Bloodless is just what the name says and is about avoiding killing and to do that, you must disarm the opponent and take them down using ki-attacks. These are the only way you can fight enemies and understanding patterns and strategizing correctly is how you will win.Instead of focusing on parrying attacks like in a typical Soulslike, you must dash into enemies right before they strike you. This is how you disarm enemies and it feels like a refreshing twist on the formula.
Disarming enemies will make them run away in terror, but do not get overconfident. You can only do this when enemies use white attacks, while you cannot block and disarm enemies using red attacks, which need to be avoided at all costs.be careful of your actions though as those deplete mana, while using the Ki attacks, which consume Ki petals. Ki petals can be replenished by disarming enemies, so do not feel afraid to use them.
You can also increase your moveset and gain new skills from finding skill gems, while also using crests and herb infusions you gain access to give yourself some aid. As with most Soulslikes, you can light a fire, in this case a Baku brazier, to heal wounds and save, but they are also used for something else. You can use the braziers to brew tea for Tomoe’s gourd and the different types of tea will either heal you or grant a temporary advantage. Just make sure you know what you are making and find the choice that works well for you.
Bloodless has a lot going for it that is different and there is a unique challenge here. You can really see how the developers pushed themselves to try something different and the result was a truly amazing game. Yes, the music could be better, but that is a small price for something fun like this. The challenge in Bloodless is well handled, and if you want to push yourself more,you can search for special Warrior Idols that can be used to gain access to challenging areas that will test your limits.
I had a lot of fun with Bloodless both on the PC and on Nintendo Switch and the game functions well on both platforms. I found myself enjoying taking the game on the go, as I found the experience perfectly suited to playing on a handheld. That being said, sometimes the art could make things a little hard to see everything in handheld mode, so it was not perfect, but thankfully this did not happen all the time.
Bloodless is a welcome change for the Soulslike Genre and a game I think many fans will enjoy. Sometimes you just need a little twist and that makes all the difference and Bloodless shows how taking the killing out of a Soulslike, can still result in a challenging and rewarding game. Bloodless is highly recommended.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
