Nightmare Slash looks a bit like a 2D platformer with side view, slightly similar a bit graphically, layout and with characters that would not look out of place in must play classics like Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow, and Circle Of the Moon on the Game Boy Advance. But thats where the comparison ends as this game is indeed much more of a hardcore slash em up which is going to test your skills to the max. The layout actually in gameplay is more like the original Mario Bros Arcade Game where you have just a single screen with a few platforms to run around and jump on, although no turtles here to knock over ;) The adventurer is controlled using the WASD keys to move around or jump to other platforms, and the mouse controls where the cursor is placed and aim to attack with the mouse button is used to cut the numerous enemies down essentially while jumping, running, and dodging as possible from flying creatures. Some enemies have shields. One hit from the enemies kills you so unless you have very good reflexes expect to die quick and often which may make this game not enjoyable to play for many except those who are lightning quick and enjoy arcade type challenges. I would practice at first not moving and just placing the cursor with the mouse where to attack and then hitting the mouse button until you get the basics of it down. Did I mention if you fall off the lower levels you also die? Perhaps if it were slowed a bit more toward the speed of the mentioned castlevania games or added a few hits before dying, it might make it more playable to others and I would try again. In this case the lack of reviews, discussions, and whiterabbits attempt to play one for the team seem on par with the difficulty here and not from just being new. As a leftie the controls requring the use of WASD (and not say also the arrow keys) with having to use the mouse on the right side combined make it also slightly more difficult for me to control which is not good for action. While I can perhaps use a keyboard remapper such as microsoft powertoys and others, I have to put this one in the too hard to enjoy category when it was somewhat difficult even to get past a first level killing only 10 enemies. The graphics are decent and is the high point so far of what I'm able to see. Rating: D