Half Sword: A Tale of Combat, Chaos, and Crashes

When your sword fights back more than the enemies do

Launch Day Larry

Welcome to the world of Half Sword, where the thrill of combat is only rivaled by the frustration of performance issues. This game promises a unique blend of realistic physics and strategic combat, but does it deliver a knightly experience or leave you tilting at windmills? Let’s dive into the battlefield and find out.

Gameplay: A Double-Edged Sword

In Half Sword, the gameplay is as sharp as a well-forged blade, offering a combat system that gives players full control over their weapons. The realistic physics and strategic combat mechanics are a breath of fresh air in the genre, allowing for a nuanced and engaging experience. Players can enjoy the thrill of dueling opponents for money, with the added bonus of character customization and new gear to keep things interesting.

However, mastering these mechanics can feel like trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle. Certain weapons, like polearms, have a tendency to glitch, leading to some rather frustrating gameplay moments. The progression system is another beast entirely, with a complexity that makes the tax code look like a children’s book. Players are left to navigate this labyrinthine system with little guidance, which can sap the motivation to advance.

Performance issues are the dragon in the room, with larger maps demanding high-end hardware to run smoothly. Frequent crashes and system lock-ups are as common as NPCs in need of rescuing, especially on lower-end PCs. Despite these challenges, the addictive gameplay loop and potential for skill improvement keep players coming back for more punishment.

Graphics: A Feast for the Eyes, a Workout for the GPU

Visually, Half Sword is a mixed bag. The game’s graphics are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal, with lighting effects and a new physics system that add a layer of realism to the experience. The alley maps, with their scaffolding and atmospheric design, are particularly noteworthy.

Yet, the game’s performance is as stable as a house of cards in a windstorm. Frame rate drops, rendering problems, and lag plague even the most powerful systems, suggesting a need for serious optimization. The lack of support for 21x9 resolutions and the occasional crash during updates only add to the frustration. Players often find themselves tweaking graphics settings more than actually playing the game, which is a shame given the potential for visual splendor.

Story: A Knight’s Tale, Light on the Plot

The narrative of Half Sword is as straightforward as a knight’s charge, focusing on the player’s progression through a series of battles. The ultimate goal is to confront the enigmatic Baron, but the story serves more as a backdrop to the combat than a central focus. The character death system, where unpurified characters are pursued by vengeful spirits, adds an intriguing twist, though its impact diminishes as players progress.

The story mode, however, is marred by performance issues and a lack of clarity in its systems. Players are left to figure out mechanics like item trading and mercenary hiring on their own, which can detract from the overall experience. While the narrative is not the game’s strongest suit, the underlying story of struggle and overcoming adversity resonates with players, keeping them engaged despite the challenges.

Final Verdict

Half Sword is a game of contrasts, offering a unique and engaging combat experience that is often overshadowed by technical issues and a convoluted progression system. The graphics, while visually appealing, suffer from performance problems that detract from the overall experience. The story, though simple, provides enough motivation to keep players battling through the ranks.

For those willing to brave the game’s challenges, Half Sword offers a rewarding experience with the potential for improvement as it progresses through Early Access. With a focus on optimization and clearer guidance on game mechanics, this game could become a shining example of the genre.

Score: 6.5/10