Wulverblade

Wulverblade is a wonderful throwback to classic 90’s brawlers but there’s also a healthy dollop of newness added to the mix. The combat, while initially very simplistic, has layers upon layers of depth that slowly reveals itself with each subsequent stage. The difficulty tends to rear its ugly head a little early, but dedicated gamers will find the challenge rewarding and engaging. The heavily-researched storyline, gorgeous graphics and animation, and simple controls make Wulverblade a sharp and to-the-point beat-em-up that’s totally worth playing.

Wulverblade might not be the most innovative of titles, but what it does it does really well. This is everything you ever loved about the beat 'em up genre, put into one stylized little package. It doesn't reinvent the genre, or even really add anything new, but at the same time it doesn't really need to. Fans of the genre will love what this has to offer though, and it might even manage to draw some newcomers in as well. With some slick and enjoyable combat and a unique, interesting visual aesthetic, it is hard to not be immediately drawn in by Wulverblade. It really is a great title, so grab a sword and start slashing your way through medieval Britain.

Wulverblade’s creator’s passion for ancient Britain’s history is obvious and it makes the game feel special even though underneath its educational layer you’ll find just a simple beat ‘em up. Its mechanics are not overly deep, but the fluidity and savagery of combat makes butchering large, beautiful sprites a true joy. [05/2018, p.46]

Wulverblade will appeal to a subset of action gamers the same way a shmup or a game like Super Meat Boy appeal to a subset of shooter and platform gamers. It's not for everyone, but if you want a challenging side-scrolling brawler that will put your skills to the test, you'll love Wulverblade.

If you're itching to play a retro-inspired beat 'em up then you can't do much better than Wulverblade with its solid gameplay, high quality presentation, and rewarding replay value. I'd take my hat off if only my head didn't roll away in the heat of battle.

A fine addition to the scrolling beat-'em-up genre. The story and its historic backdrop is interesting and the combat is meaty and fun. Arcade and arena modes will keep you coming back for more, as will co-op.

I came out of Wulverblade feeling broadly positive. The historical aspects add a lot of context. Combat can be simple but frustrating as you charge through Caledonia's woodland. Some curious design choices undermine battle but it does provide something different. It's worth a look if you want a little more substance to your beat 'em ups.