$9.99The Initial
Ruri and Erika are ESP-gifted schoolgirls with swords, lightning powers, and an evil organization to stop. The Initial is a short, fast arena hack-and-slash made by five people: block, evade, chain sword combos, and finish weakened enemies with flashy executions. It is rough and brief, which is exactly why it works as a two-hour burst of anime action.
Is The Initial worth it?
The Initial is worth it if…
- you like short, fast anime hack-and-slash with swords and powers
- you like learning boss patterns and finishing fights with executions
- you want a brief action game you can beat in an evening or two
Screenshots
Fast arena swordplay with lightning
You fight room by room through levels and battle zones in a special area called SPE, facing an evil organization after the ultimate artificial girl. Combat is quick sword strikes mixed with electricity-based powers, plus blocks, evasions, and counters against enemies who guard and dodge too.
You drop into a group, cut through the weak ones, then circle a tougher enemy waiting for an opening. Health refills after each arena, so every fight starts clean and asks for speed rather than caution.
Skills, executions, and bosses that bite back
Skill points unlock new attacks and abilities, including counter-attacks from blocks and evasions, and enemies knocked into a weak state can be executed outright. Hitting weaknesses ends fights faster, which matters when traps only hurt you and robots crowd around you.
Levels bring different enemy abilities, traps, and unique bosses, each wanting a different approach rather than button mashing. Four difficulty levels run from beginner-friendly to very hard, where you need to know what every upgrade does.
What else should you know?
Can you play it solo?
Yes. It is a single-player action game where you control Ruri and Erika through the story arenas. A separate mode also lets you play as each of the bosses, which gives the short campaign some extra replay value.
How long is it?
Very short. A normal run takes about two hours, with more time if you try higher difficulties or replay arenas and bosses. That brevity keeps the small enemy roster from wearing out its welcome.
How hard is it?
Normal asks for attention to blocking, evading, and positioning, while easy stays manageable for slower action players. Very hard demands upgrades, counters, and knowledge of enemy patterns, and bosses can punish mistakes fast.
