"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 absolutely certain about just moments before, only to realize it was the best decision? As someone who's both impulsive and indecisive, that's practically a regular occurrence for me. But in the case of Blades of Fire, my initial hesitation turned out to be a stroke of luck. My first encounter with the game was underwhelming, nearly convincing me to pass on it entirely. However, what began as a rough and unpolished experience eventually transformed into a unique and engaging journey that the single-player RPG genre has been yearning for.

Yes, I'm raving about a demo, but stay with me through this review, and you'll understand how I transitioned from skepticism to excitement, eager to grab the full game upon release. Let's dive in and see how this demo forges its path.

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

We start with the raw, unrefined opening of Blades of Fire, which I wish I could describe more positively. However, honesty is crucial, and this is where the game is at its weakest. The demo begins with Aran de Lira, a blacksmith deep in the forest, who hears a cry for help and rushes to the scene with an iron axe. He saves a young Apprentice but loses the Abbot they were traveling with. That's it—that's the entire opening.

If you feel like I'm glossing over something, rest assured, I'm not. The beginning is straightforward, with no cinematic flair beyond a brief establishing shot and some text. I understand it's a demo and not everything is fully polished, but even other demos like The First Berserker: Khazan had more engaging introductions with dialogue and cutscenes.

The game then introduces you to its combat system, which I initially found clunky and unfamiliar. Expecting something akin to Dark Souls, I was surprised by a directional combat system similar to For Honor, where you can strike with overhead, body, or lateral attacks, each with a heavy variant. At first, it felt unnecessary, especially since enemies don't block directionally. However, as the demo progressed, the system grew on me, particularly with the introduction of different damage types—blunt, pierce, and slash—which interact differently with enemy armor.

The game's color-coded targeting system helps you understand which weapons to use against which enemies, making combat a strategic puzzle rather than a button-mashing fest. Unarmored foes are vulnerable to all attacks, while those in mail armor resist slashing and piercing, and plate-armored enemies are immune to these but crumble under blunt force. It's a refreshing take on combat mechanics, grounded in realism and rewarding for those with a keen eye for strategy.

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

Blades of Fire features a unique weapon crafting system that sets it apart from other games. Instead of collecting weapon drops, you gather basic materials to forge highly detailed and realistic melee weapons. The crafting process begins at your divine forge, your central hub, where you design every aspect of your weapon—from the shape of the spearhead to the materials of the sword's pommel.

The level of customization is unparalleled, affecting not just the aesthetics but also the performance of your weapons. You're not just creating something that looks good; you're engineering the perfect tool for your combat style and the challenges ahead. The forging minigame, though initially confusing, adds a layer of realism and satisfaction once you master it.

New Blueprints, Weapons as Checkpoints, and Weapon Altars

In Blades of Fire, "loot" comes in the form of new blueprints, materials, and weapon parts. You unlock these through enemy encounters, with each type of enemy wielding a unique weapon that you can eventually craft. This hitlist-style progression system encourages you to engage with a variety of enemies and is complemented by the game's respawning foes, which reappear each time you rest at your anvil—similar to Dark Souls' bonfires.

The anvil serves as your checkpoint and resurrection point, where you can also recycle or repair weapons and access the full Forge. Additionally, Weapon Altars offer another way to unlock new components by interacting with them while wielding the depicted weapon. This mechanic rewards experimentation and repeated crafting.

The game's take on death is unique as well—you drop your currently equipped weapon upon dying and must retrieve it before dying again, or it's lost forever. This system adds tension and encourages careful planning and execution.

God Awful Voice-Acting with Unfinished World-Building

Unfortunately, not everything in the demo improved over its 3-hour runtime. The voice acting is consistently poor, with subpar recording quality and unconvincing delivery. The casting choice for the Abbot's apprentice, in particular, is jarring. Additionally, the world-building feels incomplete, with a lot of exposition but little payoff, leaving the narrative feeling underdeveloped.

Not A Game For First Impressions

Blades of Fire's demo suggests that the full game will be one that requires patience and an open mind. It's not built for strong first impressions but rather for those willing to invest time in crafting their experience. Despite its rough edges, the demo showcases innovative mechanics and a promising foundation.

The game might not be the standout title of 2025, but it's certainly not one to be overlooked. Its unique approach to crafting and combat offers a fresh take on the genre, and with some refinement, Blades of Fire could forge its place as a memorable RPG.

Game8 Reviews