Swords & Bones: Ultimate Edition

Swords & Bones needs to be approached and scored based around several key details, including whether you enjoy Ghosts'n Goblins or Castlevania-style platforming, as well as indie takes on the theme. If the answer is 'yes' to these metrics, then Swords & Bones comfortably earns its modest price tag. It has near zero replay value once completed and tied in a bow, and it's neither deep or surprising; but it is, undoubtedly, a fun way to kill three hours with a talented gang of bedroom coders. If that sounds appealing, the negligible investment will be money well spent.

Swords & Bones is a charming platformer with fun graphics and music. However, the controls are wonky, and there isn't much replay value.

A modern, “retro-inspired” title in the shape of Shovel Knight and Ghost ‘n Goblins, Sword & Bones is clearly a small team’s love letter. Once that veil drops, however, it just devolves into a needlessly hard platformer that doesn’t feel like persevering with.

Perhaps the mistake here is in the attempts at marketing, but when you throw out the likes of Ghosts n' Goblins or Castlevania as inspirations for your game you're kind of teeing people up to expect a certain standard...