Unleashing Creativity: Metroid Fright’s Innovative Twist on Action Gameplay

Developer MercurySteam may be best recognized for its innovative interpretations of the Metroidvania genre, spanning titles like Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and Metroid Dread along with Samus Returns. Today, the studio has announced its latest project, Blades of Fire, an original action game that aims to encapsulate a captivating essence similar to that of the dark fantasy in Lords of Shadow.

Blades of Fire was just announced today, ahead of a May 22, 2025 release date, marking a refreshingly brief marketing period. You step into the shoes of Aran de Lira, a member of a chivalric order on a mission to thwart the increasingly malevolent Queen Nerea. Accompanying you is a scribe named Adso, who serves a role akin to a human companion, providing guidance on how to conquer various enemies you may encounter throughout the game.

The main appeal here is that you’ll be crafting your own weapons, utilizing items referred to as “Forge Scrolls” that you can acquire throughout the game. The official website indicates there are seven distinct weapon categories, over 30 Forge Scrolls, and various resources to discover, promising “nearly limitless weapon combinations.”

Each weapon you create can possess unique attributes in categories such as “weight, length, durability, penetration, and edge quality,” and I promise I’ll try to steer clear of any obvious jokes about that phrasing. You might want to be strategic with your weapon selections, as each enemy will have its own vulnerabilities, and you may need to slash, stab, or bash adversaries to effectively inflict damage. You can also target specific parts of enemies’ bodies.

The trailer and the few details revealed so far do not offer a clear picture of how all these mechanics will interconnect, but the combat appears intimate, raw, and satisfyingly vicious in a manner that has definitely captured my interest. We shouldn’t have to wait too long for Blades of Fire to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via the Epic Games Store.

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