Blade of Darkness (2001)

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 137 out of 159
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 159
  3. Negative: 13 out of 159
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  1. SaidM.
    Jul 3, 2004
    10
    Best hack-n-slash game ever.
  2. WilkinsonK.
    Jul 6, 2006
    10
    It just goes to show that the critics havn't got a clue. As a major game player on all formats Blade of Darkness still stands head and shoulders above other medevil fighting games. There are no stupid numbers above opponents heads and enemies fill the screen to give the feel of an actual combat. The lighting and graphic design are superb, this game should definately be remade for the It just goes to show that the critics havn't got a clue. As a major game player on all formats Blade of Darkness still stands head and shoulders above other medevil fighting games. There are no stupid numbers above opponents heads and enemies fill the screen to give the feel of an actual combat. The lighting and graphic design are superb, this game should definately be remade for the latest computers, if only Codemasters were still around.… Expand
  3. Adrian
    Jul 14, 2005
    10
    Best medieval game ever, Lot of weapons, lot of combos (more with mods) and a unique system of combat that is the best ever made, you hit where you want legs head arms.
  4. SkunkdfS.k
    Apr 26, 2004
    10
    My favourite game.
  5. Dwain
    Apr 11, 2005
    10
    I love cutting things off!! iz funny.
  6. ANGELM.
    Oct 17, 2004
    10
    THE BEST GAME EVER PLAYED.
  7. strangermoon
    May 23, 2023
    10
    it was most impressive graphical game after nocturne on pc back then like using shadows quite good. gameplay wise tihs was firt third person souls game basicly. there was die by sword on 98 but quite simplstc even uses mouse hard to control. this game was first good use of souls like third person game plus dismemberment. can comparable with jedi oucast that time but outcast was quakeit was most impressive graphical game after nocturne on pc back then like using shadows quite good. gameplay wise tihs was firt third person souls game basicly. there was die by sword on 98 but quite simplstc even uses mouse hard to control. this game was first good use of souls like third person game plus dismemberment. can comparable with jedi oucast that time but outcast was quake engine. this game engine own was look superior. it very similar to how nocturne on time and like nocturne dreamcast port rumored. game soem times uses noctunre music also which is free music to use. the new relase not add much just straight port but quite welcome like turok.… Expand
  8. The_D4RknesS
    Dec 23, 2022
    8
    difficulty and almost darksouls but it has super satisfying violence with strange commands
  9. KDS
    Sep 10, 2022
    10
    The best game, with a unique combat system, with the choice and leveling of the character...
  10. harney
    Aug 17, 2015
    10
    A true classic for its time and still is very much enjoyable today this game set the standard there is even a cult following for the game.
    Such a shame the Spanish company rebel act studios closed soon after ..... this for me was the most immersive and atmospheric game i ever played never mind how difficult it was to play ...that what made it very challenging.....such a shame the game    A true classic for its time and still is very much enjoyable today this game set the standard there is even a cult following for the game.
    Such a shame the Spanish company rebel act studios closed soon after ..... this for me was the most immersive and atmospheric game i ever played never mind how difficult it was to play ...that what made it very challenging.....such a shame the game failed because of marketing ..THIS IS A TRUE CLASSIC

    I quote ..

    This game is the first and only game, which can perform water reflection wave effect only using Directx 7.0 hardware (Geforce 2 or Radeon 7500; perhaps even Nvidia Riva TNT is enough to perform water effects at the same quality level like in DirectX 8 or higher).

