Blade Kitten Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3, X360, PC	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Krome Studios	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Atari	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sept. 22, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Blade Kitten's level design is also a missed opportunity in the visual area. Though there are plenty of hidden areas and things to explore, none of it looks particularly interesting. Levels generally find a comfortable color scheme, insert a few new elements (like a building and a few new baddies), and stretch these few elements into an overarching world. This type of visual scheme is not only boring to look at, but can also be disorienting, as backtracking to similar areas can get you seriously lost if you are trying to find a certain area that looks like another part of the stage.

Blade Kitten screenshot

The only aspect of Blade Kitten that is consistently good is the animated cutscenes. Although most of these are brief with forgettable dialogue, the cutscenes are animated in a very high-quality cel-shaded style. All the animations are fluid, and the game really hits all the right notes for the anime style they wanted. The main characters feature some fun facial expressions and lightning-fast movement. However, even the cutscenes are hampered by poor voicework, which often comes across as wooden and completely unemotional.

As far as replay value is concerned, Blade Kitten definitely doesn't have much going for it. Although the game has several unlockable items, including new weapons, costumes, and battle-enhancing consumables, the game's currency is dispersed a little too liberally, and it is very possible to unlock all of this content before you've even reached the halfway point. This might be a good thing if you are just trying to run through the game, but if you are looking for a game you can play and then explore, Blade Kitten doesn't have much for you.

Blade Kitten certainly could have been a good game. It started out promising, and I was excited to experience an old-school platforming title with fun characters that played off the anime/manga tropes we've all seen over the years. However, what I got was a game with bad mechanics, repetitive level design, and little incentive to keep playing past the first few levels. If you are looking for a good platformer on your digital distribution network, there are plenty of choices, but I would recommend staying away from this kitten, as she seems to be a little misguided.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.4

Graphics
Blade Kitten's cutscenes look great but the in-game world is not as fully-featured as it could have been.

2.6

Control
Frustrating anti-gravity controls make this title frustrating to control in most instances.

2.1

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The game's voiceovers are hollow and the music is repetitive.

2.9

Play Value
There are some unlockables, but they can all be accessed by the halfway point, and the story is too basic to retain most players' interest.

3.1

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Blade Kitten goes beyond most downloadable titles to deliver a strong narrative, with high-quality cinematics, and a colourful, frenetic visual style, that lends to the pick-up-and-play arcade action.

Players can jump right in and easily begin exploring and fighting their way through multiple levels, including three exploration levels with Noot (a rideable alien mount).

Blade Kitten features side scrolling gameplay mechanics, intuitive “scramble style” exploration, fully voiced dialogue, dramatic narrative, and powerful visual direction.