Fire-Spinning Blades Review: Akin to Conan The Barbarian Reborn under Jim Henson's Guidance, and Strangely Fascinating as Imagined
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Title: Blades of Fire's Unique Flame: A Fresh Spin on the Soulslike Genre
Developer: MercurySteam
Release Date: 22 May
Format: Xbox Series X, PC, PS5 (Reviewed)
Engine: Mercury Engine 6
Step aside, Soulslike regulars, MercurySteam has forged a fresh weapon into the already crowded genre - Blades of Fire. Fusing original thinking with an aesthetically pleasing universe, this game is a captivating blend of high fantasy and tactile gameplay that's oozing with style. It's a delightful mishmash of The Labyrinth-era Jim Henson, Goya, and Conan, all rolled into one.
No surprises here when the team behind Metroid: Samus Returns and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow sets foot on the scene. But Blades of Fire exceeds expectations right from the start. The high-fantasy spectacle coupled with gritty gameplay grabs you immediately. Heads explode within minutes, and you'll find yourself enthralled!
If you've ever crossed paths with MercurySteam's CEO Enric Álvarez, you'd know he's got a wealth of insights to share. And despite my cherished conversations with him, I never anticipated Blades of Fire to be this remarkable. It's far from your typical action RPG. This is a visually stunning, immersive gaming experience that grips you from the onset.
Blades of Fire isn't shy about embracing color, whimsy, or unrestrained weirdness. It's clear the developers refused to be confined by genre norms.
A Lighthearted Narrative with a Twist
Without diving too deep into the story, the fundamental plot revolves around Aran de Lira, a seasoned warrior drawn out of self-imposed exile to complete one final quest. His mission? To eliminate the dark-magic-wielding Queen Nerea who has turned steel into stone and unleashed grotesque creatures upon the world.
Aran's special power? He can craft and forge extraordinary weapons out of virtually anything; his companion Adso de Zelk, a student monk, will help with weapon research and translating ancient ruins and tombs.
The narrative is wittily understated, enhanced by beautifully animated vignettes evoking 80s dark fantasy epics like Excalibur and Krull.
Just when you think the journey might wear you down with another round of skeleton warrior escapades, you'll stumble upon King Toki - a farting purple ogre who may or may not devour Adso. The humor and whimsy continue with a treasure room mini-boss spider that farts a lot. Yes, there's a lot of farting.
While combat draws inspiration from the Soulslike genre, the game's structure is more akin to Castlevania or God of War Ragnarok, balancing structure and hand-holding in an accessible fashion. But unlike From Software's offerings like Elden Ring, Blades of Fire's layout feels less intimidating, with forge respawn points easy to find and intricate maps rewarding exploration.
The game's hub-based semi-open world setup, reminiscent of Demon's Souls, is less daunting due to the layered, nonlinear progression and interconnecting routes that feel less stressful.
A Vibrant and Enigmatic World
Each realm boasts its unique visual and gameplay identity, ranging from the mist-covered Kar-Lethel Swamp to the decayed glamour of The Crimson Fort, and the Goya-inspired, curved sandy nooks of The City of Curved Stones. This fantastical world is a rich tapestry of dark fantasies stitched together with a vibrant and bold style.
Artistic Excellence at Its Best
Blades of Fire is more than visually distinct; it's a visual masterpiece. The art direction blends the whimsical fantasy of The Dark Crystal with the muscular '80s film feel of Conan the Barbarian. Character models are sculpted with sinewy, grotesque precision, making them feel as if they've been carved onto the screen.
Influences can be found in Polish artist Zdzisław Beksiński's surrealism in the game's jagged altars and haunted spires, with a nod to Jean Giraud (Moebius) in the game's character design. Casual viewers may not spot these intricacies, but keen eyes will find the Moebius touch in the appearance of a silly little cone-hat wearing, pear-nosed creature during a somber ritual.
Caravaggio's chiaroscuro informs the game's lighting, with high contrast between gloom and glimmer intensifying the mood and pastels unexpectedly bursting with acid greens and violets. The way torchlight illuminates the textured edges of a broken shrine, or sunlight cast through clouds touches the drop of a cliff face, is simply breathtaking.
As with the world, the game's creature design is original and, in some ways, practical. Each creature feels sculpted rather than modeled, and they're animated with a tactile awkwardness that adds a dose of realism to the fantastical.
