Panzer Paladin

If you’re a fan of old-school Ninja Gaiden or even the earlier Castlevania games, Panzer Paladin may just be the game you’re looking for. Panzer Paladin is an action-platformer that has style, an increasingly frustrating difficulty curve, and the ability to design your own weapons. Developed and published by the underappreciated Tribute Games, the game goes all in on its desire to stand out from the rest of the retro, 8-bit revival crowd.

While it doesn't revolutionize the genre, Panzer Paladin has some great features and mechanics. The story is left to be desired and there isn't as much depth in the weapon breaking system than I wish it had, but it checks all the boxes and goes the extra mile without ever really needing to. Whether you're a casual player or a speedrunner, there is plenty of content here to keep you busy.

Panzer Paladin doesn't reinvent the action-platforming wheel, but it does an excellent job balancing the aesthetics and feel of an old-school action platformer with modern ideas to make it a wholly fresh-feeling experience. The true power of the weapons is only unlocked through their destruction, which adds an extra layer of strategy to each level and boss fight. On top of its retro-aesthetics, it has some many nods to NES era games without getting mired in nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. It doesn't quite reach the heights of something like Shovel Knight, but it brings a lot of cool ideas to t...

If taking a trip back in time with an old-fashioned platforming game sounds like a good time to you, Panzer Paladin won’t disappoint. Its excellent visual direction and soundtrack definitely helps it stand out from the crowd, and once you get a handle around its core weapon system, it becomes clear that there aren’t many other games out there that play quite like it. Panzer Paladin sticks hard to its old school influences, even if sometimes to a fault, but it mostly pays off.

Panzer Paladin's heavily old-school-flavored action is a blast from the past from beginning to end.

Inside every great robot hero, there's a tiny robot woman with a big whip.

Tribute Games tapped into a treasure trove of classic games, and that adoration shines bright in Panzer Paladin. In a year already full of great action-platformers, this one shouldn’t be skipped.

Panzer Paladin is the kind of game I dreamed of as a kid. A flashy and colourful platformer with nearly a hundred weapons, over a dozen levels, cool anime art, and even the ability to draw my own weapons? It's a tall order, yet Panzer Paladin manages to deliver. Its sharp combat and even sharper visuals kept me glued to my screen for hours, but there were times where I struggled to engage with the best parts of the weapon system. Managing durability and an overflowing arsenal ended up being far more of a challenge than any of the platforming or enemies within the game.

I love retro-inspired games, especially when they're done well so here's the super-fun Panzer Paladin. Suit up and let's rumble!

Tribute Games has taken on a mission of revitalizing game styles from previous generations, and Panzer Paladin is a laudable success in that effort. The side-scrolling futuristic action game borrows most prominently from the Mega Man series in its structure, but other nods are also in place, from Blaster Master to Ghosts ‘n Goblins. With rollicking chiptunes and evocative pixel art, the developer hits all the right notes to feel like a modern throwback. But the retro structure and design can do more to harm than good, and Panzer Paladin has pulled a few of the wrong ideas into the present.

The ability to create weapons and the way you use them to fight in this retro platformer is fantastic. The aesthetic for Panzer Paladin is also awesome, but the first half of the game's level design and slow platforming leaves room for improvement.