Hardcore fighting game Die By the Blade Gets a Release Date
This 1v1 fighting game removes health bars and enables one-hit kills.
Live by the blade, fight by the blade—but try not to die by the blade. Although players waited a while for a new hardcore fighting game to come around, Die by the Blade looks to fill that space. Developed by Toko Midori Games, Triple Hill Interactive, Grindstone and published by Kwalee, this fighting game takes away the health bars. It then puts players right into the shoes of a samurai swordsman in a futuristic samurai-punk world. With development nearly complete, the team announced it will launch on November 3.
The release date announcement comes accompanied by a new trailer, fleshing out what to players should expect from Die by the Blade. The game has no health bars or avenues to let one’s guard down. It’s a 1v1 fighting game between you, and an opponent. It also offers no special power-ups or environmental theatrics. In this hostile world, players face off against a single foe.
While each character fights the same, each weapon and combat style is very different form the next. A two-handed katana may be swift, quick, but not as powerful, while the powerful nodachi sacrifices speed for raw, brutal power. The key to survival, and victory is to masters the art of defense and parrying, as Die by the Blade features one-hit kills.
Die by the Blade features 15 different arenas to fight in form neon-lit future cities to calm temples and forests. Players can use a practice mode to hone their skills, a Tournament Mode, or go head-to-head with the best in the world in online Ranked Matches . Die by the Blade also features a lengthy ingle-player campaign, exploring the world and character of the game.
PAX East presentation reveals tough-as-nails demo!
Die by the Blade was at PAX EAST 2022 in Boston this year. If I come away with one thing to say, it’s this: It’s tough! The game certainly lives up to tis description, being a title solely focused on dodge, parry, and defense, all to the tune of different combat and weapon styles.
Fighting against a member of the development team made the game a rewarding challenge. Overall, the game is amazing, between the controls, visuals, and overall entertaining aspects of the fighting. It will be interesting to explore these styles, and the backgrounds of the characters inhabiting this world that infuses traditional samurai storytelling with a futuristic dystopia. Interestingly, the government of Slovakia partially funded the game through the Slovak Arts Council.
Die by the Blade launches on Saturday, November 3, 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and PlayStation 4/5. Die By the Blade can be wishlisted now on Steam.
