En Garde!

Zorooo Zoroooo Zoooroooo !!!

Short, but great game! You should try it.

This is a game with a really fun sekiro inspired combat system, and in which you can use the objects in the environment to defeat enemies in different ways. The gameplay is generally really satisfying and rapid. It is good optimized too. I recommend it.

I quite enjoyed it. Best played with a game pad. Remembering all the fighting methods and when to strike at first can take a little getting use to (if you've never got the hang of dark souls mechanics and alike - which can be painful to learn - this game has semi-inspired mechanics but much more casual (which I love) - except featuring it's own spin on things). Much easier to jump into than many games, I love and play the heck out of many games which I don't have to spend hours learning and getting the hang of, even though such games have their place. The commentary includes somewhat humourous responses from the guards which I found refreshing and encouraging- especially to get you started in the tutorial area. I really love games that clearly have had a lot of love and care put into, prioritising quality over length. I'd rather have a shorter game that I can reply with substance and care put in, than a shallow repititive rushed and stretched out story/game that wastes my time and I don't leave feeling satisfied or caring about the game at all. Well done devs

En Garde really feels made with love and affection. People bring up the charming dialogue, but it goes beyond that; it's how reactive the enemies are to everything you do. If you don't attack, or if you miss parries, only dodge, or run away, etc. they have individual lines to taunt you. When you knock them down, they don't die, they pretend to be knocked out, and will whisper cheeky things if you linger in a room. All this makes the world feel alive and playful against the beautiful painted art style. The voice acting really should be highlighted as everyone fits the tone and energy flawlessly. The combat requires focus but is not unforgiving, and the chaotic dance of relying on your enviroment to throw things, kick things, vault and platform over enemies while lookng for an opening does a great job capturing the heart of Zorro's action. While I do feel the final chapter does sum things up a bit quickly, overall for the type of game I think the length is just right, and the difficulty of the final chapter too I think struck the right balance of tougher enemies in close quarters without feeling like too high a spike. The game also features an arena mode with rougelike upgrades after each match to give you a fair bit to chew on after the story is over. En Garde is one of my favorite gems in recent memory for finally capturing a specific aesthetic and vibe beloved in movies and shows but lacking in the realm of games until now.