Forging Legends: Unleash the Hammer in Blades of Fire

Blades of Fire plunges you into a world where steel that was once the cornerstone of civilization but has become cursed. Developed by MercurySteam and published by 505 Games, this third-person action-adventure on Xbox Series XS casts you as Aran de Lira, the reluctant champion wielding the Hammer of Embers, one of the last artifacts capable of forging “Living Steel” and resisting Queen Nerea’s petrifying enchantment.

Across sprawling, interconnected regions from crumbling keeps overtaken by stone-turned armies to hidden forges deep beneath obsidian cliffs, you’ll harness a deep weapon-crafting system to tailor combos, unlock elemental upgrades, and shatter the curse. Blades of Fire marries Metroidvania-style exploration with fluid combat, hand-painted visuals, and a dynamic soundtrack that reacts to every swing of your hammer.

Whether you’re drawn to rich lore about the vanished Forgers, strategic battles against cursed knights, or the thrill of uncovering secret vaults, Blades of Fire offers a finely tempered experience that proves steel’s true power lies in the resolve of those who dare to wield it.

Centuries ago, a titan race called the Forgers imbued humanity with the secret art of steel granting unparalleled strength and shaping kingdoms. After vanquishing rival gods in a cataclysmic war, the Forgers vanished, leaving behind only their grand forges and cryptic anvil-marks carved into mountain faces. Over time, humans grew arrogant, leaning on steel as both shield and scepter, that was until Queen Nerea’s dreadful enchantment turned every sword and spear to brittle stone on contact. With the world’s backbone shattered, scattered city-states decay beneath creeping petrification.

You step into the boots of Aran de Lira, the eldest trainee of the King’s Ward, sworn protectors tasked with safeguarding the royal line. Aran carries the Hammer of Embers which is an ancestral artifact fabled to resist Nerea’s curse by forging “Living Steel.” Driven by duty rather than destiny, he resembles a scholar more than a warrior: haunted by dreams of molten forges and whispers of his unknown parentage. Each strike of his hammer resonates with echoes from the Forgers themselves, as if the gods of old guide his hand.

On your journey you will meet and interact with a selection of Allies. Adso de Zelk, a meticulous archivist whose passion for ancient runes uncovers hidden sanctuaries and forbidden word-glyphs that power Aran’s hammer. Silas Corenne, a rogue-forge smuggler who trades in outlawed metal scraps and maps clandestine routes through the Obsidian Warrens. Sister Kamira, a former palace priestess exiled for opposing Nerea’s iron-fisted reign; she teaches Aran to harness his inner resolve. Together they traverse ruined villages, sunken fortresses, and the overgrown catacombs of the Old Forgery.

The combat in Blades of Fire is all about momentum and precision. Each swing of the Hammer of Embers can be chained into light and heavy attacks that flow smoothly into one another. Timing parries and dodges opens windows for devastating counterstrikes, while elemental infusions of fire, ice and lightning add an extra layer of strategy, letting you stagger foes or freeze them solid before finishing blows. The responsiveness of movement and the tactile feedback of each hit make every skirmish feel weighty and satisfying.

Weapon forging sits at the heart of the gameplay loop. Scattered throughout the world are ancient forges keyed to runic sigils you unlock as you progress. At these anvils, you melt down salvaged scrap and infuse your hammer with living steel, choosing from upgrade paths that emphasize raw power, elemental potency, or enhanced combo speed. Experimenting with different alloys and sigil combinations can turn a basic hammer into a whirlwind of ice shards or a thunderous axe that ricochets between enemies.

Exploration unfolds like a classic Metroidvania. The world is an interconnected tapestry of crumbled keeps, overgrown caverns, and submerged forges. Hidden passages beg to be uncovered, whether it’s a breakable wall behind a petrified knight or a vaulted ceiling revealed by a charged hammer blow. Shortcut gates and magical waystones link distant areas, rewarding careful observation and backtracking with powerful relics and lore bits that deepen the mystery of the Forgers.

Character progression feels organic and player-driven. Every enemy vanquished grants ember‐glow which is experience you pour into a branching skill tree that unlocks passive bonuses like increased stun build-up or bonus runic slot capacity. Meanwhile, side quests from NPCs like Silas or Sister Kamira offer unique gear blueprints and story vignettes that flesh out the world. You mould Aran into a hammer-wielding juggernaut, a swift rune-weaver, or a balanced tactician, whichever style resonates with you the most.

