Blades of Fire 🔥 A perfect fusion of Dark Souls and Monster Hunter that will captivate you.

I wish I loved something as much as Blades of Fire He loves blacksmithing. Forging a weapon in MercurySteam's new souls-like game will reward you with several detailed cutscenes of the hot metal being shaped. You'll find intricate stat screens showing different damage trade-offs depending on the materials you use, sure to make any Monster Hunter fan drool. Plus, a minigame where you must hammer your new weapon into the correct shape. And you can even name your new killing tool! I wonder if this studio would have more fun making Blacksmith Simulator 2025?

But MercurySteam is too enamored with brutal combat for that. Forging a new halberd is entertaining, but not as satisfying as cleaving enemy skulls in Blades of Fire. Combat is more fun when you're using a weapon you named yourself, and every successful hit carries a sense of impact. It's all about dodging, blocking, parrying, and waiting for the critical moment. And if you survive and rest at a safe point, all the common enemies respawn. Sound familiar?

Key information

Developer: MercurySteam
Editor: 505 Games
Platforms: PC, PS5, XSX/S
Release Date: May 22, 2025

Yes, so far it sounds like a typical Dark Souls game, but Blades of Fire's combat has many interesting twists and turns. If you were thinking of hiding behind a shield, bad luck: there's no room for cowards here. You can block with almost any weapon, but with varying effectiveness. Fire attacks still do damage, and large enemies easily break your guard.

So why block? Blocking actually helps you recover Stamina. Quite an interesting twist after years of training to avoid doing so. MercurySteam transforms this typical Souls-like staple into a fresh and fun mechanic.

The attack system isn't reduced to light or heavy. Buttons change the direction of the attack, something that seems minor until you're fighting in narrow corridors and poorly chosen moves cause your spear to bounce uselessly. Hitting multiple enemies at the perfect angle is tremendously satisfying. You can switch between slashing and thrusting styles, highlighting the importance of attack direction, something often overlooked in other fast-paced combat games.

A Game of Tones and Emotions

At first, it seemed like another typical depressing dark fantasy game. You play as Aran, a mysterious loner on a noble mission: to commit regicide. Within minutes, an old friend of Aran's is mortally wounded in a shocking, bloody moment. The opening scene of sadness and loneliness with his new companion, Adso, paints a somber tone that, thankfully, is short-lived.

After defeating a soldier, Adso excitedly jots down information about the enemy. "Well done, lad!" says Aran, as he battles several more knights. Adso serves as your faithful scribe, creating a detailed bestiary during the battle, a comic touch that adds freshness to the constant tension.

"What a disgusting creature! Time to take notes," Adso exclaims as a troll tries to squash us. Instead of silencing him, Aran encourages him. Their fun, friendly dynamic is irresistible. A companion who suggests making sandwiches if you let go of the controller? A treasure! 🥪

The game eschews the classic leveling and currency system, opting instead to collect resources dropped by enemies to craft weapons that better weaken them. By killing a certain number of enemies, you learn how to craft their weapons. If you die, you lose your current weapon, but you can recover it without limit, reducing the tension typical of the genre.

Clearly influenced by Monster Hunter, the focus on harvesting, sharpening weapons during combat, and obsessive blacksmithing scenes fit together perfectly, forcing you to choose the right tool for each enemy.

When you lock onto an enemy, the interface shows whether your equipped weapon will be effective: green means optimal attack, orange means less damage, and red means almost useless. While frustrating at times, clearing an area with the perfect weapon makes the experience very rewarding.

Weapon degradation can be frustrating, but Blades of Fire encourages using a variety of weapons rather than just one. The challenge of killing sixty enemies to unlock a new item can feel like a grind, but the reward of a powerful weapon like a new claymore is worth the effort.

Common enemies are commonplace: soldiers, spearmen, or muscle-bound giants with plenty of health. Supernatural enemies are more prominent, such as a troll who vomits a disgusting fishy mixture or the Axe Warrior, made of water and who sets traps by sinking underground. We want more enemies like that!

Large enemies feature clever mechanics. When you run down the troll's health bar, it simply stuns. You must seize that moment to amputate a crucial limb. The direction of the attack is vital: why cut off an arm when you can decapitate? I found that even without a head, the troll remained active, making the fight a chaotic but exciting battle.

My only gripe is the generic and forgettable name: Blades of Fire. It sounds like a witness protection title. It's a shame because this remarkable successor to Metroid Dread from MercurySteam holds a lot of promise.

In summary, Blades of Fire manages to combine the best of the genre soulslike with fresh innovations that refresh the classic formula 🔥. Its emphasis on detailed blacksmithing 🛠️, the strategic importance of choosing and forging the right weapon ⚔️, along with a combat system that rewards precision and targeted attacks, deliver a challenging yet rewarding experience 💥.

The dynamic between Aran and Adso adds a touch of humor and humanity 😂🤝 that contrasts with the dark atmosphere, making each victory and defeat feel more personal. While progression can be a bit grindy ⏳ and the title doesn't stand out because of its name, MercurySteam has created a game that will delight fans of challenging combat and thorough exploration 🕵️‍♂️.

Blades of Fire not only invites you to crack skulls 💀, but also to fall in love with the art of forging and strategy in every encounter 🎯.