Review GigaDeathNullGolem 4/5 · Jun 4, 2023
Nice looking and sounding action-puzzle game disguised as platform shooter.
Fun Fact: The game features not only the same password system of The Lost Vikings, but has that same weird spot light 'screen saver.'
Blackthorne is an enjoyable action-puzzle game disguised as a rather darkly toned platform shooter. You basically weave through a levels various gates, traps all the while having shotgun shoot-outs with orcs as you and the …
Fun Fact: The game features not only the same password system of The Lost Vikings, but has that same weird spot light 'screen saver.'
Blackthorne is an enjoyable action-puzzle game disguised as a rather darkly toned platform shooter. You basically weave through a levels various gates, traps all the while having shotgun shoot-outs with orcs as you and the enemy pop in and out of cover and the other dodges or returns fire. (Its a pretty fun mechanic I find.)
You actually get your first weapon upgrade for your shotgun early on, which can help considerably in some situations where you're not in control of the fight.
Blackthorne reeks of Interplay's golden era in almost every way. The sound and music is awesome and the 'caves' score reminds me of the original Quake soundtrack by Reznor. Gloomy minimal dark ambient (Ambient with drums anyway) and some of the chimes and dings of the sound effects sound like they were ripped straight out of J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: Volume One (a game that is often disliked, but the audio was really good) The basic action-puzzle bits of Blackthorne aren't too unlike The Lost Vikings, with a bit less novelty and more repetitive/mechanical, which you'll either appreciate or dislike. One thing is for sure, the game initially feels easy and then when you screw up, suddenly feels unforgiving. Very easy to waste a hover bomb on an enemy you don't have to defeat and then find yourself unable to get through a locked door. (or just kill yourself with a hover bomb when suddenly finding yourself face-to-face with a minotaur slaver.
The game has different background and looks too once you make your way out of the caves.
I chose to play this on the SNES over the Sega 32X because (partly out of nostalgia but also) the sound here is Perfect and unique. The best half of the game is the best, the last level is particularly difficult and I find that this game doesn't need to be made hard, its plenty easy to just make mistakes in timing, spacing, etc. Definitely one to play with an emulator if you intend to finish it.
All in all its not perfect but its a unique looking and sounding game with fluid animation, fairly nicely illustrated animated cutscene panels and decent level design.