Orangeblood is a new RPG set in a vibrant yet chaotic city. I wasn’t expecting the game that I was playing when I started playing Orangeblood. On the outside, it just looks like an RPG about four girls in a city, but this game is something I wouldn’t have expected for the Switch. Orangeblood is a testament to never judging a book by its cover, and it’s quite good too. Orangeblood stars Vanilla, a young girl and thug, who breaks out of jail; and helps a girl named Michiko take back Shangri-La. These two girls are not like other girls. Vanilla is a thug through and through, as is Michiko. Michiko drops some sick beats and wants to get out of her brother’s shadow. These two are a dynamic duo, and even with two more party members, become the best of friends.
This game is a turn-based RPG where players control their gun-toting, gangster anime girls. Players will guide their actions as they take out thugs and robots. The game is pretty standard in this regard. Select which foe to attack and then lay it on them. The enemy will have a few tricks up their sleeves, so be prepared. I was a few levels ahead of the enemy, and for some reason, they’d often go ahead of me, which makes no sense.
It’s a good idea to shoot first and ask questions later. The foes will charge forward no matter the level difference, and sometimes players want to skip the battles. The player can run from battles, but it doesn’t always work and will give the enemy another chance to attack. Again very standard, but sometimes their attacks can be downright devastating. The bosses in this game are brutal and won’t hold back. I was four levels higher than the first boss, for instance, and it initially wiped me. This boss shot me four times every turn, and with Fourteen thousand health, there was no way I was getting out of there alive. This game is a brutal one, and things will get harder as the player levels up. While grinding is good, preparation is key.
This game has a lot of looting to do. As the girls level up, the weapons they can find or buy will increase in strength. As players take down enemies, they may gain fragmented keys. These keys are useful as they let the player open up the chests scattered about the world. There are numerous chests, and the game will even notify the player if there are special chests in the area. The guns and gear in this game are fantastic. Each item generates randomly, so players never know what they will find. The weapons each have several bullets and powers. Some guns can attack all enemies, and some shots are always critical. The gear provides many boons, so it’s good to upgrade them too, whenever possible. Having the right guns and gear is the only way anyone will survive in this city.
Players will eventually unlock fast travel. Using fast travel: Vanilla and co can fly anywhere in the game that they have been. It’s a great system where they fly through the sky in an old car. The sprawling map of the city can get confusing, so it’s a good idea to jump in the car whenever necessary. It’s surprising how detailed the pathways are; you never know where you might turn in and find somewhere new. The city is almost another character in the game. While it may be a 2D game, the city is so vibrant. The people have lives to deal with, and passing by, they might even curse out the heroes. It’s a dark place, and while it may be futuristic, there is always a sense of foreboding. It would be cool to live in a place like this, but clearly would also be downright terrifying.
The language in this game is modern and fresh. The characters swear a lot, which is wild, as this game doesn’t look like one that would have swearing. The game drips with an I don’t care attitude, and it’s so rough and tumble. Again I wasn’t expecting such words to come out of these cute looking anime characters, but I appreciate the energy. The music in this game is based around 1990’s hip-hop and also fits the aesthetic. It’s just grungy enough that every song, fits the vibe. It’s a solid soundtrack that many will enjoy and hopefully will keep players entertained throughout. Again while I wasn’t expecting it, it was a nice change of pace and makes this game even more unique.
Orangeblood is a great game and one that shows players should never judge a game by the cover art. I was expecting a fun RPG, but this game is more fun than I imagined. I enjoy the sarcasm and swearing, the combat is simple yet intuitive, and the characters are great. While this game won’t be for everyone, I’m sure many will enjoy it. Vanilla wants to take over the city; will the player help her do that?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
The game is also available for PS4, Xbox One and PC