Blade of Darkness, from publisher SNEG and developers Rebel Act Studios, Fire Falcom, and General Arcade, isn’t something you see too much of these days. The overall feel and style remind me of the early 2000s when I played Enclave or Tomb Raider. This game also was released 20 years ago originally. That being said, the first thing I noticed about the game was how clunky it is, and how hard it is to be competent from navigating the UI to combat. Don’t let that scare you off, though. It is still a worthwhile experience for all players.
You can choose from 4 different characters/classes before sallying forth into imminent danger. You swap through the characters like something out of a Warcraft 3 Campaign, when the camera pans over to introduce each character in succession. I chose the paladin and went through the tutorial. It reminds me about how far tutorials have come in the past 20 years. The game refers to keys in a vague way (e.g., “Item Select key”), and to fully understand you need to open the game menu and go to the keybinding for the full lesson.
Not all weapons are equal. Depending on your class, your avatar may be better suited to a sword and shield, a two-handed hammer, or a bow and arrow. There is some overlap, but there are some stats that light up in red text that warn you. You may also be dragging a heavy weapon, hindering your ability to fight. You can also improvise with random objects, picking them up and throwing them. You can also interact with food and health potions to replenish your health. Other items laying around include keys and torches, which definitely help you find a path or burn wooden crates to make a path.
Combat is straightforward. You swing your weapon and it causes a small amount of fatigue. If your green energy bar is depleted, then you will not complete your attack very well. You can also use your energy to dodge or to perform heavy attacks. These alterations vary based on which direction you are moving, like in the Mount and Blade series for example. You can lock on to your enemies and targets to help focus down individuals in groups. This game came out before enemies attacked us one at a time, so be aware of your surroundings.
The effects just scream “2001” when you see them. Sometimes you can land a final blow on a specific body part, causing dismemberment. This was what they meant by blood and gore back in the early game ratings. The tortured prisoners make a groaning sound so eerie; it makes you wonder how you heard it years ago. Goblins screech like banshees. Your character munches loudly into the speakers. These are all memorable sound clips.
I would hope that people are willing to give Blade of Darkness a chance. It does not handle itself as easily or as smoothly as a modern title, but I found it entertaining. The tutorial takes a little bit more patience. I don’t know what a proper criticism for a decades old title should be, but you might find that this game is less buggy than you may expect. If you want a good fantasy title for your collection, I don’t think you can go wrong with a classic. I think a fair rating for this title should be an 8.5 out of 10.
Check Out the Blade of Darkness Trailer:
Blade of Darkness is available for purchase on PC via Steam and GOG.com.
Related: BLADE OF DARKNESS Now Available for PC
Steam Review
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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