A dual sword-wielding treasure hunter named Ayumi finds herself stuck on a mysterious and dangerous island. While rich with bounty, the island is also caught in the throes of Chaos magic. Ayumi soon discovers that it is also the home of thousands of long-held secrets, including special powers and abilities that she can gain for herself. Using everything she can, she must find a way to defeat armies of menacing villains and a multitude of treacherous traps in order to break free of the possessed island's grasp.
Tropes present in Blades of Time:
- Action-Adventure: Like its predecessor, the game features the protagonist running around exploring old temple ruins while killing near limitless hordes of monsters.
- Action Girl: Ayumi and Michelle, both twin-sword and gun wielding treasure hunters.
- BFS: Zero, Ayumi's partner, wields one.
- Big Bad: The Guildmaster/Keeper of Chaos
- Braids of Action: Ayumi's hairstyle consists of two braids.
- Cleavage Window: Michelle's outfit features one.
- The Dragon:
- The Vicar of Chaos was this to the Keeper of Chaos before he fell into magical slumber but now he rather likes being in charge and is actively trying to avoid waking the Keeper up.
- Ayumi was intended to be the Vicar's replacement (in addition to being literally a dragon), but she rejects the offer.
- Dragon Ancestry: The game is set in Dragonland, where those with dragon ancestry once came to awaken their powers. Perhaps unsurprisingly Ayumi is a descendent of the dragons herself.
- Dual Wielding: Ayumi wields two swords and can unlock several variations with different enhancements.
- Dull Surprise: Ayumi seems at most only mildly perturbed at all the insanity she encounters.
- Exposed to the Elements: Upon entering the snowy Brutal Lands Ayumi will by default change into a relatively sensible (though still figure hugging) fur outfit...but the game gives you the option to switch her back to her usual Stripperiffic outfit.
- Expy: Ayumi is obviously based on the main character from X-Blades, even sharing the same name. Her design is also reminiscent of Lara Croft.
- A Form You Are Comfortable With: The Dragon Spirit appears as Ayumi herself with reptilian eyes, wings and wearing what looks like a scaled body suit. Ultimately subverted as it turns out she is Ayumi's dragon power personified and looks like Ayumi herself in her draconic form.
- Hack and Slash: Very much so. Ayumi can unlock more than 40 sets of skills, including attacks and combos.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Subverted. Dragon Ayumi stabs herself with the Keeper's sword in order to free herself from his control. She subsequently wakes up again in her human body.Ayumi: Yeah, I'm fine. I just had to kill myself that's all.
- Hybrid Power: Being a descendant of the dragons, Ayumi has inherited several powers, which she gains access to upon entering Dragonland.
- Jiggle Physics: Ayumi's breasts will bounce around, no matter what costume she's wearing.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Some enemies use shields, which block all incoming attacks and usually require you to make use of your time clones to flank them, or use magic attacks to overpower them. Some will arbitrarily gain a magical shield which is completely immune to melee attacks, and requires multiple clones to shoot at them to break the shield.
- Magic Versus Science: While the conflict between the Skyguards and the Keeper of Chaos is explicitly Order Versus Chaos it also fits this trope, as the Skyguards use laser weapons and Powered Armor while the Chaos forces are mostly sword wielding zombies, mages and Magic Knights.
- Ms. Fanservice: Ayumi is a gorgeous blonde young woman with glamour model curves and an outfit that bares a generous amount of skin, from her arms, thighs, cleavage, and abs.
- Order Versus Chaos: Dragonland is the battlefield of a war between the Skyguard (who represent order and light) and the Chaos (who represent chaos and darkness). Ayumi can also unlock powerful Order and Chaos forms of magic.
- People Puppets: At the end of game, it's revealed that the Keeper of Choas can control Ayumi's Dragon form due to the fact that the Altars that had unlocked her powers belonged to him all along.
- Red Herring: The Vicar of Chaos warns Ayumi that the Keeper of Chaos is manipulating her to awaken him which is true. He also states that the Dragon Spirit that has been following her throughout the game is an apparition of the Keeper which is not. She really is the spirit of the dragon, specifically Ayumi's dragon spirit, and while awakening Ayumi's dragon heritage is the Keeper's plan but the Spirit isn't in on it.
- Sex Sells: Being the spiritual successor of X-Blades, fanservice is still apparent, from the sexy cover to the tagline of "Guns. Swords. Booty?", and Ayumi's booty shorts and Skyguard costume.
- The Starscream: The Vicar of Chaos is opposing efforts to awake his master the Keeper so he can stay in charge.
- Stripperiffic: Ayumi's base costume is just a bra, a pair of hotpants, thigh-high stockings. And belts. A lot of belts, not that they cover much.
- Talking to Themself: Ayumi has a habit of talking to herself when she's alone.
- Tamer and Chaster: A teensy bit. Ayumi has traded in her thong from X-Blades for some hotpants.
- Third-Person Seductress: Ayumi.
- Third-Person Shooter: The game has moments of this.
- Time Rewind Mechanic: Ayumi has an ability called "Time Rewind", which lets her turn back time and produces a clone that replicates the last actions she made. It is vital in solving puzzles and fighting hordes of enemies.
- Transhuman Treachery: Averted. The Keeper takes control of Dragon Ayumi's body and attempts to force her to destroy her human body and fully embrace her role as his strongest warrior, but she ultimately overcomes his control and stabs herself instead, thus waking up in her human body.
- Videogame Dashing: Both Ayumi and Michelle have a "Dash" ability, which can instantly close the distance between enemies as well as travel quickly using environmental features.
- We Can Rule Together: The Keeper continually tries to convince Ayumi to join him during the Final Battle, but she rejects the offer.
