Dual Blades
Written by Dan Clarke on 10/29/2002 for
GBA
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Dual Blades
Fighting games and the Game Boy Advance have long been two great tastes that go together like the Red Sox and the World Series – namely they don’t. Between the small buttons and the small screens, it’s very tough to do those twelve button combo attacks.
That being said, Metro 3D has released Dual Blades on the Game Boy Advance. Let’s take a look at the fact sheet for this game:
It is 150 B.C. amidst the Hun Empire. You must possess the power to slay your enemies and execute insane combos. The fearsome Alperen has harnessed incredible energy by merging his soul and the immortal sword to create the legendary weapon of Dual Blades. Survive battle after battle and face the ultimate test to topple Alperen, gain the sword and become immortal!
Key Product Features:
· Exclusive Game Boy(R) Advance Fighter - Exploits the gaming power!
· 15 huge fighters - bigger than any other GBA fighting game
· Dynamic visual effects:
- Gorgeous, colorful multi-scrolling arenas
- Intense combos and powerful finishing moves
· 2-player vs. fighting via the Game Boy Advance Link Cable
Doesn’t that sound pretty exciting? When I fired it up, I was thinking – could this be the fighting game to win me over on the GBA..the answer is yes and no. While I’m still not convinced about the fighting prowess of the GBA (I’d still have to pick the NeoGeo Pocket as the platform of choice) the game did impress me.
The graphics are well done , especially the fighter animations. The characters are gigantic on screen which definitely helps you control the fighter as you know what he/she/it is doing. Some of the backgrounds could use a little more excitement, but the foreground action is pleasing to the eye.
The sound isn’t so good – but we are talking period music and since it’s 150 BC, you aren’t going to get any techno riffs. The music does make me feel I’m in 150BC ;).
As far as gameplay goes, it’s a fighting game with controls very similar to the other fighting games out there. As always, you’ll be mashing buttons and doing many d-pad gyrations in order to get that perfect combo. Each character does have their own special moves and characteristics, which is definitely a good thing. I found the game pretty easy in single player mode to finish. It’s a fun diversion, but there isn’t a heck of a lot of replay value in single player mode.
The game is rated M (Mature), mainly because of the violence and finishing moves. Again, if you’ve played these types of games before you really aren’t seeing anything new gore-wise, on the other hand, there aren’t many M rated games on the GBA so you may like it for shock value.
This is one of the few GBA fighting games that does support a link feature, which is where the replay value increases. As long as you have a friend with the game, you could be playing this one for a while.
Overall, I found Dual Blades to be a fun fighting game on the go. While it doesn’t change my opinion of the genre on the GBA, if I have the game in my library I’d be playing it, especially in the multiplayer link mode.
That being said, Metro 3D has released Dual Blades on the Game Boy Advance. Let’s take a look at the fact sheet for this game:
It is 150 B.C. amidst the Hun Empire. You must possess the power to slay your enemies and execute insane combos. The fearsome Alperen has harnessed incredible energy by merging his soul and the immortal sword to create the legendary weapon of Dual Blades. Survive battle after battle and face the ultimate test to topple Alperen, gain the sword and become immortal!
Key Product Features:
· Exclusive Game Boy(R) Advance Fighter - Exploits the gaming power!
· 15 huge fighters - bigger than any other GBA fighting game
· Dynamic visual effects:
- Gorgeous, colorful multi-scrolling arenas
- Intense combos and powerful finishing moves
· 2-player vs. fighting via the Game Boy Advance Link Cable
Doesn’t that sound pretty exciting? When I fired it up, I was thinking – could this be the fighting game to win me over on the GBA..the answer is yes and no. While I’m still not convinced about the fighting prowess of the GBA (I’d still have to pick the NeoGeo Pocket as the platform of choice) the game did impress me.
The graphics are well done , especially the fighter animations. The characters are gigantic on screen which definitely helps you control the fighter as you know what he/she/it is doing. Some of the backgrounds could use a little more excitement, but the foreground action is pleasing to the eye.
The sound isn’t so good – but we are talking period music and since it’s 150 BC, you aren’t going to get any techno riffs. The music does make me feel I’m in 150BC ;).
As far as gameplay goes, it’s a fighting game with controls very similar to the other fighting games out there. As always, you’ll be mashing buttons and doing many d-pad gyrations in order to get that perfect combo. Each character does have their own special moves and characteristics, which is definitely a good thing. I found the game pretty easy in single player mode to finish. It’s a fun diversion, but there isn’t a heck of a lot of replay value in single player mode.
The game is rated M (Mature), mainly because of the violence and finishing moves. Again, if you’ve played these types of games before you really aren’t seeing anything new gore-wise, on the other hand, there aren’t many M rated games on the GBA so you may like it for shock value.
This is one of the few GBA fighting games that does support a link feature, which is where the replay value increases. As long as you have a friend with the game, you could be playing this one for a while.
Overall, I found Dual Blades to be a fun fighting game on the go. While it doesn’t change my opinion of the genre on the GBA, if I have the game in my library I’d be playing it, especially in the multiplayer link mode.
Fighting games and the Game Boy Advance have long been two great tastes that go together like the Red Sox and the World Series – namely they don’t. Between the small buttons and the small screens, it’s very tough to do those twelve button combo attacks.
Rating: 7.2 Average
* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.
About Author
I am male, married, 31 years old and love videogames ever since my parents bought me an Atari 2600 on December 24, 1979.
My resume for video gaming includes writing for PC Gamer (Contributing Editor, 2000), Operation Sports, Sharky Extreme,and the now defunct Rival Works, in addition to ghost writing for various publications. In addition from 2000 to September 2002 I was Editor In Chief for an online publication that ceased to exist because of the powers that be.
Right now I am playing Medal of Honor Spearhead, Splinter Cell, NHL2K3, Madden and NBA2K3. I love sports games and first person shooters with a pinch of strategy games.
I have two wonderful kids and live in the Northeast. I am a Patriots, Revolution and Orioles fan. View Profile
