The downloadable efforts from publisher Arc System Works have always been somewhat questionable. Aside from publishing a few western wonders like the BIT.TRIP and Shin'en titles, their releases have always swayed in quality. The Family/Okiraku games were sometimes laughable at worst and pleasant at best. Other attempts of capturing the Nintendo eShop audience saw games that used mostly recycled music, while featuring original gameplay. These conventions are mostly unseen in Swords & Darkness, which makes the game one of ASW's more impressive outings yet.

The basic gameplay might turn some people off as it mostly takes lessons from the Kunio-kun games. These sidescrolling brawlers are what made the company big to begin with, but also share a lack of variety. The enemies feel too similar and in some instances can be very overwhelming in their use. Even  in the beginning, enemies will try to sandwich you into inconvenient positions which will put your agility to the test. The battle system is not varied and you will learn all of your moves in a matter of minutes, and will mostly go unchanged until the very end. Although it is repetitive, special attacks given to you help change up the game, after playing it for a good deal of time.

As you go deeper into the adventure the game becomes refreshing in short bursts. An interesting story of how two kingdoms became players in a seemingly endless war is introduced with an unsettling narration. While both sides were losing soldiers across the battlefield. One kingdom, keen on winning the war, used the Grail of Life to revive dead soldiers and unleashed forbidden magic across the land. The knights went mental in the end and ravaged their own kingdom. Why? It is up to you, a lone knight, to find out what happened.

As you progress through the game, the enemies become tougher and you encounter boss fights throughout. This goes hand in hand with the lite Role Playing system, which Swords & Darkness fully embraces. You are able to level up by defeating enemies, and gaining levels will also give you access to skill points. These skill points can be used to upgrade various elements of your character like attack power, hit points and your chance for critical strikes. Shops in the game sell you upgraded weaponry, which makes your participation in the title somewhat more enjoyable.

Impressive looking sprites peppered with more abstract details added to the background might be a bit of a weird look at first glance, but it does make the game stand out somewhat visually. The game is a colorful affaire and all of it shines quite well in 3D. The music adds to the mood as well, with more action packed music used during battles and melodies or ambient noises in the silent areas.

Swords & Darkness is a fun game, despite it sharing some of the faults of the Kunio-kun franchise. The majority of enemies aren't too different from one another and they are unfair in their overwhelming attacks. The battle system is also not very grand, though it becomes slightly better thanks to some special attacks later on. While the gameplay does not take big steps in furthering the genre, bigger steps are made in the story, the RPG-esque elements and the way the game presents itself. They make for something that is way more involving than any Kunio-kun game ever has been. It was a bold step from Arc System Works, but you know what? It paid off.