Bladesong Preview

There’s something cathartic about being a blacksmith, spending your days using your hands to forge steel and iron. However, when it comes to games, it can be hard to transfer this same sense of craftsmanship to a game. With that in mind, I had the chance to test out Bladesong, the latest title from SUN AND SERPENT creations, to see if it offers the smithing experience of my dreams.

Bladesong has you take on the role of a blacksmith in a world that lies in ruin; there is only one safe location, the city of Eren Keep, but gaining entry is not exactly simple. You will need to prove yourself as a swordsmith, building and repairing weapons for the people to earn money, alongside more materials. 

The plot is a bit grimdark at times; everyone is starving and struggling, but you will meet some interesting characters over time. What it does well is that you have certain events that transpire that will affect how characters react to you. For instance, a monster attacking the camp, where, if you realise how to stay safe, you can save more people. If you do this, people will offer you rewards, plus see you in a more positive light. It’s a nice little mini-game that gives you a reason to explore while talking to people.

With that being said, everything here is text-based, so there is a lot of reading. If you came here just to forge swords, then it feels like a time waster. Personally, it’s fine, and I can’t see a way to improve it, but I think it might turn away some players looking for a simple forging sim.

Speaking of forging, how does it all work here? Well, at a glance, it’s all very simple. You have several options you can select when you begin to forge, but you’ll usually start with lengthening the metal to the customer's preferred length. Then you have to thin the blade, ensuring it is as rigid or flexible as desired, and then finally sharpen it. That’s the basics, but it’s all controlled through a series of easy-to-understand menus that you can add at your leisure.

However, over time, you’ll level up, which unlocks new types of blades, handles, and the means to add new designs as well as stylistic choices. It can all feel a bit overwhelming, but once again, the simplicity of the menu helps to keep it all streamlined. There’s also a stamina system, with each job requiring a different amount.

The issue is that, considering this is all menu-based, it actually gets a bit boring until you have a chance to progress. See, you don’t have to worry about things like heat application, quenching the blade, or anything like that; you do hit the sword with a hammer, but that’s about it. This results in Bladesong feeling more like an Excel spreadsheet with the odd bit of smacking.

I would like to see more interesting missions in the early levels. This is especially the case with missions that only cost a single stamina point, which often involve just sharpening a sword. Sure, it’s accurate to what a swordsmith would actually do, but that doesn’t make it interesting. I’d also eventually like to see more animations or a more interesting background in the forge, as an anvil sitting in a pitch-black room is just dull. 

So the big question is whether I will continue to play Bladesong? Honestly, it’s hard to say at this point, as I feel there’s still a lot missing from the game. Ideally, I’d like to see more elements added to the forging itself, plus the ability to forge more than just swords. With that being said, there is something here if you’re looking to while away a few hours seeing what you can create, and the plot is certainly interesting. With that in mind, I may pick it up again when it fully releases, but I won’t be in a rush to play it again any time soon.