Mother Russia Bleeds

Nintendo World ReportJoel A. DeWitte

9/10

Mother Russia Bleeds is an unapologetically offensive but well-executed brawler that on its face, only a mother could love. If you enjoy the violent or obscene, aren’t squeamish, and are looking to bust skulls with reckless abandon, it’s one of the better playing and looking offerings on Switch today.

TechRaptorPerry Ruhland

8.5/10

An exercise in brilliant simplicity, Mother Russia Bleeds takes you on a thrilling and depraved ride through the USSR.

Press StartSarah Carey

8/10

Overall, the game is far from perfect, but if you take it at face value as a standard beat ‘em up game, it will surprise you with its deep story and unique Nekro system. If you’re looking to kill some time, pop some skulls and have a spare $20 AUD, I’d definitely recommend giving it a playthrough.

Game InformerJavy Gwaltney

8/10

Mother Russia Bleeds is not a game unsure about its identity; it is completely confident and unapologetic in the violent, retro action it provides. Any cursory glimpse of Le Cartel Studios’ debut reveals muscular people beating each other to a bloody pulp in grotesque environments dripping with grime. That pretty much sums up the entirety of Mother Russia Bleeds: It’s a graphic, straightforward arcade-style brawler that’s also deeply satisfying – especially if you’ve got some pals along for the ride.

Gaming NexusJeremy Duff

8/10

Despite being a little over the top at times, violence-wise, Mother Russia Bleeds is a fantastic brawler at it's core. Addicting gameplay with a classic look, this one should keep you and your friends entertained time and time again, just like the classic beat'em ups of the past.

GameSpewRichard Seagrave

7/10

Despite its issues though, Mother Russia Bleeds still manages leave you with more happy thoughts than bad, especially when played with friends in local co-op. The violent action does a great job of holding your attention as the story unfolds, with each level book-ended by a memorable boss fight. And whilst you’ll encounter the odd unfair death along the way, you’ll jump right back in, eager to see things through to the very end. Mother Russia Bleeds doesn’t come anywhere near to toppling Streets of Rage 2 as the best scrolling beat’em up, but it has a decent stab at it, making it a recommended...

In conclusion, Mother Russia Bleeds is a solid debut for Le Cartel Studio. The production is top-notch and the soundtrack is arguably one of this year’s absolute finest. It’s crystal clear from the onset that the game was born to be wild. It’s the culmination of walls gone soft after repeated exposure to drone music and the countless hours spent playing arcade classics. It’s a heavy metal game for the most hardcore, and while there’s more style than substance to a lot of it, I doubt the fans of that style are going to care in the slightest.

COGConnectedPaul Sullivan

70/100

Nothing beats an all out street fight. Digitally, I mean. Thunderous pixel on pixel contact and brutal digital beep-boops can really make one’s day, or ruin it. It’s amazing really, how simple button mashing mechanics can feel so different from game to game. Streets of Rage 2 and Guacamelee are the bomb, while Double Dragon Neon is kind of lame. Why is that? And where on the scale does Mother Russia Bleeds fall?

Pure NintendoDawson Helton

6.5/10

I’ve had the pleasure of playing a lot of beat ’em ups this year and it’s been a wonderful experience for this genre to find a home on the Switch. When I

PC GamerChris Schilling

54/100

Ultraviolence doesn't pay in this grimly monotonous brawler.

Nintendo LifeJon Mundy

5/10

Mother Russia Bleeds is a proficiently-made side-scrolling beat 'em up that ultimately fails to drag this already limited genre forwards with any great new ideas of its own. Add in a wearyingly mature aesthetic and you're left with an oddly downbeat button-mashing action game; fans of the genre should wait for the forthcoming Streets of Rage 4 or download Capcom's superb Beat 'Em Up Bundle.

Rock Paper ShotgunBrendan Caldwell

Unscored

But it isn’t the late-eighties. It's today. If you’re the kind of person who wishes it still was the eighties and likes the idea of revisiting a button-mashing romp, warts and all, you’ll find a lot to like about this one. But even so, you might find it wearing thin after a while. After all, even the Age of Nostalgia must come to an end.