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Blackwood: Indie Gun-Fu Meets New York Grit
16 Sep
Summary
- Blackwood is a cinematic third-person action indie set in 2012 New York.
- It features John Wick-inspired gun-fu with explosive takedowns.
- The game suffers from combat jankiness and animation stiffness.
Set in a gritty 2012 New York, Blackwood is a cinematic third-person indie action title inspired by classic gun-fu movies and games. Players control Anton Blackwood, a man balancing the life of a DVD store owner with that of a nocturnal assassin.
The game showcases a strong emphasis on explosive, cinematic enemy takedowns and intense gunfights, reminiscent of the John Wick film series. Players can adopt a gung-ho approach or a more tactical style focusing on headshots. The seamless transition between takedowns and gunplay is a particular highlight.
However, Blackwood is currently hampered by jankiness in combat, particularly in hand-to-hand encounters, and stiff animations for both Anton and enemies. Unresponsive button prompts and a challenging ultrawide field of view also detract from the experience.
Developer AttritoM7 Productions plans to release Acts 2 and 3 for free in March 2027 and September 2027, respectively. These future updates offer hope for patches that will address the current rough edges and allow Blackwood to fully realize its potential among indie titles.
