2025-11-18 11:00

When I first booted up PG-Geisha's Revenge, the pixelated visuals and chiptune soundtrack immediately transported me back to the golden era of 16-bit gaming. The developers clearly poured their hearts into recreating that authentic retro aesthetic, from the meticulously designed character sprites to the moody, atmospheric backgrounds that could have been ripped straight from a 1993 arcade cabinet. But here's where things get fascinating - while the game wears its vintage inspiration proudly on its sleeve, its combat system contains one brilliantly modern twist that completely redefines how players approach encounters.

I'll admit, during my first hour with the game, I fell into the classic trap of keeping my distance from enemies. The retro presentation had conditioned me to maintain safe spacing, cautiously poking at foes from afar while nervously watching my health bar. This conservative approach led to some frustrating early deaths against what should have been manageable enemy groups. The breakthrough came when I accidentally rolled directly into a towering samurai yokai while trying to escape its sweeping attack. To my astonishment, not only did I take no damage from the collision, but I found myself perfectly positioned to deliver three quick slashes before gracefully evading its counterattack. This moment of discovery felt like uncovering a secret the game had been waiting to reveal all along.

The combat system in PG-Geisha's Revenge operates on what I've come to call "intimate engagement" principles. Unlike many action games where touching enemies results in damage, here you're encouraged to get up close and personal. The dance of combat involves rolling directly through enemy attacks, positioning yourself at their flanks or rear, unleashing a combo, then using your dodge to create space. After about two hours of adjustment - roughly the time it took me to clear the Bamboo Forest stage - this flow became second nature. The game's mechanics are built around this close-quarters philosophy, with enemy attack patterns specifically designed to be avoided through aggressive positioning rather than passive retreat. I found myself consistently dealing 25-3% more damage when fighting from point-blank range compared to medium distance, thanks to the way hitboxes are calibrated.

Now, let's talk about the control scheme, because this is where I have my one significant gripe with an otherwise masterful combat system. The developers decided to map forward dodge-rolls and backward dodge-flips to separate buttons - R1 and L1 respectively on the standard controller layout. While functionally identical in terms of invincibility frames (both provide approximately 0.4 seconds of complete immunity), this separation creates an unnecessary cognitive load during high-intensity encounters. Throughout my 40-hour playthrough, I probably used the backward dodge-flip maybe two dozen times at most. It's not that the move is ineffective - it looks stylish as hell - but the mental overhead of deciding between two nearly identical defensive options in split-second situations often led to input errors during crucial moments. I'd love to see this streamlined in any potential sequel, perhaps through a context-sensitive dodge system.

What makes PG-Geisha's Revenge's combat so compelling is how it subverts expectations while remaining intuitively readable. The game looks like it should play one way based on its visual language, but the actual mechanics encourage a completely different approach that feels both fresh and surprisingly natural once you adapt. This creates what I consider the game's signature learning curve - players must unlearn decades of gaming conventions about personal space in combat. The satisfaction comes from that moment of transformation when you stop seeing enemies as threats to avoid and start viewing them as dance partners to engage with directly.

The weapon variety further enhances this intimate combat philosophy. My personal favorite, the Twin Kodachi blades, excel at rapid strikes that allow you to stay glued to enemies while chaining together 8-10 hit combos. Meanwhile, heavier weapons like the Naginata require more strategic positioning but reward players with devastating counterattacks that can eliminate standard enemies in 2-3 well-placed hits. I spent approximately 65% of my playtime with faster weapons because they complemented the dodge-roll aggression so beautifully, though I know several players in the community swear by the methodical pace of heavier options.

What truly elevates the combat from great to exceptional is how every system interconnects. The parry mechanic, executed by pressing block just before impact, seamlessly flows into the dodge-roll combos. Successful parries not only create offensive openings but also build your special meter faster than any other action. During my fight against the notorious third boss, the Phantom Geisha, I discovered that combining parries with point-blank dodge-rolls allowed me to build my ultimate ability twice as fast as my previous hit-and-run attempts. This systemic synergy encourages players to fully embrace the game's unique combat rhythm rather than relying on safe, conservative tactics.

If there's one piece of advice I wish I'd received before starting my journey, it's this: forget everything you know about spacing in action games. The sooner you overcome that instinctual hesitation about getting close to enemies, the faster you'll appreciate the elegant combat ballet PG-Geisha's Revenge offers. This game doesn't just tolerate aggression - it rewards it handsomely. The most satisfying moments come when you're weaving through enemy formations, your character practically brushing against opponents as you strike, dodge, and counter in one fluid motion. It's a combat system that looks traditional on the surface but reveals its modern, sophisticated soul the moment you dare to get close enough to see it.