Reviews / previews
Blade of Darkness, brought to you by developer Rebel Act and publisher Codemasters, breaks into the action genre by combining the setting of a fantasy role playing game with the hack and slash combat of an action game. Similar titles such as Die by the Sword, Rune, and Drakkan have all met with measured success, but Blade of Darkness looks to come out ahead of the pack in some respects.
A mysterious tide of evil has taken over the world. Undead soldiers, big nasty orcs, and a garden variety of other not-so-nice creatures roam the countryside. To combat this evil, you get to pick from one of four characters to slay all who oppose you. Sargon the knight specializes in combat with a shield and one handed weapon, Naglfar the dwarf is good with axes, Zoe the one female character is best with spears, and Tukaram an almost naked barbarian prefers to use two handed weapons in combat. The main difference between the characters is their preferred weapons and moves in combat, beyond that, there are no individual skills that can be developed in the game (aside from hit points).
Combat and movement requires use of the mouse and keyboard. Characters can move faster with their weapons sheathed, and there are the standard sneak, run, and jump controls. In combat, you have a number of options. You can throw weapons, like axes or spears, by holding down the throw key. Arrows shot with a bow are best used from the alternate first person view. There is no crosshair, and you usually have to fire a test round to correct your aim when shooting, but it's a fairly realistic representation of archery. When fighting hand to hand, characters can block with a shield (providing they aren't using a two handed weapon), dodge, or attack with a number of moves. It does require some practice to become proficient in combat: timing attacks and blocks is essential, but in close quarter combat the camera has a tendency to become very erratic, making it really tough to fight well. In open areas this isnt really a problem, but it does pop up often enough.
New weapons, life potions, and food (for health) lie scattered about the levels waiting for you to pick them up, and you can usually count on plucking an item off of a fallen opponent. You'll also usually have to flip a number of levers, unlock doors with keys swiped from dead enemies, and get past a few nasty traps. However, the focus of the gameplay is on combat and exploration.
The graphics are quite good with some really sharp textures. The lighting effects are also top notch with candle and torch light flickering very realistically off of walls. Outdoor environments feel less realistic and are pretty sparsely detailed, but there are the occasional nice touches, like mist coming off of a waterfall. The audio is sprinkled throughout the game, but the samples are well done and the voice acting is actually quite good.
Blade of Darkness doesn't really break any new ground in the action or role playing realms, but on the whole, the game is a fun hack and slash adventure for the brave PC gamer. Stay tuned to GamePro.com for a full review next week!-- 0 / GamePro
Blade combines third-person action and RPG elements into a potent mix that will satisfy your bloodlust for adventure on the PC. You pick a hero from four characters, each with their own weapon specialties, and set out to battle against rogue knights, huge orcs, the undead, and many other nasty creatures.
Blades basic combat controls are simple, but the complexities of fighting with sword and shield make them tough to master. A helpful lock-on system enables you to circle individual opponents easily, but the erratic game camera makes fighting in close quarters almost impossible. Still, Blade is enjoyable. The puzzle-solving isnt complicated, as what you need to do is usually fairly logical.
The visuals show off impressively realistic lighting and topnotch texture maps. The audio effects, on the other hand, are sparse. Despite the so-so sounds and demanding controls, Blade of Darkness is an entertaining action/adventure game where it pays to keep your wits honed and your sword sharpened.-- 0 / GamePro
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