Bloodless Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · October 3, 2024

Bloodless Review is a stylish, action-adventure game featuring counter-based, non-lethal combat centered around Ronin Tomoe’s signature dash-counter mechanic, fighting with nothing but her bare fists to disarm her former allies, the samurai army of Shogun Akechi.

Bloodless Review Pros:

Decent pixel art graphics.
1.54GB download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Five save slots.
In-game cutscenes and character interactions.
Action adventure gameplay.
Powerful soundtrack.
It is a visual treat both for graphics and color palettes.
Tutorial pop-ups as you play along with button prompts.
Baku brazier can be lit to enable having and healing.
Multiple choice encounters.
Unlock map locations by exploring.
Armed with a dash you can time your dash to disarm enemies.
Collect ingredients from the world and craft tea at Brazier for health.
Plays on a 2D scale but you can freely move around.
Actions are policed by your stamina bar.
It plays almost like a reaction-based rhythm game.
Materials and resources respawn after death.
Red leather pouches increase your crest limit.
Crests are objects of power that you can equip.
Mannen is the currency of the game and is used to buy from merchants.
Skill gems can be found and earned, these are used to expand your attacks.
Beautiful locations and points of interest.
It uses color to emphasize the story beats.
You can unlock and equip ki attacks which are powerful attacks. To police their usage you have to earn and use ki petals that are earned by disarming enemies.
When you nail the timing and take out a group of enemies it’s very satisfying.
Big boss encounters.
Find fighting idols and cash them in at a brazier to do a self-contained combat challenge for rewards.
I like that the game doesn’t lock you into a narrative and you can go off and explore.
Has a DARK Souls feel to it what with the combat needing timing and learning patterns, they nailed the whole know-when to stop attacking mechanic.

Bloodless Review Cons:

You cannot remap the controls.
No actual graphics options.
There are no game settings for things like blood etc.
No voicework.
The map is very basic and is just locations, you cannot soon go into a spot and see more info and exploration.
Very reflex-heavy game.
To increase difficulty it feels like they just add in a tone of enemies.
The scenery can get in the way and obscure when an attack is coming.

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