties is certainly not particularly well-known among the youngest, but many fans will not have forgotten the uniqueness of this game. The stabbing combat system, lack of a life bar, and open combat arenas were among the most interesting features of the series.If even today you still want a new Bushido Blade, then you will be happy to know that the Triple Hill Interactive team is working on what is in effect a spiritual sequel: Die by the Blade, here the preview.
Choose your blade
Die by the Blade: just one shot Die by the Blade is in fact a one-on-one fighting game in which various body weapons are used to melee and try to eliminate the opponent with a single precise blow. The emphasis of the clashes is on the position of the blade, the parries, the counterattacks and the feints. Everything is related to the type of weapon equipped, which determines the moves available to us, as well as our strengths and weaknesses.Inside Die by the Blade we will have the opportunity to play using for example the classic Katana, a medium length balanced weapon, but also with the Nodachi, a long heavy sword. However, there are different weapons, such as the Naginata, or a kind of bamboo spear with a blade attached to the end: its strong point is the attack distance, but the weight slows down the movements. Then we have the Wakizashi - two short daggers perfect for quick close range combat -, the Jari - a lighter spear than the Naginata but weak in close combat -, and the Chokuto - a short sword without guard lighter and faster than the classic Katana .
The game essentially offers various types of approach to combat, which are not related to warriors. Die by the Blade, in fact, will offer ten characters who will have their own background and their own style, but will not impose any limits in terms of equipment. Each character will be able to use any weapon and will act more as an avatar giving "combat class". In addition, there will be multiple customization options, perfect for making our avatar fit our taste.
Katana in hand
Speaking more precisely about the gameplay, we know that Die by the Blade will fit us in in 3D arenas which, similarly to Bushido Blade, will include raised areas on which to hoist. We can therefore expect varied combat arenas that could give rise to tactical as well as technical battles.Die by the Blade relies heavily on the use of blade positions. The character can choose between four postures, each of which affects the speed and power of the attack. The opponent's task is to avoid the blow by a long dodge, a small movement or by parrying the blow. To parry you must not only press the dedicated button with the right timing, but also have your blade in the same position as the opponent.
To counter the opponents' saves, however, there are various methods. First of all, it is possible to perform a feint: during the first attack phase, if you press the block key, you cancel the movement and you can then switch to a different posture and attack again. In addition, it is possible to perform combos with up to three hits, so as to combine multiple movements and postures and attack the enemy in a more varied way.
As already mentioned, Die by the Blade does not offer a life bar to clear, but simulates a realistic combat in which a single hit to a vital area causes the character to die. Clearly, not every blow can be definitive and, in fact, it is possible to injure the opponent. An injured player will have to continue the fight with some penalties, such as slowed movements. This is one of the most important points, in our opinion, of the combat system: wearing down the enemy with non-fatal blows could be a winning tactic, but it is clear that it is important that a wound does not affect our chances of victory. Basically, even if injured, a character must be able to fight with all his moves, otherwise the player would come out of the fight only frustrated: the developers have in fact confirmed that they are working on the balance of this system.
The team he also explained that we will be able to decide the type of fights we want to face by changing the number of lives available. In fact, death comes in an instant and by setting up clashes with a maximum of three lives, according to the developers, it is possible to be defeated (or win) even just for a lucky movement. If you opt instead for five, six or seven lives, the battle becomes slower and the skill of the single will be fundamental.
In terms of modes, there will be a way to play in both single player and multiplayer, both local and online (matchmaking and direct invitation to a friend). There will obviously be a Training mode, as well as a Tournament mode to compete against multiple opponents and prove that you are the best of all. Similarly, there will be an Online Ranking mode with your position in the ranking.
Japanese Techpunk
By the Blade arenas will mix nature and modern urban environments Based on what we've got to know see so far, Die by the Blade seems interesting not only from a playful point of view, but also from a stylistic point of view. The world created by Triple Hill Interactive is a mix of techpunk and Japanese culture, especially that of the Samurai. We can therefore expect characters who mix classic-flavored garments with more modern garments. For example, we will have Krasnaya, a warrior with afro hair and flashy earrings who wears a combat tunic over a shirt and tie, but also Ronin, the "drunken master", who wears a tank top as well as pieces of classic samurai armor. >The arenas will also offer various types of styles. There will be verdant woods, combat dojos, narrow streets with an ancient flavor, which will immerse us in Japanese culture, but also more punk environments such as misty alleys illuminated by neon.
From the musical point of view, Die by the Blade will be able to count on Ari Pulkkinen, who has dealt with titles such as Nex Machina, Resogun, Alienation, Super Stardust HD and the Trine series. Pulkkinen has won various awards and is a talented composer: the soundtrack is therefore in good hands.
Die by the Blade seems to be exactly what it promises: a spiritual sequel to Bushido Blade, but with its own graphic style which nicely mixes classic Japan with modern techpunk. The variety of weapons, coupled with the posture system that changes the type of attack depending on the position, promises variety, although we have yet to see each type of blade in depth. What matters most, however, is that each game system is perfectly balanced, otherwise the competitive community would focus on a single weapon and a single type of tactic, trivializing the experience. We are certainly intrigued by the work of Triple Hill Interactive: we hope to be able to try it as soon as possible.
