Blades of the Righteous

Blades of the Righteous is a turn-based tactical action game set in a fantasy medieval world, featuring 2D scrolling visuals and a diagonal-down perspective. Players control multiple units or characters through direct control and point-and-select interfaces, engaging in strategic combat within a single-player commercial experience.

Blades of the Righteous: A Tactical Masterpiece or a Missed Opportunity?

Introduction

Blades of the Righteous (2016) is a turn-based tactical RPG that blends strategy and fantasy in a way that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. Developed by Coldwild Games, this indie title arrived at a time when the genre was experiencing a resurgence, thanks in part to the success of games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Divinity: Original Sin. However, Blades of the Righteous carved out its own niche by offering a compact yet deep experience that emphasizes micro-management, unit customization, and procedural challenges. This review will dissect the game’s development, narrative, gameplay mechanics, and legacy to determine whether it stands as a hidden gem or a flawed experiment.

Development History & Context

The Studio and Its Vision

Coldwild Games, a small studio based in Riga, Latvia, is known for its experimental approach to game design. Blades of the Righteous was one of the studio’s earliest projects, undergoing multiple iterations before its final release. The game’s development was marked by a relentless pursuit of polish, with three major versions released within a year of its initial launch. The first version, completed in October 2014, was deemed unsatisfactory by the developers, leading to a complete overhaul. The second version, released in March 2016, received mixed feedback, prompting another significant update in June 2016 (version 1.3) that overhauled the battle system and graphics.

The studio’s philosophy revolves around blending genres and avoiding exploitative mechanics like loot boxes. This ethos is evident in Blades of the Righteous, which merges tactical RPG elements with roguelike progression and strategy gameplay. The game’s development was a testament to perseverance, as the team repeatedly reworked the core systems to address player feedback.

Technological Constraints and the Gaming Landscape

Released in 2016, Blades of the Righteous entered a market dominated by high-budget AAA titles and indie darlings like Undertale and Stardew Valley. The game’s 2D, pixel-art aesthetic and turn-based combat were reminiscent of classic strategy games, but its procedural map events and unit customization set it apart. The developers leveraged OpenGL shaders to enhance visual effects, a notable achievement given the game’s modest scope.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

The game’s narrative is straightforward but effective: darkness has descended upon the world, and dark portals threaten to consume the land. As the commander of a small kingdom, the player must expand their castle, hire an army, and destroy these portals to save the realm. The story lacks deep character development or branching paths, but its simplicity serves as a backdrop for the game’s core mechanics.

The absence of a rich narrative is compensated by the procedural generation of map events, which introduce variety and replayability. These events range from combat encounters to resource-gathering opportunities, each contributing to the overarching goal of defeating the five bosses scattered across the land.

Themes and Dialogue

The game’s themes revolve around resilience and strategy, as players must make tactical decisions under pressure. The dialogue is minimal, but the choices players make—such as whether to engage in combat or negotiate—add a layer of moral ambiguity. The game’s fantasy setting is generic, but the procedural elements ensure that no two playthroughs feel the same.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

Blades of the Righteous combines elements of tactical RPGs and roguelike games. Players manage a castle, recruit units, and engage in turn-based battles on a grid-based battlefield. The game’s procedural events and permadeath mechanics (for heroes) add a layer of unpredictability.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat is turn-based and grid-based, with up to 16 units participating in each battle. Players can customize their units by selecting skills and equipment, and units improve their proficiency in chosen skills as they use them. This system encourages strategic planning, as players must balance offense, defense, and support abilities.

The game features over 25 unique unit types and more than 60 abilities, offering a high degree of customization. Heroes, which can be revived after death, provide bonuses to the army and add a layer of permanence to the otherwise roguelike progression.

UI and Innovative Systems

The user interface is functional but lacks polish. The battle system was significantly improved in version 1.3, with enhancements like immediate attacks after movement and retaliatory strikes. The game’s XML-based item system allows for modding, a feature that adds longevity for dedicated players.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

The game’s world is a generic fantasy setting, but the procedural generation of map events creates a sense of discovery. The castle serves as the player’s hub, where resources are managed and units are recruited.

Visual Direction

The game’s 2D, pixel-art aesthetic is charming but dated. The OpenGL shaders introduced in version 1.3 improved the visual effects, but the game’s low resolution (1024×768) limits its appeal to modern players. The battle animations are serviceable, but the lack of detailed environments detracts from immersion.

Sound Design

The soundtrack, composed by Roman Lamcev, is forgettable but functional. The sound effects are adequate, but the game lacks voice acting, which contributes to its generic atmosphere.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Blades of the Righteous received mixed reviews upon release. Steam users rated it as “Mixed,” with 64% of 14 reviews being positive. Critics praised the game’s tactical depth and replayability but criticized its lack of polish and generic setting. The game’s low price point ($2.99) mitigated some of the criticism, as players saw it as a worthwhile experiment.

Influence on Subsequent Games

The game’s influence is limited, but its blend of tactical RPG and roguelike elements foreshadowed trends in indie game design. The developers’ commitment to iterative improvement and player feedback is a model for small studios.

Conclusion

Blades of the Righteous is a flawed but ambitious experiment in tactical RPG design. Its procedural events, deep unit customization, and modding support offer a compelling experience for players who enjoy strategy and replayability. However, its generic setting, lack of narrative depth, and dated visuals limit its appeal.

In the grand tapestry of video game history, Blades of the Righteous is a minor but noteworthy entry. It stands as a testament to the perseverance of its developers and the potential of indie game design. While it may not achieve the same level of recognition as its contemporaries, it deserves a place in the conversation about tactical RPGs and their evolution in the 2010s. For players seeking a challenging, customizable, and procedurally generated experience, Blades of the Righteous is a hidden gem worth uncovering.