Bladestorm: Nightmare’s western release date no longer haunts us at night

News by Clark A.

Pair up a game that has cultural or historical value with a developer suited to the task like Tecmo Koei and you’ve got a killer combination in the eyes of many at Digitally Downloaded. Based on that criteria, the last console generation’s criminally overlooked Bladestorm: The Hundred Year’s War became one of our absolute favourites, as you can read about in our review. It sure took its sweet time getting to digital platforms in 2013 after a release way back in 2007, but boy did that seemingly unceremonious re-release remind us how great a legitimate revival would be.

But then that theoretically revival was abruptly confirmed this summer in the form of Bladestorm: Nightmare on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One…in Japan, anyway. We got a decent glimpse of the game at this year’s Tokyo Game Show and its strategic action looked stellar to say the least.

But we can all finally stop thrashing about at night and dialing random sleep specialists in an inebriated frenzy as we demand details about a video game. As of today, we’ve got a pair of international release dates to print out and tuck against our collective digital bosom. North Americans will get to have their Nightmares on March 3 with Europeans following suit three days later. Bladestorm: Nightmare will run North Americans $59.99 USD for the retail versions on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. PS3 owners can pick up the digital version for a slight saving at $49.99.

‘Bladestorm: Nightmare’ is a strategy game where the player takes the role of a mercenary and chooses to fight either for England or for France in missions inspired by real events and battles of the era dubbed ‘the Hundred Years War’(1337-1453). Revisiting one of the lengthiest and most politically unstable periods in European history, Omega Force has developed this title in a way that allows the player to assume command of different kinds of army units, while it also offers them the opportunity to develop their own unique character, increase their fame, gold, and army and complete various missions irrespective of sides and loyalty.

Aside from the main mode’s educational value (it accurately follows the events as they unfolded) ‘Bladestorm’ will also include a stand-alone mode called ‘Nightmare’, which features an original, fictional scenario.

In ‘Nightmare’, as the war between England and France wages on, a mysterious battle horde of outlandish creatures appears, led by a seemingly turned-evil Joan of Arc. The army is comprised of Dragons, Giants and Demons of various kinds and infinite numbers and the kingdoms of England and France momentarily cease fire and join forces to drive this evil out of the world.

This new mode allows the player to take control of an additional 32 playable characters, based both on fictional and prominent historical figures of the time. With their assistance the player’s character can try and control the demonic armies, restore Joan of Arc to her former self and save the world from evil.

This fun new twist diversifies the classic strategy elements of the game, and effectively splits ‘Bladestorm: Nightmare’ into two parts; ‘Bladestorm’: the historically accurate account of the 100 Years’ War, and ‘Nightmare’: a fictional fantasy scenario that unfolds in the same world.