    However, the game failed to become popular, mainly due to bad marketing. Other reasons for the relatively low sales were the untimely publication (neither the code nor the storyline had been finalized) and the lack of gameplay difficulty levels - the game proved to be too difficult on "factory" defaults for many players. Nonetheless it did establish a large cult following that still exists today.    … Expand
  11. asdrubael
    Jun 3, 2011
    10
    I hate those review magazines..THIS WAS THE BEST F*CKIN AWESOME hack and slash 3rd person game of its time.Period.A TRUE LEGEND!!!The shadows were overwhelming,the music was trully epic,the battles were really hard,the enemies were f*cking awesome and brutal,the fatalities differed if you hit different parts of the body..pure awesomeness!!!Although mainly underrated by the press,i rememberI hate those review magazines..THIS WAS THE BEST F*CKIN AWESOME hack and slash 3rd person game of its time.Period.A TRUE LEGEND!!!The shadows were overwhelming,the music was trully epic,the battles were really hard,the enemies were f*cking awesome and brutal,the fatalities differed if you hit different parts of the body..pure awesomeness!!!Although mainly underrated by the press,i remember PC magazine gave it a 90%!!!Thank god i saw it on the package and bought it immediately!(ps.PC magazine of that time was really nasty on scoring.. ;) )… Expand
  12. Didacticus
    Oct 17, 2013
    9
    That whispering that I was hearing when I was walking in the darkness gave me the creeps. This game also is very big! Hours and hours of gameplay, even with Godmode on.
  13. jcorreia
    Oct 29, 2012
    8
    A game that was ahead of it's time when it hit the stores. Released during the same time frame as the viking epic "rune", it featured much crispier graphics, supperb level design and showcased a combat system that even today's games haven't managed to duplicate, blade of darkness is a must have for any third person melee combat lover.
    Mixing light exploration with a fantasy setting and,    A game that was ahead of it's time when it hit the stores. Released during the same time frame as the viking epic "rune", it featured much crispier graphics, supperb level design and showcased a combat system that even today's games haven't managed to duplicate, blade of darkness is a must have for any third person melee combat lover.
    Mixing light exploration with a fantasy setting and, as above mentioned, some of the best combat mechanics ever developed, it's only real flaw can be pointed at the lack luster game story and overly simple multiplayer. But I garantee you'll have a blast hacking and slashing your way through hordes of goblins, orcs, trolls and many more dificult opponents, along with some trully challenging boss fights that today's games so often fail to deliver.
    Here's to hoping that someone will take this gem and release it via DLC on xbox live or PSN.    … Expand
  14. VCorreia
    Nov 7, 2012
    9
    A game that inspires game developers to be game developers, not for being perfect in it's design, but to have obvious flaws that you just ignore due to simple fact that the concept of the game you're playing is amazing and fun. Hack n' Slash mayhem with a universe of options and combos using relatively simple key coordination makes it a user friendly wonder, and not to mention incrediblyA game that inspires game developers to be game developers, not for being perfect in it's design, but to have obvious flaws that you just ignore due to simple fact that the concept of the game you're playing is amazing and fun. Hack n' Slash mayhem with a universe of options and combos using relatively simple key coordination makes it a user friendly wonder, and not to mention incredibly satisfying when you manage a more complex combo to utterly destroy a more difficult enemy (Oh, and the AI is amazing for such an old game, best of its time for sure).

    The game has flaws, such as forgettable, generic and uninteresting story, a few inconsistency bugs, sound glitches and few other flaws that really just show this game was made with a small team and limited founding, and because this is obvious, you can't help but be more impressed by how amazing the game is.

    The replay value is off the chart, either be it by playing the same character a different route, or by playing another character entirely (with new combos and weapons to master!), you nearly always end up finishing the game 3-4 times before getting saturated by it, and even then each time you look at the game on your shelf, you nearly always have to re instal it and repeat the adventure.

    For it's time, very clean graphics and actually impressive maps to explore, you always end up having a favorite map to cruise around and love because of the challenges each one of them place individually, mind you it's not over the top mind blowing beautiful, but I'd say it's a honest portrayal of a fantasy world, that leaves you well soaked in to the world you're playing without getting too confused of where you are, or where to go, or whats going on. (problems often found with more recent fantasy titles that over hype the beauty of a world, only to make it confusing and frustrating) I actually find this to be a more important feature then most people would give it credit for, because it adds to the replayability of the game, and it heavily compensates the games lack of depth and story.

