Bound by Flame

 PlayStation 4
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 260 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 108 out of 260
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 260
  3. Negative: 82 out of 260
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  1. JPoppaWUSC
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Bound By Flame doesn't deserve a perfect score, but I'm going to give it one anyway to offset the spamming of terrible scores that it's having to endure. In truth, BBF is about an 8.5, but even placing a number on the review is difficult for a few reasons. The game is awkward, in much the same way as Mars War Logs felt awkward. From inconsistent characterization and uncomfortablyBound By Flame doesn't deserve a perfect score, but I'm going to give it one anyway to offset the spamming of terrible scores that it's having to endure. In truth, BBF is about an 8.5, but even placing a number on the review is difficult for a few reasons. The game is awkward, in much the same way as Mars War Logs felt awkward. From inconsistent characterization and uncomfortably cynical dialogue to bad lip-syncing and amateurish voice acting, the presentation is going to rub a lot of players the wrong way. The question is, how much importance do you place on cinematic presentation? Because if you're the type of gamer who enjoys gritty real-time combat and a serious level of challenge, BBF may still have enough to offer that aesthetics don't matter anymore. If you like, say, Dark Souls or The Witcher for their strategic and deliberately-paced combat systems, you will want to give BBF a spin. If you thought Dragon's Dogma was a good first entry into a new IP in spite of some glaring flaws, you'll easily overlook the worst of BBF's issues. Just don't expect Skyrim. While you could compare chunks of BBF to a lot of its action RPG peers, it holds the least resemblance to Elder Scrolls. There's some DNA from Dragon Age, Witcher, Amalur, Dark Souls, Fable, even War in the North, and of course Mars War Logs -- but practically nothing about the game suggests that Spiders was trying to compete with Skyrim. As long as you set your expectations accordingly, you'll be just fine, especially considering it's only a $50 new release on a brand new console, on which there is very little selection right now and NO other RPGs to speak of. BBF actually manages to deliver on much of its gameplay mechanics, and I genuinely enjoy the music and art style. Crafting is deeper than expected for both equipment and expendables, as you can change out modular parts of weapons and armor easily or craft items like traps on the fly, even in the heat of combat. Mission objectives and combat conditions are varied and often very fun to figure out, even if you die a lot in the process. Things like target lock-on and parrying work just fine (contrary to popular belief), but heaven forbid, you actually need to learn the game's system to be effective with them. I appreciate that this isn't a paint-by-numbers RPG, and even though it borrows some inspiration from plenty of big-name IPs, the resulting whole feels almost entirely original. It just won't be the kind of original that everybody likes. Personally, I'm getting everything out of it that I expected and maybe then some, so I respect what Spiders did with their first retail game. I look forward to seeing what they do next, and I wouldn't mind getting some DLC for Bound By Flame. We've got quite a while to wait on games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Witcher 3, so I hope players don't write this one off too quickly.… Expand
  2. CrusaderForever
    May 15, 2014
    10
    Bound By Flame = Underrated RPG ALERT! The reviews are all over the place and I fall on the "I really like the game" side of the fence.

    I am really enjoying the game right now! I am 12 hours in and just starting Chapter 3! This is a deeper game than you think. The crafting is great! The combat is really addicting and fun. The dialog can be funny and strange but I like it. Seems a little    Bound By Flame = Underrated RPG ALERT! The reviews are all over the place and I fall on the "I really like the game" side of the fence.

    I am really enjoying the game right now! I am 12 hours in and just starting Chapter 3! This is a deeper game than you think. The crafting is great! The combat is really addicting and fun. The dialog can be funny and strange but I like it. Seems a little to modern some times. Kind of like Christian Slater saying "*uck me he cleared it!" in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves! HAHA! There is A LOT of swearing so don't play this with younger kids in the room. The AI is very welcome and helps very much. The boss battles have been very challenging and intense but not impossible! Actually, I feel like the boss battles have been amazing so far. The lore is interesting you can get a lot of information talking to your AI companions. Edwen is really interesting! She reminds me of Morrigan from DA:O!

    Combat....it's just fun, Attack, Circular Attack, charge for Whirlwind Attack, parry, counter attack, crossbow, fireball and strategy! Yes, I have found that there is strategy in this gem. When you are being attacked you can lock on and also move around to situate your enemies to fight each other. Also you work to get their attacks in sync with each other so it's easier to attack all of the enemies with triangle circular attack which hits all enemies at once. If you don't you can get 4 enemies attacking one after the other so there is no window for Vulcan to counter attack. Thankfully you can block forever, however, 40% of the time they will do some sort of special attack that can break your defense pushing you over causing damage. You can do the same to them if your interfere is high enough.

