We first saw Sacre Bleu in action during Gamescom 2024, where its chaotic blend of stylish combat and irreverent French flair already caught our attention. Now that it’s out on the Nintendo Switch, the final product delivers much of what it promised: a fast-paced, side-scrolling action platformer with a tongue-in-cheek narrative, unique gameplay mechanics, and a strong visual identity.
In Sacre Bleu, you play as the captain of the Musketeers, unjustly imprisoned in the Bastille and now blasting your way to freedom using nothing but a blunderbuss and a dash of revolutionary spirit. The game’s setting leans heavily into absurdist humor, with an aristocracy turned into bile-spewing zombies and over-the-top boss fights anchoring its tongue-in-cheek story. While the plot isn’t particularly deep, it’s delivered with flair and a consistent tone that makes each encounter feel almost like a theatrical act in a bizarre alt-historical comedy.
What makes Sacre Bleu stand out, however, is its kinetic and inventive gameplay. Your weapon doubles as a movement tool – launching you through the air, triggering bullet-time acrobatics, and turning each room into a gravity-defying ballet of chaos. It’s a blend of platforming and combat that feels fresh, though the control scheme takes a bit of getting used to. Some players may find the physics occasionally awkward, especially when ricochet-based movement doesn’t quite go as planned. Despite that, once the system clicks, the fluidity is rewarding and encourages replaying rooms for better times and grades.
There’s also a healthy amount of depth here. The Bastille map is sprawling and invites exploration, and you’re rewarded with new parts to build an airship, unlockable modifiers, and secrets tucked into many corners of the map. Speedrunning is encouraged but not mandatory, letting players either rush through or take a more methodical approach. Streamers can also enjoy added chaos through interactive Twitch modifiers, although we didn’t test any of these features.
Visually, Sacre Bleu embraces a hand-drawn, cartoon-like aesthetic that feels right at home on the Switch. Characters are exaggerated and full of personality, and the environments – though sometimes visually dense – are well-designed and clearly guide the player. The soundtrack keeps the energy high, and while the voicework is minimal, the writing is strong enough to help carry the tone.
The game isn’t without its flaws. Precision can suffer due to the physics-based traversal, and not all modifiers feel equally balanced. Players looking for a more traditional platformer might find Sacre Bleu’s chaotic systems frustrating at times, but for those who embrace its madness there’s a lot of fun to be had.
In the end, Sacre Bleu is an imaginative, anarchic romp through revolutionary France, blending stylish action with offbeat humor and a clear creative vision. It may not be for everyone, but its unique mechanics and playful spirit make it a standout among indie releases this year – and of the most fun takes on the Musketeers we’ve ever seen.
Score: 8.0/10
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