Boss battles are epic tests of everything you’ve learned. Each major foe arrives with a dramatic entrance, multi‐phase attack patterns, and environmental hazards that keep you on your toes. One moment you’re dodging petrified steel shards raining from above; the next you’re channelling a lightning-infused hammer slam to exploit a boss’s fleeting vulnerability. Defeating these towering adversaries not only grants major crafting materials but also unlocks new abilities and shortcuts deeper into the realm.

Once the credits roll, Blades of Fire still calls you back. New Game+ ramps up difficulty and introduces stronger enemy variants while letting you retain your forged weapons and unlocked runes. Optional challenge rooms, time trials, and hidden forges tucked behind cryptic rune puzzles all beckon you to refine your build. Every replay peels back another layer of secrets, ensuring the world’s mysteries and the hammer’s potential never truly run cold.

Pros

• Robust forging system

  You can craft and customize weapons at multiple forges, mixing alloys and runic sigils to create setups that match your playstyle—whether you want explosive elemental hammers or rapid‐strike runic chains.

  
  

• Fluid, weighty combat

  Combines light and heavy attacks, parries, and dodges into satisfying combos. Elemental infusions add strategic layers, letting you freeze, burn, or electrocute foes in creative ways.

  
  

• Metroidvania‐style exploration

  An interconnected world brimming with hidden passages, secret vaults, and shortcut gates. Backtracking with new abilities reveals lore fragments, bonus forges, and powerful relics.

  
  

• High performance and presentation

  Near‐instant load times on Xbox Series X|S, stable frame-rates even in particle-heavy scenes, and hand-painted 4K environments that pop with colour and detail.

  
  

• Deep replayability

  New Game+ preserves your forged gear and runes while ramping up enemy strength. Optional challenge rooms, time trials, and secret forges keep you refining builds long after the main story.

  
  

• Accessibility and polish

  Includes colour-blind palettes, full input remapping, and clear UI signposting, making the adventure welcoming to a wide range of players.

Cons

• Occasional difficulty spikes

  Boss encounters can ramp up suddenly, leading to frustration if your build isn’t optimized or you haven’t explored every forge.

  
  

• Backtracking can feel repetitive

  While rewarding, revisiting the same areas multiple times sometimes drags the pacing, especially when retracing long corridors without new shortcuts.

  
  

• Resource grind

  Rare crafting materials can be scarce, forcing you to replay encounters or side-quests just to stockpile enough scraps for advanced upgrades.

  
  

• Predictable story beats

  Some narrative twists—like the Forge heir’s betrayal or the reluctant hero trope—follow familiar patterns, which may lessen the impact for genre veterans.

  
  

• Limited enemy variety

  Beyond armoured knights and elemental constructs, a handful of foe types repeat across regions, sometimes making later areas feel visually and mechanically similar.

Blades of Fire strikes a remarkable balance between deep lore and hands-on action. The Hammer of Embers feels gratifying in every swing, and the forging system invites endless experimentation, making combat fresh at every turn. Exploration rewards curiosity with hidden vaults and lore tidbits that enrich the world without ever feeling obligatory.

The pacing of the narrative anchored by Aran’s reluctant hero journey and a small cast of compelling allies keeps stakes high while unveiling just enough mystery to drive you onward. Boss encounters serve as masterclasses in pattern-reading and skill mastery, ensuring that triumph never feels handed-down but earned. New Game+ and optional challenges extend replayability well beyond the main story, letting you refine your build or chase time-attack glory.

Ultimately, Blades of Fire isn’t just another action-adventure; it’s a love letter to players who cherish exploration, crafting depth, and stories that unfold through both hammer blow and whispered legend. Whether you’re a Metroidvania veteran or new to the genre, this forged realm offers a finely tuned challenge and a narrative that resonates long after the final ember fades.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)

Blades of Fire is Available Now!

XBOX SERIES X/S

A copy of the game was provided for this review. A huge thank you for that!

If you liked this review, why not take a look at the XPN review for Star Wars: Episode 1 Jedi Power Battles HERE.