Armed with a pair of swords, Ayumi is charged with toppling the evil overlord, and must evolve her fighting skills and magic abilities in order to proceed.

Blades of Time’s Dragonland setting is rife with traps, which have to be thwarted or avoided, while the various locations throw up a series of themed inhabitants. The game progresses from the island’s snowy locales, through to balmy jungles, decaying cities, and sky islands. Each brings a fresh look and differing inhabitants into play, pushing Ayumi’s new-found skills to their limits, while a second player can step in via the game’s all-action Co-Op mode, which is a bonus next to the single player story mode.

With over 40 possible attacking combos, and levels that will constantly surprise and delight, Blades of Time is so much more than a 3D combat title. It forces the user to think as they fight and to plot their actions in order to make the most of the time-travelling elements.