Blade Chimera

 Switch
  • Publisher: Playism
  • Release Date: Jan 16, 2025
  • Also On: PC
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Shacknews
    Jan 15, 2025
    90
    Blade Chimera is short, sweet, and simple. It’s also visually enthralling and just… really dang cool. It’s the perfect kind of game to run into in January 2025, especially after so much of my time up until now has been eaten by multiple dozen-hour RPGs. I blazed through this game in two sittings and loved every minute, cliches and all. Seeing Team Ladybug come out swinging like this for its first fully-original metroidvania is a delight, and Blade Chimera has fully cemented this team as one to look out for going forward.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Jan 15, 2025
    90
    Blade Chimera is an ode to a very specific kind of Metroidvania — the sort that eschews cryptic puzzles and an open-ended structure and revels in the simple joys of ultra-fluid movement and blasting through enemies with an ever-growing arsenal of powerful weapons and equipment. It may not particularly impress with its explorative or narrative aspects, but its striking, stylish identity and endlessly entertaining shoot-and-slash combat loop elevate this to the heights of the classics it’s so clearly inspired by.
  3. Video Chums
    Jan 16, 2025
    89
    Blade Chimera is one of the best Metroidvanias that you can play thanks to its jam-packed gameplay, stellar presentation, and rewarding supplementary content. It may not be the longest or most challenging game in the genre but it's definitely unforgettable.
  5. Game8
    Mar 22, 2025
    82
    Blade Chimera is a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation. It channels the spirit of IGA’s legendary works while carving out its own identity with fluid combat, seamless exploration, and a striking cyberpunk Osaka brought to life in vivid pixel art. More than a love letter to the genre, it’s a bold new chapter that stands tall on its own.
  6. Vandal
    Feb 3, 2025
    80
    With stunning pixel art, fluid combat, and a well-designed level structure, Blade Chimera stands out as a fun and engaging metroidvania. However, its predictable story, linear progression, and underwhelming side quests hold it back from true greatness.
  7. Siliconera
    Jan 20, 2025
    80
    However, these moments aside, it’s easy to recommend Blade Chimera. If a cyberpunk Metroidvania with a cool magical sword and an intriguing yokai-infested world sounds good to you, you need to play it.
  8. Hobby Consolas
    Jan 15, 2025
    80
    Blade Chimera has some good ideas and is a very solid metroidvania, one of those that grabs you and doesn't let go until you complete them 100%, but it doesn't particularly stand out within the genre. Even so, it is one of those kinds of games that are enjoyed to the fullest for as long as it lasts.
  9. The Games Machine
    Jan 15, 2025
    78
    A traditional metroidvania with a fascinating setting that mixes Japanese folklore and cyberpunk, brought to life by excellent pixel-art. The classic gameplay is enhanced by a mechanic that allows you to manipulate time and matter. A couple of bugs and a few minor technical stumbles, as well as an imperfect difficulty balance, however, prevent Blade Chimera from aspiring to the Olympus of the genre.
  10. COGconnected
    Jan 15, 2025
    75
    Blade Chimera leans on genre conventions but executes them with precision and flair. While it follows familiar traits, innovative mechanics involving Lux give the game its own identity, allowing the developers to introduce fresh and engaging ideas. Traversing the map is streamlined thanks to warp abilities, while other upgrades provide meaningful character progression throughout the adventure. Although the story is largely forgettable, the stunning pixel art style and creative use of Lux ensure that Blade Chimera remains a memorable experience.
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  1. Polygon
    Jan 27, 2025
    Team Ladybug hasn’t reinvented the Metroidvania with Blade Chimera, but thanks to its core idea — tying its mystical sword into nearly every aspect of gameplay — it offers something that manages to feel fresh and lovingly designed. Anyone with a fondness for Konami’s catalog of side-scrolling action games should, at the very least, give its demo a try.