"Blades of Fire: Initial Preview Released"

When I sat down to play developer MercurySteam's latest project, Blades of Fire, I expected something akin to a modern take on the studio's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series, infused with the contemporary flair of God of War. However, an hour into the game, it felt more like a Soulslike experience, with the twist that all character progression was tied to weapons rather than traditional RPG stats. By the end of my three-hour hands-on session, I realized that Blades of Fire is a unique blend of both familiar and innovative elements, crafting a fresh take on the action-adventure genre.

At first glance, you might mistake Blades of Fire for a God of War clone, given its dark fantasy setting, powerful combat moves, and a third-person camera that keeps you close to the action. The demo's opening hours had me navigating a labyrinthine map filled with treasure chests, alongside a young companion who aided in puzzle-solving. Together, we sought out a mysterious woman living in a house perched on a giant creature. These elements echo God of War, yet the game also borrows heavily from FromSoftware's playbook, with anvil-shaped checkpoints that replenish health potions and respawn enemies.

Blades of Fire features some deeply strange enemies that feel like dark cousins of Labyrinth's puppets. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

The world of Blades of Fire evokes a nostalgic 1980s fantasy vibe, where characters like Conan the Barbarian would fit right in among its muscular warriors. The game also introduces whimsical enemies, such as orangutan-like creatures bouncing on bamboo pogo sticks, reminiscent of Jim Henson's Labyrinth. The narrative follows a classic tale of an evil queen turning steel to stone, with you, Aran de Lira, a blacksmith demigod, tasked with restoring the world's metal. While the setting and story carry a retro charm, the plot and characters may not stand out as particularly compelling, reminiscent of many overlooked Xbox 360 era games.

Blades of Fire shines mechanically, featuring a combat system centered around directional attacks that utilize every face button on the controller. On a PlayStation controller, the triangle button targets the head, the cross button the torso, and the square and circle buttons for left and right swipes, respectively. By reading an enemy's stance, you can break through their defenses effectively. For instance, a soldier guarding their face can be defeated by striking low at their gut, resulting in satisfyingly visceral effects with blood spurting from wounds.

The system truly excels during boss fights, like the demo's first major encounter with a slobbering troll. This boss had a secondary health bar that could only be damaged after dismembering it, with the severed limb determined by your attack angle. Using a right-hand strike, I could detach its left arm, disarming it, or even remove its entire face, leaving it temporarily blind and flailing.

Weapons are the core of Blades of Fire, requiring constant attention. They dull with use, reducing damage over time, necessitating sharpening or switching between slashing and thrusting stances, which wear down independently. Similar to Monster Hunter, you must find moments to sharpen your weapons mid-battle. However, all weapons have a durability meter that depletes over time, requiring repairs at anvil checkpoints or melting them down for new crafting opportunities.

Blades of Fire introduces an extensive weapon crafting system, where each weapon's life begins at the forge. Starting with a basic template, you can modify aspects like the length of a spear's pole or the shape of its head, affecting its stats and stamina demands. After designing your weapon, you physically hammer it out on an anvil through an intricate minigame, where you must align your strikes to match an ideal curve to avoid overworking the steel. The resulting star rating determines how often you can repair your weapon before it's lost forever.

The forging minigame is a great idea that feels a little too obtuse. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

While the forge concept is innovative and adds a skill-based element to crafting, the minigame felt somewhat confusing after several attempts. A clearer connection between strikes and the resulting metal shape, or a better tutorial, could enhance this feature significantly.

MercurySteam's vision for Blades of Fire extends beyond the demo, aiming for a 60-70 hour journey where players form deep connections with their crafted weapons. As you explore and find new materials, you can reforge your weapons to meet new challenges. The death mechanic reinforces this bond, as you drop your current weapon upon defeat and must retrieve it from the game world.

The influence of Dark Souls is evident, yet Blades of Fire is more than just a Soulslike. It's a spiritual successor to Blade of Darkness, developed by MercurySteam's founders, which some consider a precursor to the Souls series. The game blends the brutal combat of its predecessor with the innovations of FromSoftware and the world design of God of War, creating a distinct experience.

Aran is joined by his young companion, Adso, who can help solve puzzles and comment on the world's lore. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

Despite some concerns about the game's generic dark fantasy setting and potential lack of variety, the deep relationship between your forged blades and the enemies you face is intriguing. In an era where complex games like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter have gained mainstream popularity, Blades of Fire has the potential to offer something unique to the action-adventure genre.

Blades of Fire Screenshots

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