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Boreal Blade

Boreal Blade

|Finland|Tactical, Fighting

6.3 /10

Okay

Niche

687 ratings
Where to get it
Trailers & screenshots
Why play it

Boreal Blade is a team-based melee fighting game with a focus on player vs player combat, combining reactionary and tactical gameplay with extraordinary freedom to variate your attacks and develop your unique fighting style. The game features four distinctive fighting styles with the possibility to choose between one-handed and two-handed weapons, a shield and a weapon combo, long thrusting pole weapons and fighting unarmed. Players can even throw items during battle! Three armour classes with their strengths and weaknesses are also included to guarantee a varied, ever-alterable fighting experience. Arm yourself and prepare to dive into the battle!

Story and worldbuilding

“May Cado grant me the endurance of a mighty Elk. May Gadin make me fierce as a Bear. And may Fiure keep me hidden from the harm, like a Crow soaring to the night sky.” Norvalgians are people dedicated to searching for the truth and serving their gods. Both of these ideals are combined in their oldest tradition: debating. Whenever a decision needs to be made – whether it is about heading to war or choosing where the cheese should go in a sandwich – fierce Norvalgian warriors gather in their famous debating arenas, pray for strength from their gods and fight. The gods guide Norvalgians by granting victory to the team that champions the cause of truth and justice. The most venerated and experienced debaters are eventually named Battlemasters who organize the events and serve as guides and teachers for the young warriors. “An emissary from Norvalg arrived yesterday. He handed me a stained scabbard and waited for me to draw the heavy sword from it before starting to recite a ceremonial poem with his thundering voice. My sword arm and quick wits were needed, he told me, to settle matters for once and all. That was how I received my first Boreal Blade.” Debates are the cornerstone of the Norvalgian society, and they are deemed holy. Stories are spun, and songs are sung about the renown arena fighters and their clans. Anyone attempting to evade their debating responsibilities is considered a coward. Sometimes it is deemed wise to ask counsel from non-Norvalgians, especially if the debate at hand involves outsiders. Warriors from outside Norvalg’s borders are invited to partake in the debates by sending them a Boreal Blade sword. Most outsiders consider Norvalgian debating tradition confusing and absurd and rather run and hide than make the perilous journey to the north.

Game highlights
Rating momentum

Okay: 6.3/10 across 687 ratings. Decent score — check if the gameplay loop clicks for you.

Play style

Leans into Tactical, Fighting — a quick read on whether that fantasy matches what you usually enjoy.

Reviews

5 media reviews

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Nintendo LifeDom Reseigh-Lincoln · 30 Aug, 2019
6/10

As a melee-focused, multiplayer experience, Boreal Blade is sure to be a divisive experience. Some players will love the nuance of its freeform combat, revelling in the joy of the moment-to-moment swordplay. Others will be turned off by the steep learning curve which comes with mastering even the simplest of weapons.

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FNintendoSérgio Mota · 9 Oct, 2019
6/10

Boreal Blade consists of a multiplayer-only melee fighting experience which can be enjoyed both online and on a local level. If the game is overall quite simple when it comes to the moves and visual environment, the combat system is quite fun and engaging and the game features plenty of customization options. The experience could be more enjoyable if the connection to its servers was easier and its community was larger.

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Nintendo TimesJordan Brewer · 26 Sep, 2019
5.5/10

MEDIOCRE - Boreal Blade nails the combat and has some fun ideas but they’re overshadowed by poor online connectivity. Lacking a single player mode means the game is entirely reliant on servers and unfortunately lag and constant kicking from matches mars the entire experience. Download the demo first to see if the online issues have been resolved before purchasing the full version.

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Switch AtlanticLeigh Wynne · 13 Sep, 2019
7/10

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Boreal Blade. It’s an interesting fighting game that ends up being a ton of fun. The cell shaded visual design work really well with its overall presentation, and the soundtrack keeps you focused with the beating of drums and screams of helpless victims. I wish there had of been a single player mode and a few more customization options at the very beginning of the game, but still there’s tons to unlock and enjoy here. The controls can take a little while to get used to, but it’s still a unique fighting experience on the Nintendo Switch and one that I think is a solid investment for fighting game fans. It has a few issues, but it’s definitely still worth a try.

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Nindie SpotlightJustin Nation · 28 Aug, 2019
6.8/10

This is one of those titles where I'd imagine there'll be little middle ground, you'll either find it tedious and aggravating or full of ripe challenges to discover technique and nuance as you try to wipe up the floor with your opponents in melee combat...

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