    So far I have stayed away from the Pyromancer/Demon powers. I will do that on my second play through. But the conversations between Vulcan and The Demon are great. He really wants control. I guess using the Pyromancer will change your appearance as well. I feel the skill trees could be bigger but they aren't small either. They are just fine but feel like they don't go that extra mile on them either. I am using the Warrior skill tree and I have had a lot of fun. There is a Ranged skill tree as well, but I haven't tried it. You can also spend points on using a sword, axe or hammer to make them do more damage. The stealth mechanic has been very fun and does good damage!

    I wasn't sure what to expect but I took the plunge because I really wanted a Dark Souls/Dragon Age clone. Albeit it's not up to par technically. Which is fine, it doesn't have to be and I am happy with the day/night cycle and graphics. The sound is good along with the control as I haven't had one issue. Spider has done a fantastic job with their limited resources. With BBF and LotF, DA:I and the Witcher 3 this new gen is starting off very nicely for RPG fans!    … Expand
  3. Evarin
    May 22, 2014
    10
    This game is most definitely not a .... you know the rest.

    Spiders is a game company you'll either hate or love. They're the indie version of Bioware. If you don't mind a game that is rough around the edges, I think you'll find a place in your heart for Bound by Flame.
  4. xikipeke
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Best Game Ever!
    Dario gay.
    El juego es un rpg de corte clásico. Tiene detalles muy buenos como el combate , sus posibilidades de creación, la amistad con los compañeros, romances...etc.. Tecnicamente viene de una compañia muy humilde, no le podimos pedir más. Hay que perdonarle (como en todos los rpgs) algunas cosas, pero si lo haces, consigues una diversión clásica oldschool. Darle    Best Game Ever!
    Dario gay.
    El juego es un rpg de corte clásico. Tiene detalles muy buenos como el combate , sus posibilidades de creación, la amistad con los compañeros, romances...etc..
    Tecnicamente viene de una compañia muy humilde, no le podimos pedir más. Hay que perdonarle (como en todos los rpgs) algunas cosas, pero si lo haces, consigues una diversión clásica oldschool.
    Darle una oportunidad, aparte el catalogo de ps4 está por los suelos, no hay nada mejor...
    Dario es gay    … Expand
  5. partyintheback
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Bound by Flame is a nice and challenging RPG. Detailed graphics in 1080p, fun and strategic combat, and a good amount of loot and exploration to be had.
  6. AsboXFlemzo
    May 11, 2014
    10
    The game doesnt deserve 10...but in my point of view, only games like The last of us does.
    Basically the score is to to fight the trolls. The game is good in ever aspect and deserves a flat 8.0
    It has a perfect rpg setting and lore any fan would fall in love with. Characters you actually want to get to know, and a main character forced live with a equally amusing demon. Graphics are good    The game doesnt deserve 10...but in my point of view, only games like The last of us does.
    Basically the score is to to fight the trolls. The game is good in ever aspect and deserves a flat 8.0
    It has a perfect rpg setting and lore any fan would fall in love with. Characters you actually want to get to know, and a main character forced live with a equally amusing demon. Graphics are good enough and game-play is challenging, far to hard for reviewers. mass effect meets witcher, i hope sales can spur a sequel.    … Expand
  7. Homerlvsbeer
    Jul 20, 2014
    10
    Bound of flame is a great game, that has been given a bad deal with the reviews ive really been able to get into this game and ENJOY it.. Ive noticed it get bad reviews and ratings not so clever, and i really dont understand why, And all the bad reviews seem to be searching for anything they can find wrong with it. but i promise you this. there is alot you will find right with it. and forBound of flame is a great game, that has been given a bad deal with the reviews ive really been able to get into this game and ENJOY it.. Ive noticed it get bad reviews and ratings not so clever, and i really dont understand why, And all the bad reviews seem to be searching for anything they can find wrong with it. but i promise you this. there is alot you will find right with it. and for some reason, not many people talking about that. is it because spiders the guys who made this game are just a small group. ? who knows. but the game is really really good in my opinion. id say its worth buying for sure. really give this game a chance and you will be impressed by its game mechanics i love this game, Made by spiders.… Expand
  8. ELBUZZARDS
    May 20, 2014
    10
    gg .
  9. djjohnsson
    Jul 15, 2014
    10
    As some have mentioned already the game might not really deserve the highest rating - but with a lot of critics giving it more trouble than it deserves one do have to answer back with.. well, flames? Bound by Flame might not have the blockbuster production wheel of the Mass Effect trilogy or the interaction of a Obsidian Entertainment title but what it brings to the table is a 20-30 hourAs some have mentioned already the game might not really deserve the highest rating - but with a lot of critics giving it more trouble than it deserves one do have to answer back with.. well, flames? Bound by Flame might not have the blockbuster production wheel of the Mass Effect trilogy or the interaction of a Obsidian Entertainment title but what it brings to the table is a 20-30 hour Action-RPG saga that most fans of the genre will find themself enjoy.… Expand
  10. snooginzz
    May 9, 2014
    10
    SOLID RPG. KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND ENJOY THE GOOD IT HAS TO OFFER.

