New Details on Blades of Fire from Early Players

Become Aran de Lir, a blacksmith and warrior whose life takes a tragic turn. Discover a magical hammer, granting access to the Forge of the Gods, where you'll craft unique weapons to combat Queen Nereia's formidable army. Prepare for a 60-70 hour adventure.

Journey through a breathtaking yet brutal fantasy world teeming with magical creatures—enchanted forests and blooming fields are home to trolls and elementals. The game's distinctive visual style, reminiscent of Blizzard's work, features exaggerated proportions: massive limbs, thick-walled buildings, and a monumental environment creating a sense of grandeur. Encounter stocky soldiers reminiscent of Gears of War's Locust, adding a unique flavor to this rich world.

Blades of Fire offers an unparalleled weapon crafting system and innovative combat mechanics, setting it apart from typical action games:

Forge your weapons by selecting a basic template, then customize its size, shape, material, and other parameters impacting its characteristics. A mini-game concludes the creation process, challenging you to control the strength, length, and angle of your strikes to determine the weapon's quality and durability. For convenience, instantly recreate previously forged weapons.

The developers encourage emotional attachment to your creations, incentivizing consistent use. Death means leaving your weapon behind, retrievable upon returning to the location. Carry up to four weapon types, switching seamlessly. Each weapon boasts unique stances for slashing or thrusting. Forget scavenging—you craft every weapon. Seven weapon types are available, from halberds to dual axes.

Master directional combat: strike at the face, torso, left, or right, exploiting enemy weaknesses. Sever limbs to expose hidden health bars on certain bosses, like trolls. Destroy a troll's club-holding arm or its face to temporarily blind it. Stamina, crucial for attacks and dodges, doesn't regenerate automatically; hold the block button to recover it.

Reviewers acknowledge potential shortcomings: limited content, uneven difficulty, and a sometimes unintuitive forging mechanic. However, the unique setting and combat system largely compensate.

Blades of Fire launches May 22, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Epic Games Store).