Bleeding Edge

The gameplay of Bleeding Edge in the hero shooter style but with melee combat is original, it is fun, very direct and spectacular at times, although Ninja Theory does not end up hitting the key to make it stand out from the competition. It meets its goal of bringing new experiences and variety to the catalog of exclusive Xbox Game Pass games.

Bleeding Edge is an original multiplayer brawler, with great charisma and a good team-based tactical gameplay. It lacks in content and shows several technical problems, but if Ninja Theory will keep on improving it constantly adding new content, it could become a new important competitor in the multiplayer arena.

A fun multiplayer brawler hampered by some lag issues and a lack of game types. With an update or two to iron out the kinks, this utterly charming game could go from good to great.

The potential for Bleeding Edge certainly does not seem to be lacking, and indeed the bases for something encouraging can still be seen: it remains to be seen what will be the support for the title in the medium / long term, the only factor actually able to transform what is today a promise with so much personality in a truly noteworthy exclusive.

Bleeding Edge has a great core, but it feels like there is still a lot of work to do. Games evolve constantly now, so it’s worth keeping and eye on and, if you are a Game Pass subscriber, make sure you give it a try.

Bleeding Edge puts quality over quantity. The people at Ninja Theory have brought their expertise in the hack and slash genre and have translated it into a competitive experience that is both satisfying and distinct. But the lack of content and the boring ranged characters hinders it from really standing out amongst the overcrowded genre. Maybe in a few months, it will feel feature complete. But for now, Bleeding Edge will only have you strapped to your couch for a few hours before you decide to try something else out.

A very interesting "hero slasher" that at the moment is lacking in terms of content and variety.

The future certainly looks bright, but today the product needs more than just a couple of game modes and 11 characters.

Ninja Theory debuts within the stream of competitive multiplayer titles with a game which has some gameplay mechanics that are convincing enough to shine on their own, but whose light goes off as you think more about what might become than what already it is.

It's a little sparse on content, but Bleeding Edge now offers a fun combat system, stable netcode and quick matchmaking, and that should be enough for a solid launch.

Bleeding Edge sets a good foundation for a game as a service. We're missing some additional content (game modes, characters and levels) but it feels truly satisfying when we coordinate with the rest of our teammates.

Bleeding Edge has a ton of potential, largely thanks to its fun and well-designed combat, colorful style and characters, and nicely-crafted levels and goals that emphasize the need for teamwork and strategy. But in trying to deliver so much when in comes to the fighting elements, it lets a few awkward moments slip through, and worse, puts less emphasis on elements like the story that need it, as well as a need for more content. It’s still an enjoyable multiplayer brawler as is, but future updates and additions will act as the true test to see if Bleeding Edge can truly improve and stand alongside the greats.

Right now, Bleeding Edge is an enjoyable but light multiplayer diversion. Needless to say, its ongoing success depends on Ninja Theory’s ability to keep the experience interesting and fresh. If it’s left too long without new content or modes, current players will probably move on, and an online multiplayer game with no players isn’t any fun at all. There’s a good base here on which to build, but if it’s left to stagnate it will quickly be forgotten.

For the first few hours Bleeding Edge is an absolute blast to play and well worth a look if you have Xbox Game Pass. But there's not enough depth to make it last long-term, at the moment.

A fun hero brawler that has a long way to live up to its potential.

Melee weapon combat system feels good and intense. Beside that, the number of heroes makes the game relatively content light, and the PvP matchmaking is problematic and frustrating.

Bleeding Edge has all the components in place to be a genuinely entertaining multiplayer mainstay, there just needs to be more of it. With only a couple of maps and modes, and far too few skins and emotes, Ninja Theory will need to roll out more content to keep players engaged.

Bleeding Edge is a solid hero brawler that currently lacks content badly. While the foundations of this hack-and-slash arena brawler are strong and the roster of misfit circus rejects is absolutely stellar, there aren’t enough reasons to play beyond the first few hours. Still, every match of Bleeding Edge I’ve played has been enjoyable and fiercely competitive, and if they can retain their player base I’ll happily return to Ninja Theory’s latest chaotic playground.

It often feels a little undercooked but the emphasis on teamplay and some very unusual characters offers an enjoyable alternative to other online multiplayer games.

Ninja Theory's first multiplayer outing could be something special, but it's a lack of game modes and a dedicated ranked mode stops Bleeding Edge from taking on the other big team-based multiplayer games. However, the game does feature some superb third-person combat and team play. Working together with a group of friends or dedicated players has never felt so satisfying. The varied cast of characters is exciting and fun to play with, while the Mods system adds a layer of customisation to the game. Bleeding Edge is definitely worthy of your time.

BleedingEdge is a punk game, a fun experience crafted with a lot of love for the hack and slash genre. But we are not sure it has what is needed to survive the test of time and escape the hero based game niche.

It is a game that comes very late to the genre that it tries to assault, but at the same time it gives it a certain originality by creating a work in which the combat mechanics are based on hack and slash and not on the simple skills of a regular hero shooter (although they're also there, and they are key, of course).

Bleeding Edge does not pass the experiment between two genres. Lack of playable depth and the lag issues makes it difficult to find reasons to keep playing.

