Blades of Fire Demo Review: Unforgettable Experience!

Blades of Fire Review [Demo]

Completely Un-forge-ettable!

Have you ever backed out of something you were dead-set on just moments before—and had it turn out to be the right call? For someone as impulsive and indecisive as I am, that’s basically a Tuesday. Fortunately, my hesitation with Blades of Fire was the right call this time around. My initial encounter with the game was rough and underwhelming, but what started as a lukewarm experience soon forged itself into a distinctive journey that the single-player RPG genre has been longing for.

Yes, I’m saying all that about a demo—but stick with me through this review, and you’ll see how I went from completely disinterested to eagerly anticipating the full release. Let’s get those forges burning and take a hammer to this review, shall we?

No Ashen Ones or Unkindled Here—Just A Humble Blacksmith!

We begin this review with the raw, misshapen lump of iron that is this game’s introduction. I wish I could describe it differently, but this is Blades of Fire at its weakest. The game opens with Aran de Lira, a blacksmith working deep in the forest, when a distant cry for help draws him away from his forge. With an iron axe in hand, he rushes to the scene, saving a young Apprentice but failing to rescue the Abbot. Aran brings the survivor back to safety, and that's the entire opening sequence.

There's no cinematic intro aside from a quick establishing shot and some text fading in on the screen. It's a demo, so some parts aren't fully fleshed out yet, but even other demos manage to weave in proper dialogue and cutscenes. This one simply drops you in and hopes for the best.

Speaking of dropping you in, this is where the game teaches you how to fight. I was expecting something simple, maybe akin to Dark Souls' combat system. Instead, Blades of Fire uses a directional combat system similar to For Honor, allowing players to strike with overhead, body, or lateral attacks from either side, each with a heavy variant if you hold the button.

Initially, I found this system clunky and unfamiliar, much like my first experience with For Honor. However, as the game opened up, my opinion shifted. The combat system, combined with different damage types—blunt, pierce, and slash—interacting uniquely with enemy armor, transforms into something surprisingly fresh. A clever color-coded targeting system helps you swap between weapon types strategically, enhancing the combat loop.

Unarmored enemies take damage from just about anything, while mail-armored foes shrug off slashing and piercing attacks. Plate-armored enemies are immune to both but crumble under the weight of a mace or hammer. Blunt weapons are less effective against hulking beasts with thick hides. This realistic approach to combat adds depth and strategy, making the game stand out in the fantasy genre.

No Weapon Drops Here Either—You Gotta Make Your Own!

Blades of Fire features a unique weapon crafting system that sets it apart from typical RPG mechanics. You're not just gathering materials to forge weapons; you're designing every detail of your arsenal. From the shape of the spearhead to the cross-section geometry, the length and type of the haft, and the specific materials for each component, every choice impacts your weapon's stats and performance.

The crafting process begins at your divine forge, where you sketch out your weapon. It's the most involved and customizable system I've seen, requiring you to decide on every nuance of your weapon. Once designed, the forging minigame begins, which can be initially frustrating but rewarding once mastered. You shape heated metal using sliders, and every strike affects the final product's quality. The game allows you to save your finest creations as templates, rewarding mastery of the system.

New Blueprints, Weapons as Checkpoints, and Weapon Altars

In Blades of Fire, "loot" comes in the form of new blueprints, materials, and parts for crafting. You unlock these through enemy encounters, with each enemy type wielding a distinct weapon. Defeating enough of a specific type allows you to craft their gear, encouraging engagement with enemy variety.

The anvil serves as your checkpoint and resurrection point, where you can recycle or repair worn-out weapons and access the full Forge. Another unique feature is the Weapon Altars, which reward you with new components for interacting with them while wielding the depicted weapon.

There's no traditional currency; instead, you lose your equipped weapon upon death, adding a layer of tension and strategy to the game. You must backtrack to retrieve it or risk losing it forever, pushing you to return to the forge and craft anew.

God Awful Voice-Acting with Unfinished World-Building

Unfortunately, not every aspect of the game improves over its 3-hour demo. The voice acting is consistently poor, with subpar recording quality and unconvincing delivery. The casting choice for the Abbot’s apprentice is particularly jarring.

The world-building also feels incomplete, with a lot of exposition but little payoff. The narrative lacks follow-through, which could be a significant drawback in the full release if not addressed.

Not A Game For First Impressions

If the Blades of Fire demo is indicative of the full game's potential, it's a title you'll need to give time to appreciate. It's not built for strong first impressions but rather for crafting a unique experience through its innovative mechanics. Despite its flaws, the demo hints at a masterwork in the making—one that might not be the crown jewel of 2025 but is certainly unforgettable.

Game8 Reviews