    Amazing soundtrack. The few bugs the game has fails in comparison to decapitating a minotaur with a theme that enhances your feat to demi-god stature, even though there are a lot of silent moments in the game where the footsteps of your character is all you hear, the key moments where music kicks in and action starts makes key fights much more dramatic and enjoyable. (After all, hearing the "end of days" orchestral piece each time you step on a goblin would get annoying)

    A must have game for game lovers, a textbook of how to develop a game above it's time for developers, and a piece of gaming glory that should remain in history as one of the best games ever, and definitely a hack n' slash that would put many, if not all recent titles, to shame. 9 out of 10    … Expand
  15. Vamrem
    Nov 26, 2014
    10
    This game redefined the Action-RPGs and till today games that approach its concept are venerated among their fans, but none of them became a true equivalent of what this masterpiece meant. A game that used the best technology available in a dark Nordic mythology of endless loneliness with dynamic shadows and scary sounds, even the long silences could be disturbing when you are risking yourThis game redefined the Action-RPGs and till today games that approach its concept are venerated among their fans, but none of them became a true equivalent of what this masterpiece meant. A game that used the best technology available in a dark Nordic mythology of endless loneliness with dynamic shadows and scary sounds, even the long silences could be disturbing when you are risking your life at each step. From 2001 till today the 3D environment and models looks lovely designed and with mods is perfectly playable, a must have to each fan of Gothic, Dark Souls, Lords of the Fallen, and all kind of those games in which each strike counts.… Expand
  16. DeusXCom
    Aug 5, 2014
    9
    This is a long forgotten gem. I remember struggling with it when it came out back in 2001, fighting hard for my life, learning new combos with unique weapons and fighting my way through the hordes of incredibly hard creatures set in the dark fantasy setting, until I finally reached the end, filled with a huge satisfaction that I went successfully through something truly hardcore. Wait aThis is a long forgotten gem. I remember struggling with it when it came out back in 2001, fighting hard for my life, learning new combos with unique weapons and fighting my way through the hordes of incredibly hard creatures set in the dark fantasy setting, until I finally reached the end, filled with a huge satisfaction that I went successfully through something truly hardcore. Wait a second, does this sound familiar? Yup, Dark Souls of the previous decade. 9/10… Expand
  17. EurosauRuss
    Oct 20, 2018
    9
    One of the most underrated games of all time
    Love the combat system game is so cool hard medieval theme
    love this stuff
  18. KnightSolair
    Feb 7, 2014
    10
    This is one of the rare games that put you in a truly battle for life and death, and give you a real reason the continue to play over. The only games that have such atmosphere is Gothic series and Souls series. This is a game that we rarely seen our days because people have become so nobs and lure for easy games, where you are the only supreme hero with infinite powers that save the world.This is one of the rare games that put you in a truly battle for life and death, and give you a real reason the continue to play over. The only games that have such atmosphere is Gothic series and Souls series. This is a game that we rarely seen our days because people have become so nobs and lure for easy games, where you are the only supreme hero with infinite powers that save the world. Such a shame for our future of gaming. If this is the future of gaming, then I choose the old class games like this one.… Expand
  19. MoroseTroll
    Sep 8, 2014
    10
    The game is just perfect! Blade of Darkness is one of the best hack&slash games ever created for PC. It has many dozens of special attacks, dozens of weapons, and thousands of enemies waiting to be killed by you or to kill you most violent ways :).
    The game's engine was the most advanced at the time of release, because it supported dynamic light & shadows much earlier than any other game    The game is just perfect! Blade of Darkness is one of the best hack&slash games ever created for PC. It has many dozens of special attacks, dozens of weapons, and thousands of enemies waiting to be killed by you or to kill you most violent ways :).
    The game's engine was the most advanced at the time of release, because it supported dynamic light & shadows much earlier than any other game engine ever. When you see a torch, you'll just stay and watch how beautiful it is.
    The sound tracks is gorgeous, so you'll enjoy it for sure.
    All in all, it's a masterpiece. The disc version of the game is very hard to find these days, but the digital version is available on GOG.    … Expand
  20. iddqd4
    Jan 27, 2018
    8
    Слешер, в котором убить врага бездумным кликаньем мыши у вас не получится, для это вам понадобится учить комбинации, боевая система схожа скорее с файтингом, плюс прекрасная атмосфера сурового фэнтезийного средневековья.Слешер, в котором убить врага бездумным кликаньем мыши у вас не получится, для это вам понадобится учить комбинации, боевая система схожа скорее с файтингом, плюс прекрасная атмосфера сурового фэнтезийного средневековья.
  21. ADHGO
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played long time ago, great fighting game, level up and fighting skills you learn, legendary swords are amazing, you will visit many places with lot of enemies and skeletons, that will leave unforgettable adventure PC game
  22. NimaGamer
    Dec 16, 2018
    10
    The best game I've ever played. graphics, sound and specially gameplay were years ahead of it's time. even now after 18 years this is by far the best Hack&Slash game you can find. unfortunately we will never see another sequel for this game.
  23. Panica3643D
    Aug 10, 2018
    9
    Классная игра, которую так и не смог пройти.
  24. AlecksJohannes
    Jan 1, 2018
    10
    Still remember watching behind my father's back when he was playing this game ( awesome memories ). I hope Rebel Act Studios will come back and make this game better.
  25. DvoocA
    May 27, 2020
    8
    Çıktığı zamanın ilerisinde bir oyundu. Kol, bacak kesme, duvara kan sıçraması, ölen düşmanların kaybolmaması.
    Tek ekşi yani aşırı uzun
  26. Solaris123
    Jan 3, 2020
    10
    one of the most underrated games ever made, an innovative approach to fighting, I respect in every respect, ahead of its time
  27. IdleSpace
    Feb 5, 2022
    8
    + Высокая сложность (не искусственно завышенная, а основана на мастерстве)
    + Густая атмосфера темного фентези
    + Разнообразие локаций + Саунд-дизайн + Боевая система (каждый персонаж ощущается по своему, в зависимости от предпочитаемого оружия) + Секреты (интересно искать, достойно вознаграждаются) +/- Сюжет достаточно простой (но нужен ли он этой игре?) - Кривое управление    + Высокая сложность (не искусственно завышенная, а основана на мастерстве)
    + Густая атмосфера темного фентези
    + Разнообразие локаций
    + Саунд-дизайн
    + Боевая система (каждый персонаж ощущается по своему, в зависимости от предпочитаемого оружия)
    + Секреты (интересно искать, достойно вознаграждаются)