Bleeding Edge has plenty of potential and I had fun with it in my first couple of hours, yet lost interest in it quickly, as the battles alone weren’t enough of an allure to keep going. Like most living competitive games, there’s a chance Ninja Theory could greatly enhance the experience over time. For the time being, however, it’s entertaining for a bit and then it fades fast.

Bleeding Edge has a solid foundation as a melee-focused multiplayer action game that tries to appeal to the masses, but it is a bit short on content, and has a few notable issues that need resolving. Within such a highly competitive genre, hopefully changes arrive sooner rather than later, if the game is to have a shot at longevity.

To say the game is already doomed may be premature but it has no chance with Overwatch and will probably share Battleborn’s (which was a much bigger game itself) fate in the upcoming months. [06/2020, p.46]

Bleeding Edge is an online 4v4 brawler in which two teams fight to control objectives. The combat in the game feels satisfying and the characters are well balanced. Teamwork is very important and therefore as a solo player, it can be frustrating when your team doesn’t work together. It’s a shame that there is very little content in the game. Updates with more fighters, game modes and maps are desperately needed to keep Bleeding Edge fresh and entertaining.

The latest title by Ninja Theory could be very well considered as one of their weakest works, a title that tries to take its shot in an overcrowded hero shooter genre and fails. Bleeding Edge doesn't add anything new to the genre, and it seems that it only tried to be another copy of the games like Overwatch.

This results in jousts which are pleasant at first but which lose their panache far too quickly due to a lack of depth. Jousts that its skinny roster will unfortunately have a hard time boosting.

Bleeding Edge sadly is too little too late to be able to make an impact on the hero shooter market, with a lack of content and no solo mode, even if most of the game is pretty well-made.

There's a decent multiplayer action game concept buried in here, absolutely. Some of these characters deserve to live on in future projects. At the same time, it feels like there are only so many team dynamics to experience. It's all too fleeting. Once you've hit that point of no return, there's no real motivation to continue. I'd like to pick this back up one day, but realistically, I don't see that happening...If you're even remotely interested in Bleeding Edge, play it now while the matchmaking is still lively.

Still, for all that Bleeding Edge gets right, it really feels like the game's "early days." It’s missing crucial staples of competitive games, like ranked play, which allows you to invest the experience and keeps people playing, long-term. I'd like to believe Microsoft and Ninja Theory will keep tweaking and expanding the game so it can compete with other competitive multiplayer games, but right now it feels like a temporary multiplayer fix for players looking to break up the monotony, rather than the next esports obsession.

Bleeding Edge misses its mark, but there's a spark inside this game worth keeping your eye on.

Sure, the game almost feels like a parody of similar titles, but after you put more time into it, you begin to gradually see its own potential. There's definitely a good foundation in place with Bleeding Edge, but it might be worth waiting for a few updates to see if it really finds its footing.

With solid combat and some brilliant character designs, Bleeding Edge has all the potential to become a solid, compelling online action game. Sadly, though, that's all it is at the moment: potential. What's here is good, but there's just not enough content to keep players' interest for weeks or months to come.

The attention to detail, great soundtrack, and largely well-designed characters belie a game that is clearly loved by those that worked on it, but the crippling lack of depth in every area of Bleeding Edge has made what should have been an excellent game a mediocre one instead. I hope Ninja Theory is given the opportunity to expand on the game, but right now Bleeding Edge is fun but forgettable filler.

Its core gameplay is fun, and the talent of the developers shines through in spite of problems which I’ll get to, but it’s apparent that there wasn’t anyone with enough weight on the team to hold the game up a bit and add key, modern touches that need to be included in a game that wants to survive in the hyper competitive multiplayer market.

There's an abundance of character here, sure, but what Bleeding Edge needs most is a personality - preferably its own. [Issue#346, p.104]

Bleeding Edge does not manage to motivate over long time and captivates with technical mistakes rather than deep gameplay.

There really isn’t a lot to like about Bleeding Edge. I found it uninspired and boring with only a couple redeeming qualities such as some neat character designs and a robust tutorial. I honestly don’t understand why Bleeding Edge was developed. Maybe Xbox Game Studios requested their newly acquired Ninja Theory to throw together a quick team-based online game to fill a void until the Xbox Series X launches. Who knows. I imagine we won’t see much post-launch support with Bleeding Edge, as the team at Ninja Theory is probably fully focused on making Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. At least Bleeding Edge is free with Xbox Game Pass, so if you subscribe, you can give it a go and see for yourself.

Luckily, those with Microsoft's Game Pass will be able to try the game without spending any money, save what they already spend for the service. In a way, Bleeding Edge almost feels like the perfect title for service and will likely make the game's faults feel less frustrating for some. But hopefully Bleeding Edge improves in time, like so many other multiplayer games of its kind have after rocky launches, because there's a lot to like here. It's just a shame that so many games have to become good eventually, rather than actually launching that way initially.

Thanks to the simple combat, sterile environments, and weird balancing, playing Bleeding Edge feels more grindy and repetitive than any other game I’ve played in this space. The characters are all pretty cool and weird, but when everything is zoomed out and the gameplay loop repeats itself over and over, everything just, well, bleeds together and loses its edge.