Are you ready to become the ultimate weapon and set out on a journey to eradicate all alien threats? Blackwind has today been given a fully confirmed January 2022 Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC release date.
We first stumbled upon Blackwind back in July of this year, when the teams at Drakkar Dev and Blowfish Studios were looking to get it released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC before the year was out. As with many things though, that original plan has slipped a little and we’ll now instead be seeing Blackwind hit PC and console come January 20th 2022.
That release will be in digital fashion, however those out there looking to take this in physically will also be able to, as Perp Games are running a European boxed release on January 21st. North American folk will need to hold to a later date.
A sci-fi action platformer in which combat is very much of the hack and slash variety, Blackwind tells of how a peaceful human mining colony on the planet Medusa-42 suddenly faces an invasion by the Raknos, a ruthless alien race hellbent on destroying everything in sight. It’s here where the focus is left on James Hawkins, a teen with no formal training who finds himself alone after a crash landing in his father’s revolutionary battle mech prototype. Fortunately, the Battle Frame’s AI, Blackwind, provides all the companionship and protection Hawkins needs. Only together can the pair fight their way through the hostile planet, find Hawkins’ father, and destroy the alien threat.
From there, expect to hack-and-slash your way through dynamic isometric locations with energy blades, blasters, missiles, mines, and grenades to clear out the barbarous alien threat. You’ll also be tasked with solving brain-teasing environmental puzzles while leaping and grappling around obstacles and adversaries. But that’s not all and Blackwind will also allow the chance for you to rip through the hordes of Raknos bipeds, spiders, drones, swarms, and other dangerous forms with a wide range of melee and ranged attacks, unleashing devastating blows with brutal termination finishers before moving on to the next foe.
It gets better though and you’ll also be able to deploy the detachable Battle Frame Drone to extend combat and exploration capabilities, evolving this through three skill trees with dozens of upgrades and abilities. And just for good measure, choosing between three difficulty levels, and traversing either alone or with a friend in local co-op mode where Player One controls the Battle Frame while Player Two attacks using the agile Drone to deal damage throughout imaginative sci-fi landscapes, is also doable.
“Blackwind’s beautiful terrain is nearly ready to purge of the vicious alien threat,” said Manlio Greco, Designer, Drakkar Dev. “We hope everyone will take on the challenge of classic fast-paced sci-fi action and meticulously search for all the secrets we’ve hidden within.”
“Blackwind is all about fast, brutal action and we love it” said Rob Edwards, Managing Director at Perp Games. “We are very proud to be working with Blowfish and Drakkar Dev, to bring you the physical boxed version of this frenetic mech shooter.”
If you’re up for marching across sand-swept deserts, scaling snowy mountains and trekking through dense forests, all full of deadly bosses, then Blackwind is going to be for you. Give the trailer below a little watch and then standby for action as that January 20th 2022 release on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC comes along. You’ll be expected to pay USD 24.99, AUD 29.99, GBP 19.99, EUR 24.99 if you’re looking to get involved.
Edit: 08/11/21 – Pricing structure now updated.
