Character Action
Ongoing coverage on Character Action.
Latest coverage
Phantom Blade Zero’s Combat Is So Good, You Won’t Care The Story Makes No Sense
Phantom Blade Zero offers spectacular Wuxia-inspired combat that translates the fluid, dynamic action of martial arts films into a compelling gameplay experience. While the narrative is convoluted and difficult to follow, and standard enemy encounters can become tedious due to their lack of challenge, the game's core combat mechanics, extensive weapon variety, and unique 'kungfupunk' aesthetic make it a highly enjoyable title for action game enthusiasts.
This Character-Action Zombie Game Stumbles Into Its Own Way
Stupid Never Dies offers an inventive punk-inspired world and a likable zombie protagonist, but its core gameplay loop is hampered by repetitive and imprecise combat, slow progression, and a frustratingly arbitrary timer system. While the ability to absorb enemy powers and transform into them is a highlight, the game's numerous systems and awkward mechanics ultimately detract from the experience.
Win 19 Castlevania Games And Two DLCs In This Fangtastic Giveaway
A giveaway is offering a chance to win 19 Castlevania games, two DLCs for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and a book celebrating the series' history. The bundle includes titles spanning the franchise's history, from classic entries to the Lords of Shadow subseries. The giveaway is hosted on the Fanatical website.
Marvel’s Wolverine Isn’t Cutting It? Try These Games Instead
Reviews for Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine indicate a fun but not groundbreaking experience, with a Metacritic score of 77. The article suggests alternative games that capture the spirit of the character, including the cult classic X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the stylish Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and the deck-building RPG Marvel's Midnight Suns.
The Metroidvania Is Decades Old, But One Year In Particular Is The Undisputed King
The Metroidvania genre, while decades old, experienced its peak in 2018 with a diverse slate of innovative titles. This year saw games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Yoku's Island Express push the genre's boundaries by incorporating elements from souls-likes, roguelikes, and even pinball, making it an ideal year for both newcomers and veterans.
"I haven't slept in 48 hours": Devs spent 9 years, starting in "my parents' basement," making a Nier Automata-esque action game with the most anime plot imaginable
Dischan Media has officially launched Mahou Arms, a third-person action game inspired by Nier: Automata, after approximately six years in early access. The game features paramilitary magical girls battling alien invaders, with a story mode lasting 6-10 hours and a mix of melee combat, tag-team combos, and strategy game-esque battlefield views. The developers have focused on a distinct visual style blending minimalist 3D models with lavish 2D animation and a somber piano soundtrack.
Garden Souls brings stylish combo action to the roguelite genre with fast-paced combat and endless build possibilities
Statera Studio, the Brazilian developer behind Pocket Bravery, has announced Garden Souls, a new action roguelite featuring fast-paced combat and deep build customization. Players control four Plant Princesses battling corruption through procedurally generated biomes, utilizing a combo system inspired by character action and fighting games.
Control Resonant Preview – Mixing it up in Manhattan
Control Resonant shifts focus to Jesse Faden's brother, Dylan, as he navigates a Hiss-corrupted New York City. The game transitions from a third-person shooter to a character action/action RPG combat system, featuring Dylan's unique shape-shifting rebar weapon and new abilities. Remedy Entertainment is taking a significant risk by changing the combat genre for this installment, which is set to launch on September 24th.
Morbid Metal Early Access Roadmap Includes New Sub-Biomes, Minigames and “Aura Farming” Systems
SCREEN JUICE has revealed the early access roadmap for their character action roguelite, Morbid Metal. Upcoming updates will introduce new sub-biomes, enemy systems, temporary and permanent upgrades, "aura farming" systems, minigames, new paths, and a new hero. The developer also plans to expand lore and add cinematics in later updates.
Homura Hime Review
Homura Hime is a debut release from indie studio Crimson Dusk that successfully captures the essence of the character action genre. The game features fast-paced, anime-style combat with a focus on one character and a single primary weapon, offering a quality-over-quantity approach to its moveset. Its narrative, charming characters, gorgeous cel-shaded visuals, and professional voice acting contribute to a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
GACHIAKUTA's PS5 Game Looks a Lot More Zenless Zone Zero Than Your Average Anime Fighter
COM2US has revealed the first footage of GACHIAKUTA, an upcoming PlayStation 5 game based on the anime series. The game features a character action style similar to Zenless Zone Zero, with fast-paced combat and online co-op. It is described as a survival action RPG with extraction elements, where players enter hazardous zones to defeat enemies and secure valuable objects.
The Quadruple Death and Rebirth of Resident Evil 4 - IGN
Resident Evil 4 underwent a famously troubled development cycle, with at least four distinct versions being scrapped before its 2005 release. Early concepts by Hideki Kamiya evolved into Devil May Cry, while later iterations explored psychological horror and traditional zombies before Shinji Mikami's final vision took hold. These abandoned projects significantly influenced the final game and the broader survival horror genre.
Surangama Steam Next Fest Demo Showcases Cyberpunk Horror Combat Inspired by Ninja Gaiden
Suzaku Games has released a playable demo for their upcoming title Surangama as part of Steam Next Fest. The game blends cyberpunk aesthetics with Cantonese folklore, featuring fast-paced, skill-driven combat inspired by titles like Ninja Gaiden Black. Surangama is targeting an early 2028 release on PC, with potential console versions for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch planned.
