Blades of Vengeance (Genesis/Mega Drive) - Completionist (100% all items & secrets)

You are the champion of a god who lost his powers due Mannax, the Dark Lady, who cast a spell on said god. You can choose between the huntress (or warrior princess as I imagine her), the barbarian or the wizard. At about a third through the game you can upgrade your character which changes the playstyle depending on who you chose. The barbarian clearly does the most damage, but I think the huntress is the most fun to play and she can jump higher. The barbarian can also animation cancel his attack for massive dps which the other characters can't.

You are on a quest through eight stages which are maze-like, but are traversed mostly linearly since you need to go through most doors anyway, but there are lots of hidden treasures and secrets to be found. This game is a treat for a completionist like me who loves to explore! Many fantasy walls were hidden too well for me though so I looked at a map to find the rest and compile it into this completionist run that shows everything in the game including the warp zone.

The game feels very arcadey in a good way. The graphics are pretty good and varied. Sound and music are fine too with some memorable tunes. They suit the fantasy world well. The controls work great too. I didn't encounter any glitches or weird behavior with the controls. You also have access to some items that you can activate at any time, most notably the healing and barrier potions. You find lots of them throughout the game and can buy a few more in the shop after each stage. If you search for extra potions and keep yourself well stocked, the game is well balanced and even on the easier side. The only minor complaint one could bring forward is the fact that most bosses are not very impressive. I guess there was just not enough memory on the cartridge.

This is definitely a hidden gem and well worth playing.

00:00 - Start
00:40 - Intro
00:59 - Stage 1
08:52 - Stage 2
23:33 - Stage 3
31:58 - Stage 4
52:19 - Stage 5
1:00:12 - Stage 6
1:19:58 - Stage 7
1:33:51 - Stage 8
1:42:53 - Ending & Credits
1:45:55 - Secret (Warp Zone)