Unchained Blades

 PSP
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. RPG Fan
    Jul 24, 2012
    82
    If you know what you're getting into, Unchained Blades is an enjoyable game that doles out pain and pleasure in equal capacity.
  2. DarkStation
    Aug 1, 2012
    80
    Unchained Blades is a challenging adventure that requires a methodical and patient attitude towards progression, a good thing as the amount of time you'll put in completing the main story and the secondary quests just about suits the $30 price tag.
  3. ZTGD
    Jul 6, 2012
    73
    Unchained Blades has some rather impressive things going for it. The story is interesting, the combat is decent and the voice acting and presentation are top notch.
  5. Gaming Nexus
    Jul 20, 2012
    70
    Unchained Blades is ultimately marred by a narrative structure that works against the best elements of the role-playing game genre. Just when things are about to get good, the game throws you for a loop and hits the reset button. The simple gameplay and paper-thin characters aren't enough to make up for this unfathomable design decision.
  6. COGconnected
    Jul 5, 2012
    65
    Gamers who love the old school feel of dungeon exploring RPG's will probably enjoy most of what Unchained Blades has to offer. Unfortunately, I found the game had a few too many holes and issues to really hold my attention, but for the right gamer it could be just the thing for the start of summer.
  7. RPGamer
    Sep 15, 2012
    60
    Unchained Blades isn't unenjoyable, and its subsystems are an inventive take on what less skilled hands would have turned into a bare slog. However, a game as long as this one needs something greater to keep the inevitable hours of filler at bay. Deeper, more nuanced characters would have been been one route. Alternately, a smoother difficulty curve would've limited the opportunities to switch on autopilot.
  8. Destructoid
    Aug 15, 2012
    40
    The story is too light to augment the game's core mechanical focus, while ideas like the follower system feel tacked-on and inconsequential to strategy. Fans of dungeon crawlers may squeeze some enjoyment from the grind, but most players will be turned off by the tedious progression and repetitive battles.
  9. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Aug 1, 2012
    40
    We appreciated specific parts of the game--such as the leveling, animations, and Followers--but it's still the bottom of the JRPG barrel. [Sept 2012, p.87]
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PSP Game of 2012
4
#4 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2012
4
#4 Most Shared PSP Game of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 3 out of 15
  1. solutions10
    Mar 25, 2014
    9
    This game is designed to be a classic JRPG-style dungeon crawler. Much like the Etrian Odyssey series for the DS, these types of games areThis game is designed to be a classic JRPG-style dungeon crawler. Much like the Etrian Odyssey series for the DS, these types of games are specifically designed to be extremely difficult, arduous, and by no means something you can just waltz through. As long as you know what you're getting into and realize this is by no means a contemporary-style modern RPG in form or function, it's very easy to eat up that borderline-unfair challenge and realize its strengths, especially over Etrian Odyssey. There is a surprisingly good story, well-written dialogue, attractive character designs, a Save-Anywhere feature (this is the one concession you're allowed, and it allows you to play carefully without getting screwed over by one too many critical hits deep into a dungeon), a great ensemble of voice actors and actresses, and, as you should expect, a slower pace that is rewarding enough to keep interest. It's not perfect--I was not a fan of the constantly-switching perspectives and parties (none of which allows you to keep anything from the items of the previous party, which means an initial drag just to get back up to speed), and the Followers systems of Unchain Triggers and important dialogue choices is too random and its mechanics sometimes illogical, though not to the point of broken. But, if you can appreciate the style of older dungeon-crawling RPGs with an enhanced visual style, anime cutscenes, some welcome new mechanics, and a game that ultimately is a test of the player's abilities, it's easy to get lost in it and start racking up hours just to reach the next level of a dungeon, and reap the rewards involved in doing so. A viciously-difficult, but well-designed classic dungeon crawler that will appeal to those who enjoy accomplishing difficult tasks and working hard for the satisfaction involved. *NOT* recommended for those who like their RPGs to breeze by in 30 hours or less, but for its admittedly niche audience, it's quite a pleasure and one of the most absorbing and hard-but-fair classic dungeon-crawlers I've played.… Full Review »
  2. Xelion
    Jan 15, 2013
    8
    It's a grindy game, you need to level up a lot. It gets tedious when you leave a dungeon to re stock and then you have to go up so many floorsIt's a grindy game, you need to level up a lot. It gets tedious when you leave a dungeon to re stock and then you have to go up so many floors again... there're some shortcuts in some places but they're not enough.
    I liked the artstyle of the game as well as sound and music, story also was good, yet I wished it was actually longer. Game feels really long as u grind so much but there isn't much dialogue and cutscenes.    … Full Review »
  3. TiagoRPGfan
    Aug 2, 2012
    10
    Except for the really high difficult of this game he can provide much hours and is really great.. you can recruit any enemy for the party,plusExcept for the really high difficult of this game he can provide much hours and is really great.. you can recruit any enemy for the party,plus its a style of rpg already forgotten but unchained blades is great inovation of this kind of rpg i recommend.. you gonna be angry for many times and the difficult may scary but is enjoyable when you get use to it.… Full Review »
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