Panzer Paladin is a game that likes to wear its influences on its sleeve. It's coming from Tribute Games, the same crew behind Mercenary Kings and Wizorb--both of which were about showing off the aesthetic of games from 8- and 16-bit eras. And Panzer Paladin very much maintains that tradition of paying...well...tribute to retro games. You take on the role of a mech pilot and control the powerful Paladin power armor to battle legions of monsters with a variety of unique melee weapons and magical spells.
On the surface, Panzer Paladin looks to channel the same gameplay and style found in the original classic Castlevania and '80s sci-fi/fantasy anime shows, respectively. And while that's very true, this retro action-platformer does it in a way that feels endearing and all its own. In addition to mecha action, you'll switch off between on-foot sections with the pilot, creating a nice contrast between strong combat and fast, platforming gameplay. The pilot wields an energy whip and can swing and attack enemies at a distance, just like Simon Belmont from the Castlevania series.
Though games that try to evoke a style and design sense of classics from a bygone era seem very common in today's age, Panzer Paladin has a unique, stylish charm in its own right. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this retro action-platformer, and what other callbacks it has in store for us.
For more on the games we saw during PAX East 2019, be sure to check out our roundup of games that really impressed us during the show.