    +/- Сюжет достаточно простой (но нужен ли он этой игре?)

    - Кривое управление (дерганная камера, прыжки по камням просто ужасны)
    - Малое количество видов врагов
    - Боссы либо очень сложные, либо очень легкие (в большинстве вторые, но с исключениями)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Вряд ли данную игру можно посоветовать тем, кто её не застал по факту выхода, либо из поколений помоложе.
    Прошел BoD залпом, что нечасто бывает, и так прилично кайфанул )    … Expand
  28. RagingPoet
    Feb 12, 2018
    9
    9.5 out of 10
    One of the best PC slashers ever made, Blade of Darkness has amazing and brutal swordplay and dark atmosphere. Visuals look decent even today, 16+ years after it's release. The only flaw is lack of a plot, but you won't even notice it while decapitating goblins and painting the walls with orcs' blood.
  29. Sargonth
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    Просто лучший, мать его, слэшер всех времён и народов. Даже спустя, без малого, ДВАДЦАТЬ лет! Пройден всеми персонажами не один десяток раз. И продолжает проходиться с периодичностью раз в полтора-два года.
  30. BenisDetrov
    Jun 26, 2020
    7
    Лучшая боёвка своего времени, но очень пустые локации из-за которых трудно играть в игру, сюжет кал собачий, анимации годные(для своего времени).
  31. Ratingss
    Feb 20, 2021
    9
    Best action rpg, its was dark souls, but better, before dark souls. The atmosphere, combat, all nearly perfect.
  32. fgyu
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    that was THE god of hack and slash in its time the fight were god the characters were god everything in this was a true algorithm for nxt gn h&s games
  33. TowerOfError
    Oct 10, 2021
    2
    I found it was best played with keyboard only configuration, as mouse and turning keyboard commands conflict often otherwise. Considering the time of its release and better games that flanked it several years prior and one year after (Jedi Outcast and Enclave), BoD is a ho hum jankfest by comparison. I couldn't even bring myself to finish the first level because it was so mediocre andI found it was best played with keyboard only configuration, as mouse and turning keyboard commands conflict often otherwise. Considering the time of its release and better games that flanked it several years prior and one year after (Jedi Outcast and Enclave), BoD is a ho hum jankfest by comparison. I couldn't even bring myself to finish the first level because it was so mediocre and boring. Thankfully, I didn't have nostalgia goggles on when playing this game after the GoG re-release recently.… Expand
  34. Nucleus
    Sep 10, 2005
    9
    Only the new Prince of Persia games (Sands of Time, Warrior Within) have equalled this brilliant melee fighting game. The fighting system resemblences games like Virtual Fighter, in that you have dozens of moves you can use and you need to use them wisely to survive. Simply hacking the left mouse button will do you no good (like in Rune). It gives great pleasure to outwit a horde of Only the new Prince of Persia games (Sands of Time, Warrior Within) have equalled this brilliant melee fighting game. The fighting system resemblences games like Virtual Fighter, in that you have dozens of moves you can use and you need to use them wisely to survive. Simply hacking the left mouse button will do you no good (like in Rune). It gives great pleasure to outwit a horde of monsters with series of cool moves. This is a must have for pro gamers, as it is hard, rewarding and long.… Expand
  35. GaryM.
    Nov 17, 2005
    9
    This is a classic melee fighting game, begging to be rediscovered (or even better, sequelized or remade). Terrific bloody combat, great weapons, smart enemies, tons of gore, huge levels, tons of moves, four playable characters, great lighting and shadow effects, and awesome music. What more do you want? Blade of Darkness makes games like Rune and Enclave look like kiddie games.
  36. SallyJ.
    Aug 3, 2006
    7
    I am only now playing Blade of Darkness. For anyone reading this, this game still is better then most of it's modern counterparts. If you're not a "eew the graphics are not as good as Crysis-whiner", PLAY THIS THING!!!! One note on the audio though: There's a reason the music is fantastic. Most music tracks are live orchestra loops, coming from a premade CD. These loops can I am only now playing Blade of Darkness. For anyone reading this, this game still is better then most of it's modern counterparts. If you're not a "eew the graphics are not as good as Crysis-whiner", PLAY THIS THING!!!! One note on the audio though: There's a reason the music is fantastic. Most music tracks are live orchestra loops, coming from a premade CD. These loops can be found in numerous budget titles. With this in mind, you could say the audio is the only thing in this game not up to par with the rest. It still is functional though. Also, these loops are converted to mono, degrading the loops in quality. in Stereo, they sound FAR better. I do have one more thing to say: the loops are "beefed up" with additional sampled instruments. Here you can see a hint of the "composer's quality". These additional melodies are outstanding. The tracks where he added horn melodies dubbed by a tenor singer are outstanding en very immersive. Let's hope the composer did better in other games. Conclusively: This game is worth every penny. Pick it up, you WILL NOT regret it!!!… Expand
