Blades of Fire Demo: A Thrilling Experience

Blades of Fire Demo Review

A Truly Unforgettable Experience!

Ever changed your mind at the last moment about something you were completely set on—only to realize it was the right decision? For someone as impulsive as I am, backing out is second nature (though the "good call" part isn't). I nearly dismissed Blades of Fire after my first encounter, but that would have been a mistake. What initially seemed rough and underwhelming transformed into exactly the unique single-player RPG experience we've been missing.

Yes, I'm raving about a demo—but stay with me through this review to understand how I went from indifference to eagerly awaiting its full release. Let's stoke the flames and hammer through this analysis, shall we?

No Epic Heroes Here—Just a Simple Blacksmith

The game begins with what I can only describe as its weakest moment—an introduction that feels as rough as unworked iron. You play as Aran de Lira, a forest-dwelling blacksmith who hears a cry for help, grabs an axe, rescues an apprentice (though not their companion), and brings them to safety. That's the entire opener—no cinematic flair, just a basic setup and fade-in text.

While I understand this is a demo, even Khazan managed proper cutscenes in its tutorial. Here, you're simply dropped into the action with little guidance—which unfortunately extends to the combat system.

The fighting mechanics resemble For Honor's directional system more than Dark Souls' straightforward approach. Initially clunky and seemingly pointless (since enemies don't block directionally), the system eventually reveals its depth when paired with damage types and armor interactions—creating surprisingly tactical combat.

Different weapons deal slash, pierce, or blunt damage—each interacting uniquely with armor types. Mail stops slashes, plates resist piercing, while blunt weapons crush plate wearers but struggle against thick hides. The logical armor system and color-coded targeting make battles feel grounded yet strategic, especially when combined with well-implemented parrying, blocking and dodging.

Forge Your Own Arsenal

Blades of Fire's crafting system defies expectations—you won't be making oversized fantasy weapons from monster parts, but rather historically plausible arms through meticulous design. Starting at your divine forge (serving as both workshop and Dark Souls-style checkpoint), you sketch weapons before crafting them with astonishing detail.

Creating a spear means selecting head shape, cross-section, haft material, and length—with every choice affecting performance. Swords introduce guard designs and pommel options, while alloy mixing allows unprecedented customization. The forging minigame itself mimics actual blacksmithing—initially frustrating trial-and-error that becomes satisfying once mastered.

After designing, you hammer heated metal into shape via a slider system—misshape it and the weapon becomes unusable, but perfect strikes improve quality. The ability to save successful designs as templates rewards mastery while maintaining depth.

Weapon Blueprints, Checkpoints, and Altars

With no traditional loot drops, progression comes through unlocking blueprints by defeating enemy types repeatedly. Weapon Altars scattered throughout unlock new components when interacted with using matching weapons—encouraging experimentation.

The game innovates further with its death system—you drop your weapon upon dying, forcing retrieval missions. Fail to recover it before another death and it's permanently lost, maintaining tension without traditional currency systems.

Voice Acting and Story Need Refinement

Regrettably, the voice acting remains consistently poor—with questionable recording quality and unconvincing deliveries throughout. The narrative similarly struggles, offering exposition without payoff—a weakness that needs addressing before launch.

A Game That Rewards Patience

Blades of Fire isn't about first impressions—it's about gradual mastery, much like blacksmithing itself. While rough around the edges, its innovative mechanics and potential shine through. This might not be 2025's defining masterpiece, but it's certainly shaping up to be something special.

Game8 Reviews