Blade Kitten

Based on a comic series, Blade Kitten is available on XBLA.

Following the adventures of the half-human, half-cat bounty hunter, Kit Ballard, her trusty sword, Blade and cute flying animal, Skiffy, your aim is to shoot, dodge and climb your way through 13 jam-packed levels in search of Terra-Li. As you explore these various levels, you meet many different characters. Helping them can allow you to encounter mini tasks which can take up much of your time. One of the tasks you attempt to complete is tracking down your rival bounty hunter, Justice Kreel. At the beginning of the game, Kit finds out about a bounty worth 1 million Hex. In order to go for the bounty, Kit needs to show her ‘Breaker Key’. But just as she’s authorised to go for the hunt, rival bounty hunter, Justice Kreel steals her ‘Breaker Key’ and destroys her ship. Determined not to lose out, Kit sets off after Justice Kreel to get revenge.

As you explore the different levels, you get to collect mass amounts of the game’s currency, Hex. Coming in different colours and amounts, Hex is then used to buy an upgraded sword or to change Kit’s outfit. You can also purchase food but since your life replenishes itself after a while, there isn’t really a need to do so. To buy these items you can access the shop at anytime by pressing the back button to view the Breaker Info. Here you can also see your level progression and even choose which previously played levels you want to visit. The button system is straight forward, with ‘X’ and ‘B’ to attack, ‘A’ to jump, ‘Y’ is action and the trigger buttons are used to sprint and grab. Kit’s movements can feel very sluggish for a few moments every time you start the game.

Blade Kitten, for me, was confusing and at the best of times very frustrating to play. I think that what made the gameplay confusing was the storyline and having too much freedom of movement. Although you do get snippets of what Kit needs to do by watching the cut-scenes, with Kit having the ability to climb up practically any wall and ceiling, you could inadvertently get lost and completely get to the end of the level without even trying. But with there being no clear indication being given to say you are going the wrong way, that you have achieved whatever it was you need to do, or that you have even completed the level (all you got was a loading screen), I thought was just bizarre.

On the whole, Blade Kitten has some serious potential. I liked that the game was cel-shaded, the backgrounds were pretty and I even got used to the 3-D characters moving in a 2-D world, but it’s the lack of the basic gaming must-haves which allows it to be a let-down. Blade Kitten is available on XBLA for 1200 MS points but I would strongly advise to try the demo first before committing to the purchase.