The first time I booted up PG-Geisha's Revenge, I was immediately struck by its gorgeous retro aesthetic - the pixel art characters, the chiptune soundtrack, everything screamed classic gaming revival. But what truly surprised me wasn't the nostalgic presentation, but how the combat system completely subverted my expectations. Like many players approaching what appears to be a retro-style game, I initially kept my distance from enemies, assuming close proximity would automatically result in taking damage. This cautious approach cost me dearly during my first few attempts at the game's opening levels, where I struggled to understand why my character felt so underpowered against even the most basic enemies.
It wasn't until my third attempt at the first major boss fight that I accidentally discovered the game's secret weapon: you can literally hug enemies without taking automatic damage. This revelation completely transformed my understanding of the combat mechanics. The system actually encourages aggressive positioning - you can roll directly into enemies, unleash a combo, then dodge away with precision timing. After about two hours of practice and numerous failed attempts, this approach started feeling incredibly intuitive. The combat rhythm began to click, and I found myself effortlessly weaving between groups of enemies that had previously demolished me. This close-quarters emphasis creates a dynamic flow that feels more like a modern 3D action game than the retro-inspired experience the visuals suggest.
What's particularly fascinating about the dodge mechanics is how they're mapped to the controller. The game assigns forward dodge-roll and backward dodge-flip to two separate buttons, despite them functioning almost identically in terms of invincibility frames and movement distance. In my 40+ hours with the game, I found myself using the dodge-roll about 85% of the time, barely touching the dodge-flip outside of specific situational requirements. This design choice feels somewhat odd, especially considering how streamlined the rest of the control scheme is. I can't help but wonder if consolidating these movements might have created a more efficient control layout, though I suspect the developers wanted to maintain the visual distinction between offensive and defensive maneuvers.
The learning curve for mastering this combat system is steep but rewarding. During my initial playthrough, I tracked my performance metrics and noticed a dramatic improvement once I embraced the close-quarters approach. My damage output increased by approximately 60% between levels 3 and 7, and my survival rate against standard enemies jumped from around 45% to nearly 90%. The game truly opens up once you overcome that psychological barrier of wanting to maintain distance from enemies. There's a particular satisfaction in perfectly timing a roll through an enemy's attack, immediately following up with a three-hit combo, then seamlessly transitioning to the next target.
What makes PG-Geisha's Revenge stand out in the crowded retro-inspired market is how it blends nostalgic presentation with genuinely innovative combat design. While the game looks like it could have been released in the 16-bit era, its approach to spatial relationships in combat feels thoroughly modern. The developers have created a system that rewards boldness and precision in equal measure, forcing players to unlearn defensive habits ingrained by decades of gaming conventions. It's a design philosophy that initially feels counterintuitive but ultimately creates one of the most engaging combat loops I've experienced in recent memory.
Having completed the game multiple times and experimented with various playstyles, I'm convinced that the close-quarters approach isn't just viable - it's essential for mastering the higher difficulty settings. On my New Game+ run, attempting to maintain distance from enemies resulted in combat encounters taking roughly three times longer while increasing damage taken by nearly 40%. The game's mechanics are clearly balanced around aggressive positioning, with enemy attack patterns designed to punish hesitation rather than rewarding caution. This design choice might frustrate players expecting a more traditional retro experience, but for those willing to adapt, it offers a refreshing take on action combat.
The combat system does have its quirks beyond the somewhat redundant dodge options. I noticed that hitboxes can be slightly inconsistent during certain enemy animations, particularly with larger bosses. There were moments where I felt my character clearly cleared an attack, only to take damage from what appeared to be empty space. These instances were relatively rare - occurring maybe 5-7 times throughout my entire playthrough - but they stood out in a system that otherwise feels incredibly precise and responsive.
What ultimately makes PG-Geisha's Revenge's combat so compelling is how it evolves throughout the experience. The game gradually introduces new enemy types and environmental hazards that force you to refine your close-quarters approach. By the final chapters, you're navigating complex attack patterns with split-second timing, using the dodge-roll not just as an escape tool but as an integral part of your offensive strategy. It's a system that demands mastery rather than simply offering it as an option, and that design confidence is what elevates the game from being merely good to truly exceptional in its genre.
Looking back at my complete playthrough, which took approximately 28 hours to finish with 92% completion, the combat system stands as the game's crowning achievement. While the story, characters, and visual design are all excellent, it's the revolutionary approach to close-quarters combat that will stick with me long after the credits have rolled. PG-Geisha's Revenge doesn't just pay homage to classic games - it advances the genre in meaningful ways, proving that retro inspiration and modern innovation can coexist beautifully when handled with this level of design intelligence and mechanical polish.