X-Blades review

Neither x-cellence nor x-crement x-ist in x-cess in this hack-and-slasher

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Fast-paced hack-and-slash action

  • +

    Wide variety of spells and attacks

  • +

    Very solid visual presentation

Cons

  • -

    Repetitive missions and environments

  • -

    Story is neither prominent nor interesting

  • -

    Ayumi's grating dialogue and demeanor

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Gunswords! Magic! Constant near-nudity! With just a few short exclamations, you have the overarching concept of X-Blades. It’s most easily described as "Devil May Cry ultra-lite: Thong Edition," but perhaps best summarized as a wholly competent hack-and-slash action title that never really makes a lasting impact – quite a feat, considering main character Ayumi spends the entire game in her butt-flossing underwear.

X-Blades sports a litany of combat options, though at its core, the "swords and firearms" approach reminds us significantly of the aforementioned action franchise, Devil May Cry. In this case, the two styles are combined via treasure-hunter Ayumi's gunblades (Final Fantasy VIII, anyone?), though in execution the melee and ranged attacks are about as distinct as they'd be with separate weapons.

Additional combos and firing options are unlocked through the adventure and found artifacts, though a significant portion of your arsenal is held within the diverse set of magic spells. Simple projectile attacks and larger-scale area assaults are available via the push of a button (using a filled-up rage meter), with other special moves and weapon-infusing elemental powers also available for purchase via collected "souls."

In a nice touch, you can use souls to purchase mundane-yet-useful things like extra health as well as flashier attacks. Ayumi can even transform into light and dark versions of herself later in the game, though neither form proves to be particularly essential.

More info

GenreAction
DescriptionX-Blade's guns-and-swords approach will remind many of Devil May Cry with an anime-stylized fantasy setting and magic spells, but repetitive missions and uninteresting characters render it a relatively tame experience.
Platform"PS3","Xbox 360","PC"
US censor rating"Mature","Mature","Mature"
UK censor rating"Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending"
Alternative names"X Blades","XBlades"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Andrew Hayward
Freelance writer for GamesRadar and several other gaming and tech publications, including Official Xbox Magazine, Nintendo Power, Mac|Life, @Gamer, and PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Visit my work blog at http://andrewhayward.org.