Blade Strangers
A crossover fighter uniting indie game characters.
Blade Strangers is a 2D crossover fighting game developed by Studio Saizensen and published by Nicalis. It was released on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows via Steam in August 2018, with a Japanese arcade release. The game features one-on-one combat between characters from various independent video game franchises.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Studio Saizensen
- Publisher
- Nicalis (WW); Pikii (JP)
- Composer
- Ridiculon
- Platforms
- Arcade
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- August 30, 2018 (JP)
- August 28, 2018 (NA)
- August 28, 2018 (EU)
- Genre
- Fighting
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Producer
- Tyrone Rodriguez
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Blade Strangers is a 2D fighting game where two characters fight until one runs out of health. Instead of complicated joystick motions, players use a single direction plus one or more of four attack buttons to pull off moves, much like in Super Smash Bros. A super meter fills up when a character deals or takes damage, letting them boost special moves or unleash a powerful super attack. Once per round, when a fighter's health gets low enough, they can enter a brief "Heat Up!" state that speeds up their attacks and stops opponents from interrupting them. The game has a story mode where characters chat as they climb a tournament ladder, plus arcade, survival, training, and challenge modes. It also supports local and online multiplayer. At launch, the roster had 12 characters from six different indie game series, mostly from Studio Saizensen and Nicalis, along with two original fighters, making 14 total. A free update on the first anniversary added three more, bringing the count to 17. Every character comes with a stage from their home game.
Plot
In Blade Strangers, every universe is a simulation generated by an interdimensional network of servers, overseen by the goddess Exiva and her Motes, sentient computers protected by champions called Blade Strangers. A cybernetic being named Lina appears, consuming server data and defeating all Blade Strangers. To protect the universe, the Motes summon heroes from untouched worlds, altering their memories to make them believe they are in a fighting tournament. The winner becomes the new Blade Stranger, hoping to awaken their power and defeat Lina.
Development
Blade Strangers was announced on June 12, 2017, during E3 2017, with new characters revealed gradually before release. Initially developed independently by Studio Saizensen, it primarily featured characters from their previous games. When Nicalis became publisher, they suggested additional characters and worked with rights holders to include them. Character sprites were created by designing 3D models, rendering animation frames, rasterizing them, and cleaning up by 2D artists. Director Toshinobu Kondo noted the team struggled with balance due to weapon advantages. Simplified inputs aimed to make the game more accessible and reduce input lag in online battles. The soundtrack was composed and performed by American rock band Ridiculon, with additional vocals by Siobhan Magnus. A free first-anniversary update improved graphics, increased gameplay speed, rebalanced the roster, and added three characters.
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