Blades of Fire Reviews
Blades of Fire sadly offers very little, besides some small creative rays of hope and misses completely, when it comes to create interesting characters and a gameplay that can offer something new in a overcrowded genre. If some variety in boss fights and metroidvania-like exploration is enough for you, you can still give this a try.
Review in German | Read full review
There are many parts of Blades of Fire that I admire or had fun with. It’s unique and inventive in ways that so many games aren’t nowadays. Unfortunately, its many moving parts fail to come together and create a cohesive whole. It’s far from being an outright terrible game, but it doesn’t come close to the highs that MercurySteam have been able to achieve with their other titles in recent years.
Will MercurySteam now be recognized as the studio behind Blades of Fire? Based on my experience, I certainly hope so. Their new IP offers a challenging and engaging adventure with a distinct identity and well-crafted gameplay elements, particularly its combat system and arsenal management. Its main flaw lies in an overly extended duration, leading to some redundant and less inspired sections that may amplify a sense of disorientation due to certain design choices. Nonetheless, it remains a game with a strong personality, making bold and divisive gameplay decisions that will reward those willing to embrace its nature.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Blades of Fire is not going to be a game for everyone. It’s beautiful, runs great, and has some design decisions that made me pull my hair out. It’s incredibly long, and I do not think that it benefits the game in any meaningful way.
Blades of Fire is configured as an atypical action (RPG), capable of combining the tradition of “hardcore” titles with a metroidvania setting that represents, to all intents and purposes, its most distinctive stylistic feature. The game map, in fact, is developed around a vertical and layered, highly interconnected structure, in which exploration, backtracking and spatial memory assume a central role. This approach, far from the more recent drifts of the open world, restores an organic and coherent sense of progression, reinforcing the player's sense of growth through knowledge gained in the field, rather than through mere numerical statistics. Mercurysteam's introduction of a forging mechanic is certainly the most successful innovation, shifting the focus of progression to weapons. On the other hand, the overall gameplay experience can be too diluted, with fragmented quests and unclear objectives that can detract from the pace of the experience. Ultimately, Blades of Fire is not afraid to stray from the established canons of action to offer a certainly authorial vision. It is not an immediate title, nor is it all that forgiving, but it will know how to gratify you if you are looking for a new experience among this year's many releases.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Blades of Fire is a misfire, attempting to mix elements of soulslike games with its own action ideas in an oil and water result. The story is bland, and the characters are deeply unfunny despite constantly trying to be, resulting in a tone that matches the worst of the Xbox 360 era. Obtuse and confusing level designs combined with the choice not to have objective markers create a frustrating experience, which is only furthered by the unique combat system feeling out of sync with the hardcore third-person combat games it wants to emulate.
If I could slash its frustrating level designs in half, focusing on the character and intrigue its eccentricities added while sifting out the gameplay impurities they come with, Blades of Fire would be an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a cool hack-n-slash. Instead, it’s plagued with unforgivable wheel-spinning that undermines a lot of what I liked about its satisfying gameplay loop.
In the end, Blades of Fire is an intriguing blend of old-school charm and modern design, like a game forged out of time. Its deep combat and weapon forging shine, even as its 3D Metroidvania structure occasionally falters. Backtracking and vague direction can frustrate, but the game’s heart and ambition stand out, especially with plenty of secrets to uncover in its sprawling fantasy world.
Blades of Fire adds a unique twist to the action RPG formula with new inventive mechanics that reward long-term investment with hugely enjoyable combat and a compelling story to boot.
"A new flame in the dark fantasy world" Blades of Fire successfully balances inspiration and innovation. Despite being an AA entry, it has ambitious ideas that it confidently delivers, particularly through its unique blacksmithing system and thoughtful combat. Its emotional narrative and dark fantasy-infused world give it a distinct character. With some improvements, it could become one of the most prominent action-adventure games
Review in Arabic | Read full review