Bleeding Edge is a team-based multiplayer brawler and yes, the comparison to Overwatch is just around the corner. There are different heroes, different arenas, a team of four elements and a series of modes that force you to play exclusively online. But this is the theory. The one behind a game that could give Xbox an interesting and unusual exclusive but which in practice turned out to be an incomplete title.
But before understanding what did not convince us of the latest effort by Ninja Theory, let's take a step back and try to understand first of all what Bleeding Edge is.
Bleeding Edge review: what is it?
Bleeding Edge is not easy to define. In fact, a tour on the web will be enough to understand how complex it is to ascribe this game to a specific genre. There are those who call him online brawler, who define him as a hero shooter, who instead opts for hero slasher. All terms that probably mean nothing to the majority of the population.
I will limit myself to describing it and leave it to you to place it in a specific category.
Bleeding Edge takes you to a world made up of 11 different characters, divided into 3 classes. You can therefore opt for a mighty tank, choose a hero born to damage opponents or be supportive to your companions. The typology, however, is only the starting point.
The roster of this video game is in fact made up of extremely different fighters, so well characterized as to guarantee you 11 different gaming experiences.
I'll give you a practical example.
Zerocool he is a healer. With him you will therefore have to work alongside the other players to heal them in times of need. Obviously he too must defend himself from enemies and he does so by creating absolutely impassable walls and shooting when necessary.
With him, the basic rule is only one: to remain distant from the opponents but very close to the allies.
Also Miko she is a support character and therefore she can heal teammates too, but she is armed with a staff and can use long combos to take out enemies. Plus she is able to freeze enemies, which allows her to hit them even longer.
With her, therefore, the approach is different: Miko can throw himself into the fray without major difficulties. She just has to remember to help her mates when they need it.
Same class, deeply different strategies.
This is Bleeding Edge.
An online game, where the characters give each other a hell of a lot, up close (as in a slasher or in a brawler) or at a distance (as in a shooter).
Randomness and repetitiveness
So far it all sounds extremely original and tantalizing, but a few games will be enough to grasp the weaknesses of Bleeding Edge.
First of all, once you start the game - with your team or alone, then rely on matchmaking - you will not be able to choose map or mode. Everything happens randomly, which is not always welcome.
Secondly you will very soon discover that there is no variety. The maps are very few and the modalities only two. The first - Mastery - is based on the conquest of specific points within the game environment. A great classic that takes on a bit of panache thanks to a rather clever trick: the areas to be occupied are enabled and disabled in a totally random way, so you must be ready to move when necessary. The second mode - Energy Cells - is linked to the delivery of energy cells that obviously you will first have to conquer by finding them inside the map, after which you will have to bring them to the indicated point avoiding being killed by the opponents. In case of death, in fact, your cells can be collected by enemies who will then have the opportunity to take home some precious points.
And this is all. Almost. There are indeed the modwhere you can give your characters some advantage in terms of damage, vitality or ability (while threatening balance), and two ultimate to choose from before going down to the arena.
Bleeding Edge
- 4V4 Team Brawler: Experience a unique multiplayer that combines combination mechanics with dynamic...
- Good teamwork, synergy and strategy are required to secure victory
- Choose from hundreds of cybernetic mods to fully customize your build to suit your playstyle
Style is not lacking
If Bleeding Edge were just that, a multiplayer title with little content, we probably won't be here talking about it. In short, we would have filed it as a small stain on the English software curriculum.
The problem is that the title has style to spare.
The clashes are extremely funny and require you to measure your special skills and techniques well.
And onrsonages are perfectly characterized, unique in their kind, enhanced by a successful cel shading and fluid animations. A little less convincing, on the other hand, are the arenas that would have deserved some more attention.
Not too exciting in my opinion also the sound behavior, which could be enriched by some more incisive electronic pieces, while the net code was promoted with flying colors, with fast matchmaking and lag first matches.
Bleeding Edge review: what do I do, drain?
Bleeding Edge is currently included in the Xbox Games Pass subscription, which means that, if you are registered, you can download and try it for free. If this is your case, do not hesitate to try it. Maybe you will abandon it, maybe not, but experiencing it personally is a must.
The situation is different for those who are not subscribers to Game Pass. In this case the "proof" will cost you 29,99 euro. Well spent if you already have a proven team to play with online, also because it is really like this, with a close-knit team, that you will be able to enjoy it and bring home the victory. Alone, on the other hand, the risk is to inveigh unnecessarily with uncooperative comrades or to quickly encounter boredom and repetitiveness. At least for now. Ninja Theory in fact seems to be working on new mods, new characters, new modes and new arenas. At that point, with a nice handful of extra content, Bleeding Edge is going to get really interesting.
Bleeding Edge
Pro 
- Well characterized characters
- Fun gameplay
- Technically well done
- Great price
Cons 
- Few content
- Balance to be reviewed
- Not very incisive soundtrack