  37. TomDeV.
    Apr 4, 2003
    10
    Yes, it's not the ultimate game. But for me, it comes very close. The general atmosphere of the levels, the design of the textures, monsters etc, make this a great game. On top of that the fighting system that uses wepaon specific combos and a lot of timing your attacks, makes this a VERY great game. While the four characters (Knight, Barbarian, Amazone, Dwarf) only have one Yes, it's not the ultimate game. But for me, it comes very close. The general atmosphere of the levels, the design of the textures, monsters etc, make this a great game. On top of that the fighting system that uses wepaon specific combos and a lot of timing your attacks, makes this a VERY great game. While the four characters (Knight, Barbarian, Amazone, Dwarf) only have one different level each, they all have their own set of weapons. The most fun part of the game is training yourself to use a huge combo and apply it to the goblins at hand. I love this game, the closest I can find now is Enclave, but that does not have half the charm or wit that BOD has.… Expand
  38. RyanB
    Dec 25, 2009
    9
    At present I'm playing through my 6th or 7th or so playthough. I truly cannot remember how many times I played this game, it is that great. This is the only time in my life I've played any game so much and yet loved every second of it. If you've played fighting games and have always wanted something more deep and thoughtful, look no further. Above all else thing game At present I'm playing through my 6th or 7th or so playthough. I truly cannot remember how many times I played this game, it is that great. This is the only time in my life I've played any game so much and yet loved every second of it. If you've played fighting games and have always wanted something more deep and thoughtful, look no further. Above all else thing game excells at it's melee combat. Far better than Dark messiah and Oblivion is a joke to this game. You don't just randomly attack your enemy clicking the attack button, every swipe of your sword must be a planned maneuver. If you attack to early, or you use the wrong combo you could easily find yourself in a bad situation. That brings me to the other incredible feature of this game, the AI. In most games your AI will simply run at you attacking wildly. Well there are some enemies that do that here, but those are the worst. Knights for example are some of the hardest, they will strafe slowly around you shield always at the ready only attacking when it is absolutely best for them to hit you. The AI dictates the difficulty, unfortunately there are some over sights by the developers and some of the enemies they seemed to design to be "hard". I'm talking about golems, they're attacks are some of the easiest to dodge and because of that they are easy to take down. But then there are moments where the AI shines through, enemies with health potions will wait until they are far enough away from you to heal instead blindly healing. Oh yes, healing takes time, it is part of the strategy of the game. You always must ask yourself, heal now or risk having to risk healing in battle(bad). And potions are not easy to come by. Even as a veteran I found my self barely able to stay alive as a dwarf nearing the end of the game. The game scales with difficulty perfectly. Although at first the game may seem clunky and complicated, it eventually unfolds into an epic adventure with you as the hero. Now if you do not like melee combat, I mean real melee combat as I described you'll get bored or frustrated very quickly. There is archery, however it is essentially pointless because you can do maybe 50dmg with a bow to enemies with 1000+hp that charge at you. So if you like a good, real, in-depth melee hack and slash game Severance is definitely for you. And for those who were hoping for a sequel, I hope I will be able to work one out. I'm an upcoming independent developer and I'm looking into making a remake of Severance, this time with archery and without the lock-on control.… Expand
  39. asdadfsaffsafgs
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    SImply one of the best action games of all time, and the PC re-release only re-confirmed that.

