The 16-bit Arcade and Console Era (1990-1995) - Blades of Vengeance

RELEASE DATE: 1993

DEVELOPER / PUBLISHER: Beam Software / Electronic Arts

BEST VERSIONS: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

As we’ve discussed elsewhere, the Sega Mega Drive (also known as the Genesis in North America) was very popular in Europe in the early 1990s, and so was the Amiga 16-bit computer platform. This led to a number of games created by European and Australian software developers feeling quite similar to action games you’d see on the Amiga, and it’s no surprise that the Melbourne-based Beam Software picked up on that style for its attempt at a console fantasy adventure. While it’s essentially a take on the same sort of action RPG gameplay seen in Taito’s Cadash, the look and feel of Blades of Vengeance also shows some influence from Amiga games like Lionheart, First Samurai, Leander, Deliverance: Stormlord II and Gods, just to name a few.

One of the most obvious influences is the large sprites, which depict the default character, the Huntress, as an Amazon with an ample bust and a sword that causes enemies to gush bright red blood that matches her barely-there battle dress. Slightly better girded is the Warrior, who has on gladiator-style shoulder armor and carries a large axe he strokes lovingly in his idle animation. There’s also the Wizard, an old man in a long brown robe with flowing white hair and a giant beard. All three of these characters do get an upgrade in their armor and arsenals as you move through the game, but not until they can afford to buy better gear roughly a third of the way in.

The premise is about as threadbare as the Huntress’s clothing. There’s an evil sorceress named Mannax who’s conquered the land and a godlike wizard named The Master sends them to kill her. Much of the game takes place in realms that are hellish, with ample use of red backgrounds, fire, spikes and demonic goons. Mannax seems to like to leave torture victims hanging on the walls as a grim reminder of her evil intentions, and her interior decorator seems to love the same earthy palette of reds, browns, greens and grays that became so commonly-used in 1990s fantasy games.

But if I have to give Blades of Vengeance credit for one thing, it’s how good-looking of a game it is. The character animations are fluid and well-crafted. The enemies are often huge, nicely varied and fun to kill. The boss battles are generally pretty cool and let you battle a fiery djinn, a stone wizard, a gorgon head, a sai-wielding reptile, a harpy-like demon and a demon’s head the size of the entire screen. The final battle with Mannax doesn’t even waste time with her human form (which is never actually shown) – she’s just a two-headed dragon and you get to kill her. When you do, the Master rains down blasts of light on all the monsters who survived as the credits roll. Blades of Vengeance knows its players are here for the epic action, and it delivers.

Though the game does have some RPG elements like inventory items and upgrades, these are mostly handled through shopping in between levels and through a pause menu inventory scroll. Many of the inventory items you find in chests or purchase are consumable scrolls, potions or magic items, while the store upgrades like armor (which also changes your weapon) and life hearts provide permanent enhancements to your character.

Perhaps the best thing about Blades of Vengeance is that every set of levels plays a little differently and thus keeps the game from getting boring. With the exception of Levels 3 and 5, which are one stage, everything’s broken up into sublevels, some of which are short and linear and some of which involve exploration on a larger map. Level 7 is particularly distinctive because it takes place in a populated forest and is broken into 9 pieces, while Level 4 has three comparatively enormous maps that require some significant exploration to get through. The variation between levels does create some pacing issues, and you’d better make sure you’re geared appropriately with armor before attempting Level 4 or you’ll have a tough time getting through it. (You also might want to consult these maps.) But part of the fun of Blades of Vengeance is the challenge of making it through each set of stages alive and getting a much-needed breather here and there before heading back into something much tougher. It’s also nice to uncover hidden areas and chests through exploration because these can greatly improve your chances of success.

What’s not so great is the two-player mode, which requires your characters to stay together (they can never been more than half a screen apart) and enforces a level of cooperation that requires you to really, really want to coordinate attacks with your gameplay partner. I personally wouldn’t bother with it.

Playing Blades of Vengeance today is not easy if you don’t own a Genesis or Mega Drive, and you can expect to pay collector’s prices to get your hands on a cartridge. Chances are good you’ll have to play with a game ROM and an emulator. Let’s hope this one sees re-release one day; it’s a fun and engaging action RPG which could be a wonderful highlight in an Electronic Arts Sega Genesis compilation.

Side note: I chuckled when I saw the development team at Beam Software profiled in the game’s manual as being the folks behind such great games as the NES’s Back to the Future. On the other hand, they’re also mentioned for their work on Shadowrun on the Genesis/Mega Drive, a genuinely great game everyone should play!

We’re moving on to the 1990s console and arcade games to cover one of the golden eras of video gaming as gaming shifted to 16 bits at home and true 3D in the arcades!

We’ll cover shoot ‘em ups, run and guns, fighters, brawlers, RPGs, platformers and, of course, strategy games, sports games and more. Take some time learn about great games you may have missed like Power Blade, Ranger X, Thunder Fox, Liquid Kids, Alligator Hunt, Arabian Fight, Crystalis, Popful Mail, Alisia Dragoon, Kid Dracula, Little Samson, The Space Adventure, Rocket Knight Adventures, Rolo to the Rescue and even oddities like The Haunting Starring Polterguy and The Ooze!

If you missed my series on the hundreds of 1980s PC, console and arcade games you probably never played, you can find the entire archive at https://greatestgames.substack.com.

Anything I don’t share here will be in my upcoming book, tentatively titled The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played Vol. 3. Subscribe to this newsletter so you won’t miss it!

If you missed my previous series on the hundreds of 1980s console, arcade and PC games you probably never played, you can find the entire archive at https://greatestgames.substack.com.

Anything I don’t share here will be in my upcoming book, tentatively titled The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played Vol. 3. Subscribe to this newsletter so you won’t miss it!