When I first sat down to play developer MercurySteam's latest project, Blades of Fire, I anticipated a modern take on the studio's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series, infused with the contemporary style of God of War. However, after an hour of gameplay, it felt more like a Soulslike, with the unique twist that all stats were tied to the weapons rather than a traditional RPG character sheet. By the end of my three-hour hands-on session, I realized that Blades of Fire is a unique blend of familiar elements and fresh ideas, crafting a distinctive approach to the action-adventure genre.
At first glance, Blades of Fire may seem to emulate God of War, particularly the Norse saga of Kratos, with its dark fantasy setting, powerful strikes, and a close third-person camera. The demo introduced a young companion aiding in puzzle-solving as we navigated a labyrinthine map filled with treasure chests, seeking a woman of the wilds who resided in a house atop a giant creature. The game also borrows heavily from FromSoftware's repertoire, featuring anvil-shaped checkpoints that restore health potions and respawn enemies. Yet, despite these familiar elements, Blades of Fire carves its own path with a distinct 1980s fantasy aesthetic.
The game's world evokes the era of Conan the Barbarian, with its muscular soldiers and bizarre enemies, such as orangutan-like creatures on bamboo pogo sticks reminiscent of Jim Henson's Labyrinth. The narrative follows Aran de Lira, a blacksmith demigod, on a quest to defeat an evil queen who has turned steel into stone. While the setting and story have a nostalgic charm, they lean heavily into generic video game tropes, reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era, which might not hold up as compelling over the game's proposed 60-70 hour duration.
The true strength of Blades of Fire lies in its mechanical innovations. The combat system is built around directional attacks, utilizing every face button on the controller. On a PlayStation pad, triangle targets the head, cross the torso, while square and circle swipe left and right. This system requires careful observation of enemy stances to break through defenses effectively. For example, a soldier guarding their face can be defeated by aiming for the torso. The combat's visceral feedback, with blood erupting from wounds, adds to the satisfaction.
The demo's first major boss, a troll, showcased the combat's depth. To damage its second health bar, you must dismember the troll, with the limb removed dependent on your attack angle. You can even sever its face, temporarily blinding it. These mechanics highlight the game's unique approach to combat.
Weapons are central to Blades of Fire, demanding significant attention. They dull with use, requiring sharpening stones to maintain their edge. Each weapon has a durability meter, and when it breaks, you can repair it at an anvil checkpoint or melt it down for crafting. This brings us to the game's most innovative feature: the forge.
The forge system is extensive, starting with a basic weapon template sketched on a chalkboard. You customize aspects like the length of a spear's pole and the shape of its head, which directly impacts the weapon's stats and stamina demands. After designing your weapon, you physically forge it on an anvil through a minigame that requires precision in hammer strikes. The goal is to match a curved line on the screen with vertical bars, ensuring you don't overwork the steel. Your performance is rated with stars, affecting how often you can repair the weapon before it's lost forever.
While the forge concept is engaging, the minigame feels somewhat obtuse, and I hope for improvements or better tutorials before launch. The idea of forging and maintaining a personal connection with your weapons throughout a long journey is compelling. As you explore and find new materials, you can reforge your weapons, enhancing them for new challenges. The death system adds a layer of risk, as you drop your current weapon upon defeat and must recover it from the world.
MercurySteam's influences from Dark Souls and God of War are evident, but Blades of Fire is not merely a copy. It's a spiritual successor to Blade of Darkness, developed by the studio's founders, and it reflects the evolution of the genre over time. The game successfully blends these influences into a unique experience.
While I have concerns about the game's generic dark fantasy setting and potential lack of enemy variety, the depth of the weapon system and its integration with combat is intriguing. In a landscape where complex games like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter have found mainstream success, Blades of Fire has the potential to offer a fresh and fascinating contribution to the action-adventure genre.
Blades of Fire Screenshots
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