Power Blade (NES) Playthrough [4K]
3"Power Blade" for the NES is an action-platformer video game developed by Natsume and released by Taito in 1991. In the game, players assume the role of Nova, a commando equipped with a boomerang-like weapon called the "Power Blade." Nova's mission is to infiltrate an enemy fortress and defeat an army of robots controlled by an evil computer.
The gameplay of "Power Blade" revolves around Nova, a character reminiscent of Schwarzenegger, navigating platform-filled areas teeming with cybernetic foes sporting varied attack patterns, including airborne robots and bizarre wall-mounted faces that expel bubbles. Notably, Nova wields a boomerang as his weapon of choice.
One notable aspect of "Power Blade" is its non-linear structure. Players have the freedom to choose the order in which they tackle the game's six stages, adding a strategic element to the gameplay. Each stage is set in a different environment, ranging from futuristic cities to industrial complexes, with unique enemies and challenges. Character enhancements come from items dropped by regular enemies, granting Nova the ability to wield multiple powerful boomerangs, deploy devastating bombs, and even don a Metal Suit, allowing for a projectile attack that penetrates surfaces.
"Power Blade" features responsive controls and smooth animations, contributing to its overall enjoyable gameplay experience. The game's biggest flaw lies in its protagonist's overwhelming strength. Nova's prowess renders most enemies inconsequential, exacerbated by his ability to attack in eight directions. It has a lot of good things going for it, with attempts to inject depth with a mini fetch quest for I.D. cards, but they are easily found. Larger levels or tougher enemies could have compensated for this the lack of challenge and its brief playtime.