Blades of Fire Review

By Justin D Williams

Blades of Fire, the new action-adventure game from MercurySteam, a harsh dark fantasy hammered heat, hammer, and sorrow. Infamously famous for Metroid Dread and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, the studio now plunges anew with an original IP that is as ambitious as brutal.

Story: In Queen Nerea's decayed world, kingdoms and sword go to ruin, Blades of Fire places players in an intensely rendered world heavy with gothic atmosphere. You're Aran de Lira, a rebellious warrior destined—and blessed with a holy hammer—to forge the finest blades that can withstand Nerea's stone-melting magic.

The lore itself, though not particularly original, is put forward in sincerity. With the help of your peripatetic scholar friend Adso, an itinerant scholar both tactics advisor and lore expert, the game sees its mythology made real. His inclusion is not superficial—he has explicit impacts on combat and tactics as a reference book on in-game knowledge about enemies.

Gameplay: What truly distinguishes Blades of Fire is its rich weapon crafting system. Rather than pillaging superior equipment, you gather materials to craft and create your own weapons—customizing everything from blade form to elemental aspects. It's a system that makes experimenting and planning rewarding.

Combat is Soulslike but won't merely copy. Finesse and precision are paramount, with the option of targeting enemy limbs and weak points courtesy of an advanced targeting system. Armor classes and enemy bio make a huge difference in whether to slash, stab, or bludgeon. But this amount of complexity is a double-edged sword: while enabling mastery of strategy, the dark learning curve and brutal weapon degradation can be maddening at first.

Graphics: Artistically, Blades of Fire is a dark fantasy graphical work of art. Taking cues from Frank Frazetta to Gustave Doré, all the cutscenes resemble an alchemical painting brought to life. From obsidian spires rising high to hellish forests, the worlds are dripping in flair—but occasionally at the cost of legibility. Traveling the overworld is a visual slog, and a lacking good waypoint system doesn't do wonders to help drive it away.

Character design is great, though. Aran, in plate and attitude, is the full-on rebel knight, and foes go from plodding foot soldier to unsettling elemental creatures that are echoes of the game's own themes of rot and resistance.

Sound: The score builds to a resolution along a brooding orchestral darkness and ambient threat axis, keeping pace with the game's melancholy mood. Voice acting, especially for Adso and Nerea, is crisp and convincing, keeping otherwise mythic tone rooted in human feelings.

Overall Verdict: 8/10 – A Sharp Blade with Some Nicks

Blades of Fire is not revolutionary, but it makes its own niche stylishly and elegantly. It's an action game for intelligent players—hard but rewarding, stunningly beautiful yet strategically astute. It will not be liked by all, particularly those demanding action at breakneck speed or steering assistance, but those wanting a fantasy world where craftsmanship skill and combat prowess count, Blades of Fire is a hard test by fire.