When I settled in to experience MercurySteam's latest venture, Blades of Fire, I anticipated a nostalgic nod to their Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series, perhaps infused with the modern touches seen in God of War. An hour into the gameplay, I found myself navigating what felt like a Soulslike world, where the power lay not in character stats, but in the weapons themselves. By the end of a three-hour session, my initial impressions were both confirmed and contradicted: Blades of Fire treads familiar paths, yet its unique blend of borrowed elements and fresh concepts crafts a novel and engaging take on the action-adventure genre.
At first glance, one might mistake Blades of Fire for a God of War clone, given its dark fantasy setting, powerful combat strikes, and intimate third-person camera angle. The parallels are evident, especially during the demo's early stages, where I explored a labyrinthine map dotted with treasure chests, aided by a youthful companion who assisted in puzzle-solving. Together, we sought out a mysterious woman residing in a house atop a colossal creature. The game's atmosphere occasionally feels too reminiscent, particularly with its adoption of FromSoftware's style, such as anvil-shaped checkpoints that replenish health potions and respawn enemies.
Blades of Fire showcases some bizarre enemies reminiscent of Labyrinth's creatures. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games The game's world evokes a distinct '80s fantasy vibe, where characters like Conan the Barbarian would fit right in amidst its muscular warriors, and peculiar orangutan-like foes bouncing on bamboo pogo sticks seem straight out of Jim Henson's Labyrinth. The narrative carries a retro flair as well, with an evil queen turning steel to stone, and you, playing as Aran de Lira, a blacksmith demigod, tasked with her defeat to restore the world's metal. While these elements exude an old-school charm, the story, characters, and writing may not stand out as particularly compelling, echoing the often forgettable tales of the Xbox 360 era.
The game's true strengths lie in its mechanics. Blades of Fire features a combat system centered around directional attacks, utilizing every face button on the controller. On a PlayStation controller, for instance, triangle targets the head, cross aims for the torso, and square and circle execute left and right swipes, respectively. Mastering this system requires careful observation of enemy stances to break through their defenses. A soldier shielding their face, for example, can be outmaneuvered by striking low at their abdomen, with the resulting impact delivering a satisfyingly visceral sensation as blood gushes from the wounds.
The combat system shines in certain moments, such as the demo's first major boss fight against a slobbering troll. To damage its second health bar, you must dismember the creature, with the limb you sever determined by your attack angle. A right-hand strike could remove the troll's left arm, effectively disarming it. Even more thrilling: you can slice off the troll's entire face, leaving it blind and flailing until it regrows its eyes to resume the battle.
Your weapons in Blades of Fire demand significant attention. They dull with repeated use, gradually reducing damage output, necessitating sharpening stones to restore their edge. Alternatively, switching stances can mitigate wear, as the blade's edge and tip degrade independently, emphasizing the tangible nature of your armaments.
As in Monster Hunter, you'll need to find moments within battles to sharpen your sword. However, all weapons have a durability meter that depletes regardless of maintenance, and once shattered, they must be repaired at an anvil checkpoint or melted down for crafting new ones. This leads to Blades of Fire's most innovative feature: the forge.
MercurySteam's weapon crafting system is extensive. Starting with a basic template sketched on a chalkboard, you can customize elements like the length of a spear's pole or the shape of its head, affecting the weapon's stats and stamina demands. This process instills a genuine sense of crafting, culminating in the ability to name your creation.
Crafting doesn't end with design; you must physically hammer out the metal at an anvil. This minigame involves controlling the length, force, and angle of each strike to match an ideal curve represented on-screen. Overworking the steel weakens the weapon, so precision and efficiency are key. Your performance earns a star rating, determining how often you can repair the weapon before it's lost forever.
While the forging minigame is innovative, it feels somewhat complex. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games The concept of the forge, introducing a skill-based element to crafting, is compelling. Yet, after multiple attempts, the minigame seemed overly complex, lacking clear feedback between strikes and the resulting metal shape. Hopefully, improvements or a better tutorial will be added before launch to enhance this standout feature.
The forge's concept extends beyond the demo's scope. MercurySteam aims for players to forge a deep connection with their weapons, carrying them throughout a 60-70 hour journey. As you discover new metals, you can reforge and enhance your weapons to tackle tougher challenges. The game's death system reinforces this bond; upon defeat, you drop your current weapon and respawn without it, but your dropped weapons remain in the world for retrieval.
It's no surprise that MercurySteam draws heavily from Dark Souls and its successors, reflecting FromSoftware's influence on action games and acknowledging Blade of Darkness as a spiritual precursor to the Souls series, developed by MercurySteam's founders. Yet, Blades of Fire transcends mere imitation, reinterpreting established mechanics within a broader canvas of ideas, forging its own distinct path.
While the game's generic dark fantasy setting and repeated encounters with the same miniboss raise concerns about its ability to sustain a 60-hour adventure, the depth of interaction between your crafted weapons and the enemies you face is captivating. In an era where complex games like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter have found mainstream success, Blades of Fire has the potential to offer something truly intriguing to the gaming community.
Blades of Fire Screenshots
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Aran is accompanied by his young companion, Adso, who aids in puzzle-solving and provides insights into the game's lore. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games
