When I sat down to play developer MercurySteam's latest project, Blades of Fire, I anticipated a return to the studio's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow roots, infused with the modern flair of God of War. An hour in, my perception shifted towards a Soulslike experience, albeit one where weapon stats took precedence over traditional RPG character development. By the end of my three-hour hands-on session, I realized this game was a unique blend of familiar elements and fresh ideas, carving out a distinctive place within the action-adventure genre.

While Blades of Fire might echo Sony Santa Monica's God of War at first glance, with its dark fantasy setting, impactful combat, and a close third-person camera, it's not merely a clone. Throughout the demo, I navigated a winding map filled with treasure chests alongside a young companion, solving puzzles to reach a woman of the wilds living in a house atop a giant creature. The game also borrows heavily from FromSoftware, featuring anvil-shaped checkpoints that replenish health potions and respawn enemies. This familiarity can sometimes feel too pronounced.

Blades of Fire features some deeply strange enemies that feel like dark cousins of Labyrinth's puppets. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

The game's world evokes a nostalgic 1980s fantasy atmosphere. You could picture Conan the Barbarian mingling with its muscular soldiers, while orangutan-like foes bouncing on bamboo pogo sticks wouldn't be out of place in Jim Henson's Labyrinth. The narrative, centered around an evil queen who has petrified steel and your quest as Aran de Lira—a blacksmith demigod—to restore the world's metal, feels reminiscent of older video game stories from the Xbox 360 era. However, the plot and characters might not hold up as compellingly as the mechanics.

Blades of Fire shines brightest with its innovative combat system. Utilizing directional attacks linked to each face button on the controller, the game demands strategic thinking to break through enemy defenses. For example, a soldier guarding their face can be defeated by aiming lower. The visceral impact of these attacks, complete with blood trails, adds to the immersive experience.

The demo's first boss, a slobbering troll, showcased the system's depth. Its second health bar required dismemberment to damage, with the limb removed depending on your attack angle. The ability to cut off the troll's face, rendering it blind, added a thrilling layer of strategy.

Weapons in Blades of Fire are central and require meticulous attention. They dull with use, necessitating sharpening stones or stance changes to maintain effectiveness. The game also introduces a durability meter, requiring repairs at anvil checkpoints or melting down for crafting materials.

Blades of Fire Screenshots

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The heart of Blades of Fire lies in its extensive weapon crafting system. Starting with a basic template on a chalkboard, you customize every aspect—from the length of a spear's pole to the shape of its head—affecting stats and stamina usage. This process culminates in a forging minigame where you manually hammer out the metal on an anvil, aiming to match an ideal shape with minimal strikes to achieve a high star rating. While innovative, the minigame can be frustratingly unclear, suggesting room for improvement.

The forging minigame is a great idea that feels a little too obtuse. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

The forging system aims to forge a deep connection between players and their weapons, intended to last throughout a 60-70 hour journey. As you discover new materials, you can reforge your weapons to meet evolving challenges. The death system further emphasizes this bond; upon dying, you drop your weapon and must retrieve it from the game world.

MercurySteam's adoption of Dark Souls-inspired mechanics is evident, yet Blades of Fire transcends mere imitation. It draws from Blade of Darkness, a precursor to Souls games developed by MercurySteam's founders, blending these influences into a unique experience.

Aran is joined by his young companion, Adso, who can help solve puzzles and comment on the world's lore. | Image credit: MercurySteam / 505 Games

While the game's dark fantasy setting and some repeated encounters raise concerns about variety and engagement over its lengthy campaign, the intricate relationship between forged blades and combat keeps me intrigued. In an era where complex games like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter have found mainstream success, Blades of Fire has the potential to offer something truly captivating to the gaming landscape.