Bloodless [Review]

In Bloodless, players follow the journey of Tomoe, a Ronan returning home to find it overrun by ninja. The unique gameplay and the story make this game an instant favorite of mine. The graphics are stunning and set this game apart from all other pixel games released this year. Combat in the game involves parrying and dodging, which requires patience. Our character, Tomoe, does not kill but employs nonlethal combat, not a katana. This pits an unarmed warrior against multiple armed opponents. At times, the parry system seemed to fail. In other games, such as Ghost of Tsushima, I have no issues with the parry system. All game mechanics are different, so this could be a skill or timing issue for me. This game provides a wonderful demonstration of how art and gaming can converge through expertly crafted pixel work, color, and musical scoring. The story is engaging and offers a condensed version of Ghost of Tsushima. This game makes you feel empowered and very good about yourself while playing. It's a shame that its dramatically overlooked.