King’s Blade PS5 Review: Gritty Arcade Carnage with a Few Sharp Edges

King’s Blade, developed by solo indie creator Alexey Suslin, and published by SometimesYou is a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up that channels the spirit of arcade legends like the old D&D themed brawlers, mixed with the grim heroic-fantasy vibe of Conan the Barbarian.  

Players take control of a band of oddly paired heroes and heroines in service to the King, taking their fight all the way to the enemy capital while tearing through the mobs of minions along the beaten path. The game features 12 unique levels with unique enemies accessible on a map, each filled with enemy waves, environmental hazards, secrets, and boss fights. A local co-op experience of fantastical proportions for up to four players.

The premise is pure fantasy with a jointed paper animation aesthetic, complete with it's own story and heroes at the King's beckon call. After years of peace, the kingdom ran by King Robert draws the attention of the savage Barganian Empire. The King assembles his band of heroes and tasks them with making their way through enemy lines, crossing deadly lands, and eliminating the empire’s nefarious leader in order to end the encroaching invasion.  

The Gameplay ...

In King's Blade's campaign and arcade mode there are six playable heroes in total (four available from the start, two unlockable). They include a mix of fighters such as a powerful barbarian-style warrior, a wizard/mage who relies on spells and support, a ranger/huntress focused on agility and ranged options, and an unusual arachnid or beetle-like creature that charges into foes. Each with their own unique combo-centric move list that has further moves to unlock as you progress. Giving each character a distinct playstyle all their own. All beholden to the chosen difficulty level of which there are several.

In-game unlockables further expand the available roster with extra additions, including a tanky fighter and a spectral/kingly presence. Each character in said roster having unique performative stats or attributes involving power, vitality, speed as well as combo based movesets, special attacks, throws, and character specific playstyles that encourage experimenting with different approaches and team compositions in co-op.

Core gameplay is your standard side-scrolling brawler experience. You move the hero or heroine left to right, clear enemy groups, pick up environmental weapons, use spells or specials, and tackle bosses. Eating found food items when health is depleted. Combat therein encourages a careful spacing approach, and positioning on the vertical lane based plane. Attention to utilized combos, dodges/blocks, and resource management additionally trump the pure button-mashing of more classic beat 'em ups. Special attacks, ultimates, power-ups, and occasional sections like platforms, or beast-riding add variety to the enemy encounters.  

Key features include deep-enough combat systems with character-specific tools, secrets and unlocks for replayability as well as adjustable difficulty, and strong local 4-player co-op. Stages are decently sized, themselves, with evolving enemy types, mini-bosses, and thematic shifts, though the overall loop remains familiar in regards to arcade-style progression.

The Presentation ...

Visually, King’s Blade pops onscreen with a distinctive and confident dark-fantasy paper-crafted or hand drawn art style that harbors bleak landscapes, ruined fortresses, torchlit interiors, and grotesque, personality-filled enemies. Animations and foreground details add flair, and the stages shift themes for added intrigue. The presentation feels artistically drawn yet polished for a budget indie title of this caliber.  

The soundtrack mixes classic gaming elements with dark ambient tones and period instrumentals that fit the brutally unforgiving and relentless atmosphere, heightening tension during brawls. Sound effects deliver satisfying impact on hits, though they can grow repetitive over time.

The Verdict ...

King’s Blade is playable to a fault, but delivers somewhat satisfying, nostalgic arcade brawling with enough modern touches to keep it engaging, especially in multiplayer. It captures the thrill of clearing hordes and overcoming tough stages without needing dozens of hours of commitment. Though cheap hits from mobs, and the occasional cheap death by environmental hazard keeps it from perfection.

It definitely has it's own share of noticeable flaws. Animation delays, for example, can make timing feel slightly off in the heat of combat, and certain environmental backgrounds blend poorly together. This visual confusion sometimes makes hazards hard to read, leading to unnecessary pitfall damage and frustrating deaths that break the flow. Sparse checkpoints in longer stages amplify irritation on tougher difficulties.  

Overall, it’s a decent classics tribute, a budget-friendly indie beat ’em up that succeeds as a loving homage to the OG brawlers of yesteryear. It’s best suited for fans of classic arcade side-scrollers who enjoy local co-op sessions, dark fantasy aesthetics, and skill-based combat that rewards practice over pure button-mashing. Solo players looking for a quick, challenging run or groups wanting couch chaos will get the most out of it. Those seeking deep narrative, extensive quality-of-life features, or ultra-polished modern design may find the rough edges more noticeable.