Blades of Fire Demo: A Forged Gem in the Making

Blades of Fire Demo Impressions

A Surprisingly Captivating Experience

Ever hesitated on a decision only to realize it was the right move? For someone as spontaneous and wavering as I am, that’s just another day—though the “right move” part isn’t always guaranteed. Luckily, my initial reluctance to dive into Blades of Fire proved wise, as what began as a lackluster demo transformed into a single-player RPG experience that hooked me far more than anticipated. From a shaky start, it crafted a unique adventure the genre has been longing for.

Yes, this is about a demo—but stick with this review, and you’ll see how I went from skeptical to eagerly awaiting the full release. Let’s spark the forge and dive into this breakdown.

No Chosen Heroes Here—Just a Skilled Blacksmith

This review starts with the demo’s rough opening, its least impressive moment. Bluntly put, Blades of Fire stumbles at the outset, and beginning on a weak note isn’t ideal.

The story kicks off with Aran de Lira, a forest-dwelling blacksmith, forging at his anvil when a distant cry interrupts him. Armed with an iron axe, he rushes to rescue a young Apprentice, though their companion, an Abbot, doesn’t survive. Aran escorts the survivor to safety, and that’s the intro’s extent.

If it seems sparse, it is. No grand cinematic, just a brief establishing shot and fading text. It’s a demo, so some roughness is expected, but even The First Berserker: Khazan wove dialogue and cutscenes into its tutorial. Here, you’re simply dropped into the action with minimal guidance.

The combat tutorial follows, introducing a directional system reminiscent of For Honor, not the expected Dark Souls-style swings. Players can execute overhead, body, or lateral strikes, each with a heavier variant by holding the button. Initially, it felt awkward and unnecessary—enemies don’t block directionally, making the system seem more stylistic than strategic. But as the demo unfolded, my perspective shifted.

Post-tutorial, the game introduces damage types—blunt, pierce, and slash—each interacting uniquely with enemy armor. A color-coded targeting system aids in swapping weapons strategically, crucial as enemy variety increases. Combined with tight parry, block, and dodge mechanics, the combat evolves into something engaging, driven by the interplay of simple yet satisfying systems. It’s grounded, too—unarmored foes fall to any weapon, mail resists slashes and pierces, plate shrugs off both but yields to maces, and blunt weapons falter against thick-skinned beasts like trolls.

Apply real-world medieval weapon knowledge, and you’ll thrive. It’s a refreshing departure from generic fantasy, but the real standout is the weapon crafting system—far more intricate than you’d expect.

Craft Your Arsenal from Scratch

Blades of Fire features a crafting system that’s distinct from Monster Hunter’s beast-slaying loot grind. Instead, you gather realistic materials to forge detailed, authentic melee weapons, as close to real smithing as a game can get.

It starts at the divine forge, your hub introduced mid-tutorial. Before forging, you design your weapon. Take a spear: most games would demand ingredients and produce a generic result. Here, you select the spearhead’s shape, cross-section, haft length, and materials for each part. Crafting a sword? Choose the cross-guard, pommel, and materials, even mixing alloys for precise performance tuning. Every choice impacts stats, tailoring the weapon to your style and enemies.

The forging minigame, though, starts rough—confusing and reliant on trial and error, much like actual smithing. You adjust sliders to shape heated metal, with each strike’s angle and strength affecting the outcome. Botch it, and the weapon warps; nail it, and quality soars. It’s frustrating at first but rewarding once mastered, with the option to save designs as templates for efficiency.

Beyond crafting, the game’s unique mechanics—like its approach to loot and progression—set it apart from typical RPGs.

Blueprints, Anvils, and Weapon Altars

With no weapon drops, loot comes as blueprints and materials. Defeating specific enemies unlocks their weapons—swords from footsoldiers, warhammers from captains, dual knives from assassins. This hitlist system pairs well with respawning enemies, tied to resting at your anvil, a Dark Souls-inspired checkpoint.

The anvil doubles as your resurrection point, repair station, and crafting hub. Weapon Altars, depicting warriors with specific weapons, unlock new components when you interact while wielding matching gear, rewarding experimentation.

The game reimagines Dark Souls’ souls system: no currency, but death means dropping your equipped weapon. Fail to retrieve it before dying again, and it’s lost, forcing a return to the forge. This cycle—forge, fight, die, repeat—is intuitive yet innovative.

While the loop shines, some elements reveal flaws in the demo’s polish.

Weak Voice Acting and Thin World-Building

Not every rough edge smooths out over the demo’s three hours. The voice acting is consistently poor, with shoddy recording quality—muffled lines, canned delivery, and questionable casting, especially for the Abbot’s apprentice.

World-building also falters, with heavy exposition but no narrative payoff. For a demo, some leeway is fair, but the lack of follow-through on plot points risks weakening the full game if not addressed.

A Slow Burn Worth Sticking With

Blades of Fire’s demo doesn’t grab you instantly, but it’s a raw gem that rewards patience. Like forging itself, it takes unpolished elements and shapes them into something compelling. With innovative mechanics and a mixed execution elsewhere, it’s not perfect but shows immense potential. It may not be 2025’s standout, but it’s a title you won’t soon forget.

Game8 Reviews