    I again feel the need to write a good review to support a game that I VERY much enjoy, because the critic reviews are not doing it any justice. This review is being specifically directed at those of you who are here for some additional feedback because the critic reviews have left you unsure if you want to pick this game    SOLID RPG. KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND ENJOY THE GOOD IT HAS TO OFFER.

    I again feel the need to write a good review to support a game that I VERY much enjoy, because the critic reviews are not doing it any justice. This review is being specifically directed at those of you who are here for some additional feedback because the critic reviews have left you unsure if you want to pick this game up. go ahead and grab it, if you are a true RPG fan you will be pleased.

    It's not perfect; to the masses, I'd say it should be about a 7 or 7.5 in terms of average rating. To me, this game is easily a 10, because this is the kind of RPG that I love, and become so absorbed in. I tend to favor those off-beat, off the radar titles (think two worlds or kingdoms of amalur: reckoning- if you enjoyed either of these, you will love bound by flame), because they do their own thing. Just about every review or comment I've read on this game says it's a poor version of the witcher, or dark souls. I've put many hours into those ones, and they're great. I assure you though, this game is not a copy.

    combat is awesome, nuff said. there are a good bit of different weapons and armor to pick up, and each piece can be further customized with upgrades that are crafted with mats you'll pick up around the world and dropped my mobs. the skill tree is TIGHT. if you enjoy min/maxing and tweaking your guy to the fullest, again, you'll fall in love. each tree (warrior/ranger/fire) is very thorough, and offers quite a few choices for active talents and passives. If you get off on this stuff, believe me, it's all there.

    the story is what you'd expect in a budget rpg; cheesy humor and a dark story, but that's what I love about it! I've been gaming since I was about 4-5 yrs old, and I'm 26 now. the best way I can express what I mean would be an analogy regarding moves; some flicks are not well received by critics, but have those cult followings... tropic thunder anyone? you just have to keep an open mind and accept it for what it is. if you can do that, you can get sucked into the story, laugh at the character dialogue, and really have a good time here.

    all in all, solid combat, great skill upgrade/feat upgrade system, deep crafting for a single player game, fun story, and it's very pretty. this is the first full retail release RPG for ps4; it's not the second coming of world of warcraft, but I enjoy it very much. I want games like this to keep coming out. I like them because they are *different*, and I hope that the game devs continue to bring us new and original content like this.

    don't make your purchases based on critic reviews; they are fat guys that get paid money to hear themselves talk about their opinion of a game. they are OPINIONS; not the end all be all. in some instances, critic reviews are a good guideline of what to expect, but this game is an exception to that. if you are on the fence about this one, go for it and make your mind up yourself, don't let others make the choice for you. this one *will not* disappoint.

    10/10    … Expand
  11. GreenGoblin215
    May 13, 2014
    10
    I will start by saying that I love this game a lot. I bought "Bound by Flame" Day 1 for my PS4 and started playing it. I loved the story it was a B-movie plot and had some great characters like B-movie's have. The music selection was Superb in all regards and the gameplay and RPG elements were very well done I thought.The Boss battles were executed perfectly. The only gripe I have is theI will start by saying that I love this game a lot. I bought "Bound by Flame" Day 1 for my PS4 and started playing it. I loved the story it was a B-movie plot and had some great characters like B-movie's have. The music selection was Superb in all regards and the gameplay and RPG elements were very well done I thought.The Boss battles were executed perfectly. The only gripe I have is the AI companions can be crap a lot of the time but sometimes they do alright they are best put into tank mode to take a beating while you kill enemies. I don't know why all the negative reviews I believe it's because it is definitely a hard game when put on normal or above. I beat the game on normal and it took me just shy of 17 hours to beat and I try to beat games quickly. I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys RPG's that don't hold your hand in any way.… Expand
  12. ArionLightning
    May 11, 2014
    10
    Me parece INJUSTA la puntuación tan baja que tiene este juego. Para ser un estudio pequeño el que lo ha desarrollado, el juego es sobresaliente.

