Blades of Fire [Review]

Blades of Fire presents Aran de Lira, a commoner tasked with forging weapons after obtaining a legendary hammer to rescue the kingdom from a destructive queen. The game features an engaging and rewarding crafting system, alongside accessible and enjoyable combat, though crafting has an initial learning curve. Despite some positive aspects, Blades of Fire exhibits several weaknesses. Level traversal is often unclear, and the combat although good, lacks sufficient depth. The weapon durability mechanic, while thematically fitting for a game centered around forging, is negatively impacted by the stamina bar. Additionally, the parry system is rewarding, but the overall combat and damage output feel inconsistent and poorly implemented. The story is pretty abysmal. The ending left me hollow and like I wasted my time. At many points throughout the story, I was rolling my eyes or just not really caring about what was happening. Killing the Joker..well no spoilers. when it ends it doesn’t actually end.

Random difficulty spikes and confusing level design significantly detract from the game's positive elements. Blades of Fire seems like it's having trouble establishing a clear identity, am I an action RPG, Metroidvania, or a Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning clone or am I Souls Like?  Blades of Fire offers an enjoyable experience, clocking in at around 20ish hours. The addictive crafting system,  button-mashy and gory combat system, and a variety of usable/craftable weapons alongside a simple progression system make this game worth the time to try. This game may not be for everyone but it was certainly for me and I'm sure many others.  Although the storytelling is a notable drawback, the enjoyable gameplay loop makes it worth experiencing. In some ways, Blades of Fire could be seen as a "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 3.

Blades of Fire is available now for Playstation5, Xbox Series S/X and Epic Games Store.