I Tried Blades of Fire, and It’s Different!

Recently, the Blades of Fire team announced a free demo for everyone, giving players a chance to experience their unique take on action combat before the full release.

Developed by MercurySteam and published by 505 Games, Blades of Fire is an upcoming action-adventure game set to release on May 22, 2025. MercurySteam, known for their work on Metroid Dread and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, has crafted a world where weapon forging is central to gameplay, blending souls-like mechanics with cinematic combat. Players take on the role of Aran de Lira, a warrior gifted with a sacred hammer that allows him to craft weapons to fight against Queen Nerea’s cursed army

First Impressions: Not What I Expected

When I launched Blades of Fire, I was expecting something closer to God of War—a hack-and-slash adventure with a gripping story. But the moment I started, I realized this game had its own identity.

The music set the tone beautifully, and the art style was refreshing—not hyper-realistic, but clean and polished. It felt like a 2014-era game built with 2025 technology, striking a balance between nostalgia and modern design.

Combat: A Unique Blend of God of War & Souls-Like Mechanics

After a few enemy encounters, I realized Blades of Fire wasn’t just an action-adventure game—it was a mix of God of War and a linear souls-like experience.

The combat system is unlike anything I’ve played before. Instead of standard attack combos, you control the direction of your swings:

• X (Xbox Controller) – Swing left
• Y – Swing up
• A – Attack from below
• B – Swing right

It took me about an hour to get used to this system, but once I did, it felt rewarding. Holding an attack button triggers a heavy cinematic strike, adding a dramatic flair to combat.

Of course, the usual mechanics are here—dodge, dodge roll, block, parry, and a stamina bar. The stamina regenerates quickly when blocking but slower in combat, adding a layer of strategy. There’s also a block meter, meaning you can’t just tank every hit.

The perfect dodge mechanic adds a slow-motion effect, making it satisfying when executed correctly. And yes, the combat is challenging—you can’t just button-mash your way through fights. You wait, dodge, counter, and once you get the rhythm, it feels fantastic.

Forging Weapons: The Game’s Most Unique Feature

Since you play as a forger, crafting weapons is central to the experience. You choose materials, weapon length, and specific parts, each affecting damage type and durability.

Once you’ve selected your weapon, it’s time to hammer it into shape. There’s a mini-game for forging, and if you do well, the weapon earns stars, determining how many times it can be repaired.

Weapons are unlocked by defeating enemies who wield them, which keeps progression fresh and rewarding. In the demo, I unlocked 4–5 different weapon variants, each with unique animations and perks.

Exploration & Souls-Like Mechanics

Despite being linear, Blades of Fire encourages exploration. You’re rewarded with:

• Stamina & health gems (increase max stats after collecting enough)
• Ability points
• Crafting materials

Smashing objects drops materials, adding a layer of environmental interaction.

When you die, instead of losing souls, you drop your weapon at the spot where you fell. You can retrieve it anytime, and multiple weapons can be dropped, giving you freedom to decide whether to recover them or move on.

The game also features anvil checkpoints where you can forge weapons, fast travel, and rest. Resting revives enemies, but not all of them—making backtracking less frustrating.

Music, Voice Acting & Story Presentation

The music fits the world well, transitioning smoothly between exploration and combat.

The voice acting, however, felt flat—some lines sounded like script reading rather than emotional delivery. The Marvel-style jokes didn’t land for me either.

As for the story, after 2–3 hours, I had no clear understanding of what was happening. The cutscenes had awkward fast-forwards and weird transitions, breaking immersion. Compared to The First Berserker: Khazan‘s Demo, which presented its story and gameplay seamlessly, Blades of Fire felt disjointed.

Final Thoughts: A Mixed Bag

After playing the demo, I’m not completely sold.

What I Liked:

• Old-gen graphics with modern tech
• Unique combat mechanics
• Forging system

What Didn’t Click:

• Story presentation felt rushed
• Weird cutscene transitions broke immersion
• Confusing mechanics and buttons – at first

Blades of Fire has potential, but it needs better storytelling and smoother pacing to truly shine.

Check out my previous post: Gaming Nostalgia Done Right: The Best Remasters & Remakes (2022–2025) • Board Activity