Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled

 DS
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 24
  3. Negative: 5 out of 24
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  1. Nintendo Power
    50
    Random encounters happen too often, take too long, and involve too much sitting and waiting for the active-time gauge to fill up. [June 2009, p.90]
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  2. Play Magazine
    80
    Playing an old-school RPG is great with dual screens and Archcraft have seen to every last detail. The dialogue is first rate (talk to everybody; the maids, farmers…), the systems easy to assimilate, and the visuals are vibrant and painstakingly detailed. Great BGM too.
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  3. Cheat Code Central
    68
    There’s a lot of game here, constructed in a way that may prove interesting to a select few. The pacing, however, is slow and mired further by endless random encounters.
  5. Gaming Age
    42
    I don't feel like it's portable friendly, and while I'd give Chrono Trigger a pass on that because it's a port, Black Sigil has always been in development as a handheld game of some kind, but the end result doesn't feel like it.
  6. GameSpot
    65
    While Black Sigil comes with all the basic trappings of a traditional RPG, it’s too frustrating and unoriginal to stand out.
  7. Destructoid
    30
    RPGs are going to have to do a lot more these days than simply say "Look at how old school I am" in order to impress. This game has not done that. It's not really done anything well at all.
  8. RPG Fan
    80
    This is definitely not a game for the impatient or easily frustrated, and if you can look at the game's foibles as endearing "retro-chic" quirks, then there is joy to be found in Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled.
  9. The A.V. Club
    50
    A title for the hardcore and masochistic, Black Sigil is most likely to discourage casual players.
  10. Gamers' Temple
    54
    If for no other reason, Black Sigil is worth a look if you were a huge 16-bit RPG fan and spend as much time reminiscing about the gameplay over graphics simpler times as I do.
  11. GamesRadar+
    70
    It's not a perfect game, but it has a definite charm, and fans of the SNES era RPGs will probably find a lot to like.
  12. GameZone
    73
    It does a lot of things right and tells a pretty good story, and if you’ve been a genre fan since the early 90s then it’ll definitely bring back great memories. Still, Black Sigil is frustrating in many ways, and if you aren’t familiar with the games it takes inspiration from then you probably won’t find much to enjoy here.
  13. Kombo
    60
    There are going to be gamers that will devour this game and relish how this brand new adventure feels like a ported title from the 16-bit era and some more discerning RPG gamers will lament the fact that some polish and fine tuning weren't completed in time for the final product.
  14. IGN
    55
    This is no classic of yesteryear, no matter how hard it's trying to masquerade as one. And it's a game that certainly will not go on to be well remembered itself, 10 or 15 years from now.
  15. RPGamer
    50
    Black Sigil's unpleasant combat is truly a shame, because just about everything else in the game successfully emulates the feeling of playing a great lost Super Nintendo RPG.
  16. Nintendo Gamer
    45
    This is a love letter to 16-bit RPGs, albeit written in really messy handwriting. [Sept 2009, p.73]
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  17. GamingTrend
    92
    This is a rock solid, genuinely excellent first effort by this developer. It's a title I intend to continue playing for the foreseeable future, and one I definitely recommend to those willing to give it a shot.
  18. Game Revolution
    33
    It's just so not remarkable, so bland, so... not interesting... you get what I'm saying. Slow and lame, that's what I'm saying.
  19. Game Chronicles
    90
    Black Sigil features many of the staples that make a good RPG and I really enjoyed it. The high encounter rate and top screen graphics are about the only things that I didn’t like.
  20. Pocket Gamer UK
    60
    A new made role-player with a strong retro theme, Black Sigil provides plenty of game but doesn't mark out any new territory.
  21. Nintendojo
    90
    It's apparent that the team who made this put a great deal of love into it. Where other other companies seem content to port classics with a few overhauls, here's an entirely new game that feels like a classic. Now that's refreshing.
  22. Edge Magazine
    50
    Black Sigil's big-picture rewards are too fleeting and familiar to justify the considerable effort. [Sept 2009, p.101]
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  23. Worth Playing
    70
    Fans of SNES-era RPGs will definitely appreciate the presentation and return of the ATB/Dual-Tech system found in Chrono Trigger. The frequency of random battles, however, really decreases one's enjoyment of the game and changes it into an endurance run of random battles.
  24. GameShark
    58
    While I couldn't recommend this game to anyone not looking for a slow-paced grindfest, Black Sigil has a few redeeming aspects if you're able to stomach its encounter rate.
  25. Gamer Limit
    25
    Black Sigil is a game made to deliberately give an old school experience. However, that experience is mired in tedium, never-ending combat, a story which is both mediocre and convoluted, and several huge glitches.

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
41
#41 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 5 out of 20
  1. AlexH.
    Oct 14, 2009
    3
    I love old-school RPGs and this is NOT one of them despite what reviewers say. The random encounter rate is far too high to enjoy this game I love old-school RPGs and this is NOT one of them despite what reviewers say. The random encounter rate is far too high to enjoy this game at all, where you literally take 2 steps between each fight. The worst part is the exp rewards for fighting are so low, they are just a waste of time. Coupled with the maze-like dungeons, it seems all this game wants to do is waste your time rather than try to provide a challenge or a good story. It is a shame because this game COULD have been a good old-school RPG and has excellent graphics that are reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. I would not recommend this game for anybody, however, and I am frankly appalled it ever even got made.… Full Review »
  2. MikeC
    Jun 23, 2009
    8
    This game gets almost everything right. Beautiful 16-bit art and effects. Catchy music. I story that, so far, doesn't seem too cliched. This game gets almost everything right. Beautiful 16-bit art and effects. Catchy music. I story that, so far, doesn't seem too cliched. The only problem is the developer must have spent the entire time in test mode, because the encounter rate is WAY too high. This game obviously too some inspiration from Chrono Trigger, and in my opinion, should have just been a full copy. Allowing the player to choose their encounters is a feature that makes every RPG more fun. Random battles only existed in the 8/16-bit era because it was often too processor intensive to show the enemies on screen. As is, you end up fighting the same 3-4 canned encounters 30+ times per dungeon. At it's worse, by the time the screen has fully faded in from the battle, it'll already be fading out to a new random battle. I pre-ordered the game based off the trailers. I'm glad I got it so this type of game can be supported, but I don't consider 2 hours of random battles for 10 minutes of dialogue a fair trade off.… Full Review »
  3. ArdaJ.
    Jun 19, 2009
    9
    Prior to the game's release, I read a lot about Black Sigil. I've been a big fan of these types of games since the late 80's Prior to the game's release, I read a lot about Black Sigil. I've been a big fan of these types of games since the late 80's when I spent countless hours playing Zelda. Even though I don't own a DS, based on the critics preview comments and the video trailers seen, I decide to get this game and, of course, a new DS to play it on. As a person who enjoys music with depth, I am pleasantly surprised with the sound. Chatting with the characters that often provide helpful hints and exploring the various areas reminded me of how much I love these types of games. The graphics are eye-catching and quite colorful on both screens. I'm in one room and then suddenly I've been transported into a completely different area. I'm having a lot of fun with this game.… Full Review »
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