Review of “Blades of Fire” on PlayStation 5

Blades of Fire. Yeah, it’s this quirky new title from 505 Games and MercurySteam. A land of myths, giants, and steel (or lack thereof). Why am I hooked? Maybe it’s because I’ve tried MercurySteam’s magic with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 way back when on the PS3. Metroid Dread, too. Solid. So, alright, let’s dive into what’s arguably a chaotic cauldron of fantasy meets disaster meets… forging?

The giants—“The Forgers” they called them—once swaggered around, ruling this place like they owned the joint (which they did). Everything was chill until, out of nowhere, kaboom! Apocalyptic chaos, folks. Knowing their days were numbered, these big guys thought, “Hey, let’s make humans.” They gave us the secret of The Steel, their parting gift as they presumably waltzed into oblivion. Fast forward, and here you are, Aran de Lira, sonny boy of the King’s right-hand man.

Now enter Queen Nerea—spellcaster extraordinaire—who’s like, “Let’s just turn steel into stone.” Why? So her monstrous army alone can wield it. Clever, if mildly annoying. Her spell means traditional “mash-attack-buttons” gaming won’t cut it here, literally. But with you, the player, joined by Adso de Zelk—that cheeky student from the Abbey of Egion—it’s puzzle-solving and enemy strategy galore! This Adso fellow, sharp one.

You’ll find or craft weapons, even make steel blades. Forge Scrolls are your pals here. Got 30+ of them. Each weapon, a mixed bag of weight, length, durability, etc. Seven weapon fams, so have a blast experimenting!

Difficulty levels? Choose your flavor: Bronze (beginner-friendly), Iron (just right), and Steel (brace yourself!). Switch them up as you fancy. In combat, Aran uses those analog sticks—left for movement, right for targeting. X for strikes, square/circle for left/right hits, triangle for head bonks. Healing? Down on the D-Pad. Got it? Keep those weapons sharp, or they’ll wear out. Reserve heavy hitters for hefty foes. It’s a delicate balance.

Enemies—over 50 types—bring their own dance of attacks and defenses. Weapon effectiveness tied to enemy color. Green, yellow, red—it’s like a traffic light. But for bashing. And oh, skeleton foes? Nah, spears won’t crack them. Hammer time, my friend. Weapons deal slashing, piercing, or blunt damage. Know your tools.

Trophies are a thing. Craft, defeat, collect—you know the drill. Platinum awaits. To summarize this awesome mess: Blades of Fire spins a yarn of giants, spells, and human grit. Said to launch May 22 on PS5 for $59.99. Pre-order it, get a discount. Not many spells offer bargains. So, ready to wield some steel? Let’s see what you’re made of.

Disclaimer: This chaos courtesy of a PS5 copy from the folks at 505 Games.