Blades of Fire: A Dark Fantasy Adventure with a Twist
In a world where mythical giant beings once ruled, humanity has inherited the secret of The Steel, allowing them to dominate the land. But when Queen Nerea casts a spell to turn the mighty weapons of her enemies to stone, the stage is set for a thrilling adventure. Enter Blades of Fire, a dark fantasy action-adventure game that combines the best elements of the God of War and Souls series.
A Compelling Narrative and Gameplay Loop
At its core, Blades of Fire is a game about forging powerful melee weapons and gathering the materials required to do so. This central gameplay loop is engaging and addictive, with a vast world full of secrets and hidden pathways to explore. The game’s narrative is centered around Aran de Lira, a protagonist on a quest to defeat Queen Nerea and put an end to her tyrannical rule.
Combat and Exploration
Combat in Blades of Fire is challenging, even on the easiest setting, with a high difficulty level that will test your skills. The game’s combat system is reminiscent of FromSoftware’s Souls series, with a few novel twists. Each face button allows Aran to attack from either side, or aim blows at enemies’ heads or lower extremities. The system is complicated by enemies having various levels of resistance to damage, making strategy and adaptability crucial to success.
Exploration is also a key aspect of the game, with a vast world to discover and secrets to uncover. The game’s art style and direction are fairly generic, but the design of enemies is lacklustre, with rare exceptions. Human enemies, in particular, are uninspired, with bulging biceps and massive hands, but no necks to speak of.
The Forge and Crafting System
The Forge is a mechanic and location where Aran can create new weapons, with schematics earned by defeating enemies that carry them. The crafting system is highly customizable, with dimensions such as length and heft, as well as the specific type of materials used, making for a highly addictive experience. However, the grinding required to earn certain schematics can be annoying, requiring the defeat of specific foes multiple times.
Magical Anvils and Fast Travel
Magical anvils scattered across the world allow access to The Forge and serve as fast travel points, as well as places to rest and regain limited-use healing items. However, using these anvils will cause all non-boss enemies to respawn, making exploration and backtracking a necessary part of the game.
Adso’s Role and the Game’s Length
Aran’s young companion, Adso, adds some levity to the game, taking copious notes on the enemies and areas encountered. His compendium is filled out to various degrees, determined by the number of particular enemies Aran has defeated. Adso also lends a hand with environmental puzzles and can be called upon for additional regional information.
Conclusion
Blades of Fire is a well-made and lengthy action-adventure game that will test your combat skills, provided you can see it through. While it never quite reaches the heights of its inspirations, it’s a compelling game that will keep you engaged for hours on end. With its vast world, addictive crafting system, and challenging combat, Blades of Fire is a must-play for fans of dark fantasy and action-adventure games.
Actionable Insights
- Be prepared for a challenging combat experience, even on the easiest setting.
- Take your time to explore the vast world and uncover its secrets.
- Focus on crafting and upgrading your weapons to increase your chances of success.
- Use Adso’s compendium to gain an edge in combat and exploration.
- Be patient and persistent, as the game requires a significant amount of time and effort to complete.
Summary
Blades of Fire is a dark fantasy action-adventure game that combines the best elements of the God of War and Souls series. With its challenging combat, addictive crafting system, and vast world to explore, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre. While it may not reach the heights of its inspirations, it’s a compelling game that will keep you engaged for hours on end.