    Don't bother playing with a controller tho, the combo system simply wasn't built for it, and the publisher who handles the re-release have done nothing to fix that.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best PC Game of 2001
16
#16 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Movies Games and Tech
    Jan 28, 2022
    80
    If nothing else… beating an orc with an arm is enough of a reason to check it out.
    Read full review
  2. Cubed3
    Dec 20, 2021
    70
    It's definitely a good thing that Blade of Darkness exists, therefore its 2021 update is more than welcome, despite the fact that it is an extremely conservative remaster that hasn't really "fixed" the game. Flaws put aside, though, this is not one of those titles that belong in the past and are best left there to collect dust. It's not a title to recommend to just anyone, especially to those with an aversion to its heavy "retro" sensibilities, but those who can get past the clunky and slightly unreliable controls, and stomach the occasionally repetitive gameplay, will immediately get immersed to the strong atmosphere of this Conan the Barbarian-meets-Dark Souls fantasy land of sword and sorcery. And death. Plenty, and plenty of bloody death.
    Read full review
  3. GameCritics
    Nov 11, 2021
    65
    Twenty years later, Blade of Darkness offers a fine-enough retro-style action experience. The combat system and gory decapitations will be of interest to fans of the genre, but one’s enjoyment will ultimately depend on nostalgia, or perhaps one’s tolerance for repetitive, clunky combat from 2001.
    Read full review
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