Blood Won’t Tell
Bloodless, an upcoming, stylish, action-adventure game from developer Point N’ Sheep, is a bit of a curiosity. It is the kind of game that without warning reveals something profound about its players, at least it did for me. In Bloodless, you play as you play as Tomoe, a ronin weary of killing, who uses her bare fists to disarm her former allies in the samurai army of Shogun Akechi. Non-lethal combat is the name of the game I must say, I was not on board with this concept at all. Yet the more I played the recent demo – courtesy of Steam Next Fest, the more I realized that I may not as be as bloodthirsty as I thought.
Now, before I dive into the gameplay, I’m going to take a slight detour and shine a massive spotlight on how Bloodless caught my eye as I was scanning through hundreds of demos on Steam, and that is its art style. If ever there was a reminder of why pixel art remains an enduring art form, Bloodless exemplifies the boundless possibilities within the medium. Tomoe, along with her allies and adversaries, are drawn in striking white with bold black outlines. Minor touches of color, like Tomoe’s red armbands for example, add a unique flair and makes the pixelated cast of characters pop off the screen. The background and environments, however, paint a very different picture and feature a bit more depth of color. The demo, which was set in a forest, was incredibly atmospheric, making use of deep blues and greens. It almost feels as if the characters are illuminated by the moonlight, as the action unfolds in woods in the dead of night. Details like little birds that flutter away if you get to close, or Tomoe’s reflection as she steps over a small body of water are super impactful against this restrained color palette. The less-is-more approach is masterfully executed, showcasing the power of minimalist design. Now, while I may have been drawn in this mesmerizing art style, the gameplay is what made me stick around.
Tomoe’s signature technique is dash-counter, a mechanic that allows you to disarm an enemy if your timing is right. It is a bit like a parry that sends an opponent’s weapon flying through the air and leaves them to quickly flee from the battlefield. It’s especially satisfying to execute the dash-counter at the exact moment a baddies chucks a kunai at your face. Stopping the blade dead in its tracks just makes me feel like an absolute badass. This maneuver can also be utilized as a dodge, allowing you to dart out of harm’s way if things get too crowded. The only caveat is that you cannot spam the dash-counter to your heart’s content as each use drains Tomoe of her stamina bar. Now, this is perfectly sufficient for the first few encounters, but as bigger and beefier enemies enter the fray, Tomoe is going to need a lot more than a stylish dash. Enter the ki-attack, a three-punch combo that engulfs Tomoe’s fists in brilliant purple energy that wears opponents down and has them seeing stars – literally. Aside from giving off massive Psylocke vibes, the ki-attack is the best way to handle the demo’s tougher foes. Also present in the demo was a Skill Tree which promises even more non-lethal combat techniques for Tomoe to master. Tomoe’s abilities can temporarily be powered-up via chugging flasks of tea. At any of the bonfires that you come across, you can brew a spot of tea with any of the herbs you find along the way. Macha, the most common herb I came across, allowed me to brew a tea that restored my health. Other however, granted different, combat-oriented effects. Ginger Tea for example grants infinite stamina for 30 seconds. Red Bean Tea increases your ki-attack damage, allowing you to stagger enemies more quickly.
While it may appear like an 8-bit beat’em-up, Bloodless isn’t a mindless button masher. Balance is key. It is all about patiently waiting for an opponent to strike so you can disarm them at just the right time. The non-lethal combat feels deeply engaging and I imagine it only gets better as I unlock more skills and abilities. And I have to admit, the whole no-killing aspect serves a deeper purpose. There is a moment in the demo when an enemy is suddenly cut down by an enigmatic character, and a bright red pool of blood spills into the cold, colorless ground. I must say, it was a bit of gut punch. It’s astounding how a game with such a minimalist aesthetic can evoke such strong emotions, but it does. It lends to the emotional story that Bloodless is trying to tell, one that casts Tomoe as a coward and deserter through the eyes of her own people.
Bloodless could be one of the most impactful indie games of the year. It is shaping up to be a must-play title and it was easily one of my favorite games among the scores that I played over the course of the last week. I urge everyone to add this game to their wishlist, play the demo, and experience its unique gameplay firsthand. Also, stay tuned to indieRift for our exclusive interview with the boys of Point N’ Sheep where we’ll dive deeper into the inspirations and creative process behind Bloodless.
Wishlist Bloodless: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592490/Bloodless/
