En Garde!

“Arkham-esque combat and lovely platforming combine in this joyous and colourful game.”

“As is, En Garde! doesn’t overstay its welcome, and its strong combat will carry players through its rather short playtime. While the rest of the game isn’t as compelling, and the characters and story, while fine, feel like a missed opportunity, I still enjoyed my time with it. A more fleshed-out sequel, however, could be something truly special.”

“En Garde! is the perfect example of a game that does not seek to be perfect, but still comes very close. With some minor flaws and a setting as pleasant as its combat, it is the perfect game to have a good time without worries.”

“En Garde! offers a tight core idea and executes on it well, although in some predictable ways. It’s fun to constantly scan the battlefield and evaluate incoming enemies to decide how to use the environment and Adalia’s superior fencing skills to separate groups, stun some enemies, and, finally, take all of them down.”

“En Garde! brings character, energy and finesse to your pad within moments of play. It moves well and is balanced wonderfully with combat that matches and even surpasses many great games out there already. Its difficulty will definitely be offputting to some and its size may not be enough for others, but this game knows what it is, leans elegantly into it and gives you a memorable journey from its opening to close.”

“Out of nowhere, En Garde! is a surprise hit and a swashbuckling tale well worth playing. Engaging in fights, whether that's one-on-one or being outnumbered as you navigate an environment, using many obstacles and contraptions is immensely fun. Complimenting all of this is a painterly world, backed with a strong soundtrack, clever dialogue quips and a lot of heart. My biggest gripe with En Garde! is that there isn't more of it, something I so desperately need. As iron and steel collide in tense frantic battles or as you send your hundredth mook careening down a flight of stairs, one thing becomes apparent: Fireplace Games have made a hell of an unbelievably charming and special game.”

“En Garde! is a playable cartoon, with a charming heroine, hilarious gags, and colorful visuals. The combat and platforming are simple yet fun, with the former being quick yet deadly. While it is very short, it has enough replayability to keep you coming back for more.”

“En Garde! is a fun and unique experience, with fresh, agile and flexible combat. An authentic swashbuckling adventure.”

“En Garde! is a fun, humorous and stylish frolic through a colourful 17th century Spain that pays homage to Zorro and the golden age of swashbuckling adventures.”

“It was interesting to learn that En Garde! was created as an award-winning student project and then reformed and expanded to remake the game from the ground up. I am a big fan of classic swashbuckling adventures like The Three Musketeers and Zorro. Sadly, it’s not a theme often explored in video games, so I was beyond happy with En Garde! If there is one thing I didn’t like, it was that the story mode was too short for my taste. I can only hope we’ll see more of Adalia in the future”

“An absolutely fantastic game whose campaign does not overstay its welcome but still makes every encounter feel fresh. “En Garde!” focuses on arena fights and funny characters to build an extremely memorable experience. Along with the endlessly replayable “Arena Mode”, I don’t think I’ll stop playing it anytime soon.”

“Precise combat combined with a good dose of chaos is the main attraction of En Garde!, but not its only bright point.”

“En Garde! flares brightly with its slick, slapstick combat, for a while at least.”

“With a swish of the sword and a bit of improvisation, En Garde! is a fantastically fun action-packed adventure with a distinctive flair. Sure, it's a little bit short, but that doesn't make it any less sweet.”

“En Garde! It focuses the entire experience on the charismatic protagonist and the spectacle of the fights, which are truly reminiscent of the swashbuckling movies that were so popular in the last century. It therefore offers a lot, but at the same time offers only this: a hack and slash that in the end is little more than a beat'em up. Definitely a welcome surprise for those who love action-packed games with a light and fun story in the background, but those looking for depth in gameplay, exploration or character growth will find this game too simple. In any case, I am sure we will still hear the name of Adalia de Volador.”

“En Garde is a tantalizing first outing from new studio Fireplace Games, thanks to its slick combat and wonderful sense of humor. It's in some ways so strong that it leaves you wondering what this team could do with more time and money behind them.”

“En Garde! has plenty of style and looks and controls well enough, but the extremely tedious gameplay focusing more on tricks than swordplay quickly starts to wear thin.”

“En Garde! is a fun and compelling experience, and its best part surely is found in the unforgiving combat system, that hardcore players and casual gamers will enjoy alike: you can freely change the difficulty level in every moment, so that your new life as a swashbuckler can easily adapt to the kind of experience you are looking for.”

“For a game that was marketed with swordfighting at the forefront, it's a pity that swordfighting doesn't have any serious depth. Keeping things superficial in terms of story made me think that I would see more varied gameplay mechanics that reflected the essence of swordfighting. Here, not much has been put on top of an ordinary action & adventure game.”