I usually find myself bewildered by the fact we don’t get many “mech” games anymore on the market. Sure, there’s Mechwarrior 5, which isn’t too shabby, and there’s nothing wrong with Bandai Namco still giving us Gundam games here and there. However, there used to be an abundance of these things on the market, not to mention a high demand for friends to get together and take each other on in competitive Virtual On sessions. Fortunately, there are those developers out there that still tinker with the formula in their own special way. That’s where Blackwind comes in.
An exciting mech adventure with some tongue firmly in cheek with its story. It’s a fun reminder of what mech games used to be. A little more polish would easily make it unbeatable, but we’ll take “not bad” any day we can get it.
Young Kid In a Giant Suit
The game revolves around Jimmy Hawkins, a kid who decides to join his father on a trip into space. All is well and good until an evil being by the name of Raknos comes along, shooting them out of the sky. When Jimmy wakes up from the crash, he finds his father missing, along with himself encased in a giant mech suit. With the help of an onboard computer, he vows to hunt down Raknos’ forces while trying to save dear ol’ Dad.
Blackwind is definitely an arcade-style endeavor, with some platforming and puzzle-solving thrown in for good measure. Players make their way across a series of levels, shooting down or using melee strikes to bring down enemies. Along the way, you can also use platforming to reach higher levels, and activate switches to get further into a stage. Oh, there is also a fun little drone that can detach from your suit and do some damage as well.
A deep experience Blackwind isn’t, as it seems to hunker back to the classic days of platforming action (aka PlayStation 2). However, there’s nothing really wrong with that, as the game provides a few hours of fun if no overwhelming replay value. Don’t forget, though – sometimes it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Good Presentation To a Fault
Blackwind really knows how to take advantage of the Xbox Series X hardware. It runs beautifully around 60 frames per second, even during the more frantic action sequences. There are also some good explosions and beautiful indoor environments, even if the design gets a slight bit repetitive.
However, the in-game camera can be its own worst enemy sometimes. It’s zoomed out so you can see around you during a level. However, it also causes peril when you can’t see an exploding mine or larger enemy out of view. As a result, you may be guessing where to time your shots instead of actually lining them up. Once you get over that hiccup, though, the game doesn’t look too bad at all.
Likewise, the audio’s not bad. The music is heroic and upbeat, though it has a tendency to repeat a little too often. The dialogue between the kid and the computer has its moments as well, but it will oddly become repetitive. As for the sound effects, there are a lot of laser blasts and explosions. So, overall, not amazing, but not bad.
Growing Up With Destruction and Chaos
Where Blackwind really succeeds is with its gameplay. There are times that puzzle-solving and backtracking can get a bit old. In retrospect, however, the action gameplay makes up for it.
The ability to mix melee, shooting, and missile strikes with your suit is pretty great, actually. Watching enemies writhe by your hand (or feet) is awesome. What’s more, you can unleash some devastating finishers, including a doozy where you stab a creature with its ripped-off wings. More variety in this department would’ve been nice, but we still dig it.
Overall, if you’re looking for a quick, arcade-style jaunt, Blackwind will suit you. Be warned, though – Mechwarrior this ain’t.
This Blackwind Rises
Could Blackwind have used more touching up with visuals and more fast-paced levels? Yep. For good measure, more multiplayer-oriented stuff would’ve been cool too (though the co-op is a nice touch). With those negatives aside, though, there’s some good gaming here, especially if you’ve been itching for some decent mech action. It won’t overwhelm you, but Blackwind certainly won’t gust out hot air on you.
VIBE Rating: 7.5/10
