Magic, monsters, and metalwork? Welcome to the extraordinary world MercurySteam has crafted for us in their upcoming fantasy action-adventure. This time, they’re bringing something unique to the table. We’re talking about Aran de Lira, a mysterious hero on a mission to topple a tyrannical queen with an army at her beck and call.
Joining Aran on this epic quest is Adso, his eager squire. Adso isn’t just along for the ride—he’s documenting every twist and turn on their journey to the Royal Palace, solving puzzles, and offering valuable strategies as they face a host of enemies. But what really sets Blades of Fire apart in its promised 60 to 80 hours of gameplay is its innovative blacksmithing.
Enric Álvarez, CEO of MercurySteam and the mind behind Blades of Fire, shares some insights: “We were eager to revisit the kind of brutal, tactical combat that fans loved in Blade of Darkness. When we devised a world where an evil witch queen can turn steel to stone, it challenged our hero to forge his own weapons. That’s how the idea of the Forge was born.”
The Forge of the Gods, as Enric puts it, is a place filled with mystery and power. Here, Aran can craft custom weapons to battle over 50 different enemy types, including Queen Nerea’s armored troops and formidable elementals. The queen’s curse may twist steel elsewhere, but not in the Forge. You can choose from seven diverse weapon families, giving rise to countless variations.
For instance, tweaking a blade’s length can alter its damage potential, while the type of steel affects its laceration abilities, defensive quality, and durability. Will you opt for a blade with a convex cross-section for extra durability, or go for a concave design for speed and penetration? And let’s not forget the pommel, which is key to your weapon’s balance.
Hands-on time with the game revealed that the Forge involves many choices, restrained by a few locked options, but it avoids being overwhelming thanks to a stats-driven sidebar. It instantly reflects the impact of your decisions on critical stats like blocking, parrying efficiency, stamina, and more.
The real challenge begins after you’ve made your choices—actual forging. This is where MercurySteam had to innovate since no existing system fit the bill. “We wanted players to truly feel the heat and force of the forge,” Enric notes. “Every hammer strike shapes the metal, and you’ve got to strategically align with the weapon’s design.”
This is visualized through graphic equalizer-style bars overlaying your glowing metal. You need precision to match these bars and carefully strike with your hammer. Each hit diminishes the metal’s properties, demanding a careful balance in crafting.
Your finished weapon is graded and given a star rating, indicating its potential repair lifespan before ultimate breakdown. “Creating a usable weapon isn’t hard, but crafting perfection is rare,” Enric emphasizes. “Your decisions will influence your combat style, and battles will reveal if you chose wisely.”
Enric’s not just talking it up. Playing the game makes it clear that combat is all about timing and strategy. Each face button is mapped to specific attacks, and you must smartly choose between slashing, stabbing, and blunt strikes to outmaneuver enemy armor.
Coupled with a stamina meter preventing endless attacks, and Aran’s quick dodge roll, battles are a high-stakes, breathtaking experience. There’s nothing quite like skillfully severing enemy limbs in a perfectly timed assault.
As you progress, your weapons can gain epic or legendary status, but wielding them takes care. Die, and you’ll have to reclaim your weapon, potentially from a troll that stomped you into the ground. Yet, maybe that same troll can be coaxed into squashing a few enemies for you during retrieval. Creative thinking wins the day.
Blades of Fire is shaping up to be another sensational hit from MercurySteam. Don’t be fooled—Aran approaches every challenge strategically, with exploration and puzzles aplenty. The story draws on the spirit of John Boorman’s Excalibur, The Name of the Rose, and Frank Frazetta’s comics. Enric describes it as “a tale of individuals torn apart by time and fate, reunited after years, forever transformed.”
Prepare your blacksmithing skills for May 22, when Blades of Fire makes its much-anticipated debut on PlayStation 5.
