Creating a Fantasy World
Blades of Fire is a Soulslike game developed by MercurySteam, a Madrid-based studio known for their work on Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid Dread, and the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series. The game’s lead designer, Joan Amat, explained to Game Rant how the team approached creating the game’s fantasy world. “We have specialties,” Amat said. “We are a team that has made games before, so everyone takes on a different part. We have our director, Enric (Alvarez), and he has the vision. He communicates that vision to each lead and team. That vision means something different to each department.”
The team worked together to create a cohesive vision for the game’s world, with each department contributing their unique expertise. “We talk to leads like Arturo (Serrano), the Art Director. He works on his part, we work on ours, then we compare and see if they’re going in the same direction,” Amat explained. The result is a unique and immersive fantasy world that is full of depth and complexity. “Blades of Fire is about weapons,” Amat said. “We had to talk about enemy size and weapon size. That’s the kind of thing we’re coordinating on but everyone has their specialty.”
A Different Approach to Control
One of the most notable features of Blades of Fire is its control scheme. The game’s combat system is designed to be fast-paced and fluid, with a unique twist that sets it apart from other Soulslikes. “No,” Amat said. “You have to go with what’s coherent and what the game needs. Sometimes you have to do things that are original, and you have to be brave about the player reception. Are they going to be weirded out? Well, if that is really what the game needs, then we’ll do that.”
The control scheme is designed to be intuitive and responsive, with a focus on player agency and flexibility. “We need armor, we need helmets. Because we have helmets, we need to be able to attack the head,” Amat explained. The game’s developers worked hard to ensure that the control scheme is both accessible and rewarding, with a steep learning curve that rewards players for their persistence and skill.
Weapons as the Soul of the Game
For Joan Amat, the most important feature of Blades of Fire is its weapon system. The game’s Forge system allows players to craft and customize their own weapons, which are then used to take down enemies and solve puzzles. “Sword-naming is so important,” Amat said. “That’s something that playtesters and previewers can’t really experience, because it’s not really their true save file. Caring about weapons is the absolute soul of Blades of Fire.”
The game’s weapon system is designed to be deep and complex, with a wide range of options and customization choices. Players can craft and upgrade their own swords, as well as discover new ones through the game’s many side quests and challenges.
A Personal Touch
Amat’s love of Forged in Fire, the History Channel reality competition show, had a big influence on the game’s development. The show’s focus on expert craftsmanship and attention to detail was an inspiration to the game’s developers, who wanted to create a game that captured the same feeling. “We were watching that TV show, and we felt like experts,” Amat said. “The feeling that we could identify the weapons, know the names, and feel like experts. We wanted to make a game that captured that same feeling.”
The Highs and Lows of Video Game Development
For Joan Amat, the experience of working on a game is one of the most rewarding experiences he’s ever had. “Making video games is something I think you should do with other people,” he said. “You’re only as good as the team is.”
The game’s development was a long and challenging process, but Amat said that the team’s stability and cohesion were key to the game’s success. “We started with a well-balanced team,” he said. “That’s allowed us to have more mature discussions about the why and how of certain aspects of development.”
The game’s development was not without its challenges, but Amat said that the team’s passion and dedication were key to overcoming them. “It’s the greatest moment,” he said. “You work on a game for many years, and these weeks are really cool.”
A Unique Perspective
Blades of Fire is a game that is both familiar and innovative, with a unique perspective on the Soulslike genre. The game’s developers worked hard to create a game that is both true to its roots and yet also fresh and exciting. “We have a really solid team,” Amat said. “Some departments had already matured, and that meant we started with a really solid base. The team always needs to grow and mature. There’s knowledge we’re accumulating that needs to be consolidated, and teams need to be diverse.”
The game’s development was a long and challenging process, but Amat said that the team’s stability and cohesion were key to the game’s success. “It’s the greatest moment,” he said. “You work on a game for many years, and these weeks are really cool.”
| Key Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Forge System | A deep and complex system for crafting and customizing swords |
| Unique Control Scheme | A fast-paced and fluid combat system with a focus on player agency and flexibility |
| Sword-Naming | A feature that allows players to name and customize their swords |
| Reputation System | A system that allows players to acquire better weapons through reputation |
Conclusion
Blades of Fire is a Soulslike game that is both familiar and innovative, with a unique perspective on the genre. The game’s developers worked hard to create a game that is both true to its roots and yet also fresh and exciting. The game’s Forge system, unique control scheme, and sword-naming feature are just a few of the many innovative features that set Blades of Fire apart from other games in the genre. The game’s reputation system and deep combat mechanics also make it a standout title. Overall, Blades of Fire is a game that is sure to please fans of the Soulslike genre, and its unique perspective and innovative features make it a must-play for anyone looking for a new challenge.
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