A Customizable Combat Experience
Of course, magnificent visuals are nothing without substantial gameplay, and combat in Blades of Fire is tactical, deliberate, and bloody. But it's the weapon crafting system that sets this game apart from its peers. This innovative feature, the new idea MercurySteam has discovered, is a simple one - stats are embedded in weapons, not character upgrading. Each weapon and combat stance has pros and cons against different enemies.
While players can collect swords or axes with predetermined stats elsewhere, MercurySteam has created a unique weapon-building system that encourages experimentation and customization, where players must literally hammer the hot metal into the perfect shape.
Weapons are built from components (blade, hilt, etc.), and each component affects different attributes - damage, speed, stamina, blocking, and more. Weapons fall into seven categories, such as axes, swords, spears, and more, but the build is crucial. Forge scrolls discovered by presenting weapons to totems found in the world unlock perfect versions of each weapon and additional repair stars.
Remember, these weapons degrade, can be sharpened, and repaired, but will eventually break. So you'll find yourself coveting good weapons crafted from rare materials, saving favorites for boss fights, and settling for lesser weapons in basic battles. But you'll also need specific weapons for certain enemies to maximize damage or counter their attacks.
In battle, pay attention to enemy weaknesses. Highlighting an enemy reveals whether a weapon will deal high or low damage, bounce off harmlessly, or pierce their defenses. Changing from slashing to piercing can also have an effect. Dodge-rolls, parries, and counters complement the hand-crafted weapon setup, forcing you to develop a fighting style.
Explore the game's depth and uncover its secrets. In Blades of Fire, combat becomes tactical and thoughtful, where the weapon's creation, materials, and stance all affect the outcome of a battle. Blades of Fire has successfully carved out its place in the Soulslike genre.
Room for Improvement
Does this mean everything works flawlessly? Not always. The frequent forge respawn points limit the tension and excitement found in From Software's games. You never lose a weapon in Blades of Fire, and it remains in the world until you choose to collect it. Hardcore Soulslike enthusiasts (Sekiro players, for example) may find Blades of Fire less challenging.
There are occasions when you'll feel lost, unsure of what to do next, or where to go, what to collect, or what those mysterious statues and shrines actually do. But when you pierce the veil of enigma and begin to unlock the game's secrets, it's truly satisfying.
Blades of Fire isn't trying to be another Soulslike, thankfully. Instead, it's parading to the beat of a distorted drum, while wearing a cloak made of Muppet fur, and lugging a bag of nostalgic '80s art and cinematic references.
It's ambitious, a little ambiguous at times, but Blades of Fire is relentlessly original and offers a fantasy world unlike any other gaming experience. Blades of Fire is a magnificent oddity, a must-play for gaming enthusiasts craving something uniquely satisfying.
- The developer MercurySteam, known for titles like Metroid: Samus Returns and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, has created a fresh spin on the Soulslike genre with Blades of Fire, blending high-fantasy spectacle, gritty gameplay, and a creatively designed universe.
- Blades of Fire's CEO, Enric Álvarez, offers unique insights, leading the team to create a visually stunning, immersive gaming experience that transcends typical action RPGs.
- Artistic excellence is at the heart of Blades of Fire, showcasing a visual masterpiece that reflects influences from The Dark Crystal, Conan the Barbarian, Zdzisław Beksiński's surrealism, Jean Giraud (Moebius), Caravaggio's chiaroscuro, and more.
- The game's combat, though borrowing elements from the Soulslike genre, features a unique weapon-crafting system that encourages customization, where players can hammer hot metal into perfect weapons with various attributes, stats, and combat stances.
- Blades of Fire offers a vibrant and enigmatic world, with each realm boasting unique visual and gameplay identities, seen in the mist-covered Kar-Lethel Swamp, the decayed glamour of The Crimson Fort, and the Goya-inspired, curved sandy nooks of The City of Curved Stones.
- The narrative, centered around Aran de Lira, a seasoned warrior, is wittily understated, enhancing the gameplay experience with beautifully animated vignettes reminiscent of 80s dark fantasy epics like Excalibur and Krull.
- Blades of Fire integrates lighthearted humor and whimsy, creating memorable characters such as King Toki, a farting purple ogre, and a treasure room mini-boss spider that farts a lot, adding an unexpected layer of entertainment to this masterful work of art and creative design.
