Blades of Fire Review: Fun Forges, The Rest is Just OK

Blades of Fire is a game caught between two identities. On one hand, it offers a sharp, Souls-like combat experience, complete with punishing fights and deliberate mechanics. On the other, it introduces a surprisingly deep weapon-forging system that gives players more creative control than many of its genre peers. The result is an ambitious blend that occasionally clicks, but also, unfortunately, occasionally misfires.

Playing on Xbox, Blades of Fire runs smoothly and looks solid. While it may not be a graphical powerhouse, it maintains a clean and stylized visual identity. The environments, ranging from frost-covered ruins to molten forges, are distinct and atmospheric. Load times are snappy, and performance stays consistent even in heated combat encounters. That said, this is clearly an AA game. Some animations can feel stiff, facial expressions are limited, and textures don’t always hold up under close inspection.

The heart of the game lies in its combat and weapon crafting. Battles are slower and heavier than most action RPGs, requiring timing, stamina management, and awareness of enemy patterns. Think Lords of the Fallen more than Devil May Cry. The real twist comes from the forging system. Rather than simply collecting weapons, you actively build and refine them at anvils scattered throughout the world. Materials you collect determine everything from damage type to move set, allowing for meaningful customization. Creating a sword that explodes on impact or a hammer that heals you on kill adds a fresh layer of strategy and ownership.

This forge mechanic is the game’s strongest feature. It is easy to spend hours experimenting with different loadouts, testing combos, and tuning your build for the next brutal boss fight. It also gives each weapon a personal touch, as your blade is not just a loot drop, it’s something you made. Unfortunately, not every system holds up as well.

The story in Blades of Fire may seem simple at first, but it grows on you. Aran, a stoic warrior with a mysterious past, teams up with Asdo, the sharp-witted son of a fallen friend, on a quest to stop the tyrannical Queen Nerea. Their bond, part mentor, part surrogate father-son, adds unexpected warmth, drawing comparisons to God of War without feeling like a copy. Asdo’s clever quips and lore knowledge help flesh out the world, and Aran’s history with the Queen adds emotional stakes. It’s not groundbreaking, but the sincerity gives it more heart than many genre peers.

Exploration is a mixed bag. Levels are semi-linear with some branching paths, hidden materials, and optional encounters. While the occasional shortcut or secret area can be rewarding, backtracking becomes tedious. Reused assets and repetitive enemy encounters wear thin over time, especially when you are revisiting old areas for crafting supplies. The map is nearly useless in guiding you on where to go next, resulting in a lot of downtime.

The difficulty is fair but unforgiving. Most bosses are well-designed, with multiple phases and clear attack patterns. However, enemy placement can sometimes feel cheap, and the game occasionally leans into artificial difficulty by throwing multiple strong foes at you in tight spaces. Thankfully, the forge system offers flexibility, allowing you to adapt your weapons frequently to suit your current challenge better.

On Xbox, controls are responsive and intuitive. The UI is functional, although not particularly elegant, and inventory management could benefit from a few quality-of-life improvements. Navigating the forge menus takes some getting used to, especially when juggling different material types, but once you understand the flow, it becomes second nature. Accessibility options are limited, and the lack of font scaling or subtitle customization might frustrate players on larger screens.

Blades of Fire is a game with strong ideas and a few standout features, hampered by really bad map design and repetitive moments. In many ways, it feels like a throwback to last generation’s style of games, sometimes good, sometimes bad. For fans of deliberate, punishing combat and player-driven customization, there is plenty here to enjoy. It may not burn as brightly as its influences, but it still leaves a lasting ember.

RATING: 3.0 out of 5.

Blades of Fire is available for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.