This time last year I got the opportunity to review Blades of Fire. Developed by Mercury Steam, the game initially launched on Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC as an Epic Game Store exclusive. Now to celebrate the game now coming to Steam, the team have released the 2.0 version which comes with a new difficulty setting, NG+ mode, boss challenges and, most importantly the ability to pet the Ox.
I jumped into the 2.0 version to check out some of the new features, and am happy to report the team over at Mercury Steam have done a great job. So if you were intrigued, there’s never been a better time to check out Blades of Fire.
Forged in Fire
Weapon forging is one of the fundamental features of Blades of Fire – with you unlocking different weapon types by defeating enemies, and finding forging scrolls that you can then Forge at the Anvil of the Forge. Each weapon type has it’s own unique moveset that can be further customised by changing attributes of the weapon itself, such as blade length and pommel type. I really enjoyed the system in the original release of the game, and 2.0 has introduced a host of improvements that make the system more intuitive and less punishing when it comes to materials and upgrades.
As your weapons only have a set amount of repairs (and these are tied to weapon quality) you’ll want to make sure you’re striking your steel as efficiently as possible. The update introduces an improved forging interface with clearer visual feedback on strike strength and width, making it more intuitive to shape steel accurately. They’ve also introduced a Transmutation system so you can convert discovered materials into others at the forge’s hearth, eliminating resource bottlenecks that made the latter parts of the game a bit of a grind.
Rather than grinding for specific materials, players can freely exchange materials between tiers – converting lower-tier materials into higher-tier ones or breaking down higher tier materials into multiple lower tier variants. This tiered conversion system requires discovering the target material first, so you can’t just get the top tier items immediately, making exploring optional areas still worth doing. By enabling players to rebalance inventory and change resources to better suit their weapon choices, Transmutation shifts forging from a resource dependent grind into a more strategic exercise of material management and weapon design experimentation.
Boss Battles 2.0
There’s lots of new content for returning players too, one of the most fun being the Anvil Trials. Soulslike fans are always clamouring for ways to refight bosses, and Blade of Fire 2.0 has delivered without having to dive into the new New Game Plus mode. Once you clear a boss, a special Anvil station will pop up nearby. Just travel to it, to get transported to an arena where you’ll face a beefed-up version of that boss, complete with new tricks and patterns that really put your skills to the test.
Don’t worry about burning through your resources, either. Your health potions reset every time you restart a trial, and your weapon durability is set to ‘frozen,’ so you can go all-out and experiment with different combat styles without fear of breaking your gear. You’ll have to keep an eye on the clock, though. Every trial is timed, and you’ll earn a medal; gold, silver, or bronze, depending on how fast you finish. Those medals are more than just bragging rights; you’ll use them to unlock Arcana. These are powerful passive buffs for your weapons, making the whole loop feel constantly rewarding and giving you a great reason to keep replaying the toughest fights in the game.
Each weapon can have one active Arcana at a time, and equipping one costs a single repair star, so you need to choose carefully what buff you want active. Adso becomes the keeper of these spells, taking on a much bigger role in your progression as you return to him to apply new Arcana or swap them between weapons. Different Arcana push you toward different playstyles, whether that’s raw aggression, survivability, or weapon efficiency so you can tailor the already flexible combat more to your playstyle.
Difficulty +
On top of the Anvil System, the team over at Mercury Steam have added a New Game Plus mode for returning players, and for those that found the base Steel difficulty too easy there’s also a new difficulty mode – Titanium.
New Game Plus lets you start fresh while keeping everything you’ve earned. You carry over your skills, weapons, upgrades, materials, and all the Arcana spells you’ve unlocked. The catch is that enemy damage scales with your maximum health, making even early fights threatening when you’re walking around with a fully upgraded character. The real draw of NG+ is the 27 exclusive forge statues scattered across the map that unlock new weapon parts unavailable in the base game, giving you reason to experiment with completely different builds.
Titanium difficulty is Blades of Fire’s answer for players who’ve already mastered the base game. It cranks up enemy damage by 20 percent, beefs up their health and armor, and rebalances boss fights with stricter timing mechanics that punish hesitation. On top of that, certain Anvil stations are cursed, blocking rest and fast travel when you’re near them. It’s brutal and unforgiving, designed specifically for experienced players who want to be tested even further (not me, my word it’s tough).
Final Thoughts
Blades of Fire 2.0 is a substantial update that really helps smooth out some of the rough edges of the original release. The updated forging system is less of a grind, the Anvil Trials give you boss rematches worth chasing and, the Arcana system creates a satisfying loop of progression and experimentation. New Game Plus offers genuine replay value with exclusive weapon parts, while Titanium difficulty ensures there’s always a harder challenge to overcome. Whether you’re optimising materials, perfecting your Anvil Times, or building the perfect weapon loadout, 2.0 gives you plenty of reasons to keep playing – or if you’re a Steam player jump in for the first time.