    El sistema de combate, árbol de habilidades y profesiones es simplemente genial. Es un punto intermedio entre diablo 2 y neverwinter nights. Es cierto que no innova, pero esta muy bien y entretenido. Tienes un sistema de crafting con    Me parece INJUSTA la puntuación tan baja que tiene este juego. Para ser un estudio pequeño el que lo ha desarrollado, el juego es sobresaliente.

    El sistema de combate, árbol de habilidades y profesiones es simplemente genial. Es un punto intermedio entre diablo 2 y neverwinter nights. Es cierto que no innova, pero esta muy bien y entretenido.

    Tienes un sistema de crafting con muchas posibilidades. Pocos tipos de materiales (12 tipos) pero lo dicho, es un estudio pequeño.

    Es un juego que tiene un gran potencial, a partir del cual puede salir una saga muy buena.

    La historia es normal, no innova, pero tampoco aburre. Ademas tienes que ir tomando decisiones en las conversaciones, las cuales afectan en la relación con tu entorno y, por supuesto, en la historia.

    Por ultimo, tiene ciertos bugs pero son pequeños y desde un punto de vista objetivo no molestan al jugador (salvo el de colgarse al guardar, pero solo me lo ha hecho dos veces) y seguro que en poco tiempo un parche los irá arreglando.

    Mi conclusión es que no lo compares con un "Dragon Age" o un "Skyrim", pero el juego cumple con las espectativas muy bien y te entretendrá muchas horas.

    Si te gusta el rol, cómpralo. No te decepcionará.    … Expand
  13. Axlehead
    May 12, 2014
    10
    I can't believe this game is getting trashed on. While it is not a 10, I certainly won't sit here with it hovering around a 6. This game is easily an 8. Yes it has it's flaws, but it is a very well done game. Keep in mind the developers only have about 50 employees. This small development team has managed to make a game that is less bug ridden then that of any Bethesda game. Give it a shotI can't believe this game is getting trashed on. While it is not a 10, I certainly won't sit here with it hovering around a 6. This game is easily an 8. Yes it has it's flaws, but it is a very well done game. Keep in mind the developers only have about 50 employees. This small development team has managed to make a game that is less bug ridden then that of any Bethesda game. Give it a shot it's not perfect, but it's certainly worth a play!… Expand
  14. masterchief247
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    For a budget title, this game is great. I thoroughly enjoyed the action, story, and rpg elements. Don't miss this one. I'd give it an 8 out of 10. The decisions you make affect the story just like Mass effect and Dragon Age.
  15. PyongyangMayor
    Aug 17, 2014
    10
    Who the **** is giving this game 0s out of 10s? I'm going to give it a 10 just to even it out. It really deserves only a 7 or 8 but man, these **** are giving 0s out of 10s. Fun game though.
  16. jacksonk12
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    J'espère que les gens ne s'attarde pas au critiques. Bound by flame ne mérite aucunement des mauvaises notes.

    Franchement ce jeu est très bon. Graphisme, ambiance/univers unique et stylé que j'oublierai jamais. J'ai pris tous pleins de photos, vidéos de mon aventure sur ma PS4 :) Une fin épique. Gameplay mélange de Dark Souls et Dragon Age. Excellente trame sonore. Ne vous fiez    J'espère que les gens ne s'attarde pas au critiques. Bound by flame ne mérite aucunement des mauvaises notes.

    Franchement ce jeu est très bon. Graphisme, ambiance/univers unique et stylé que j'oublierai jamais. J'ai pris tous pleins de photos, vidéos de mon aventure sur ma PS4 :)
    Une fin épique.
    Gameplay mélange de Dark Souls et Dragon Age.
    Excellente trame sonore.

    Ne vous fiez surtout pas au mauvaises critiques sur ce jeu et essayez-le !!!

    Bravo à l'équipe qui a réalisé le jeu.    … Expand
  17. Zunn
    Oct 14, 2014
    10
    So far I'd give this game an 8.5-9 but Ten because of the unfair 0 ratings. I think I know why people are rating it so unfairly, and reviewers aren't giving it a decent score, to begin with the game is really really hard. You die over and over again in fights with one or two enemies and you're slow and weak. There are no potions dropped, your magic does nothing and it seems like the gameSo far I'd give this game an 8.5-9 but Ten because of the unfair 0 ratings. I think I know why people are rating it so unfairly, and reviewers aren't giving it a decent score, to begin with the game is really really hard. You die over and over again in fights with one or two enemies and you're slow and weak. There are no potions dropped, your magic does nothing and it seems like the game is impossible. People have been spoiled by RPGs which make sure you never hardly die and always feel powerful. This isn't skyrim where there enemies are levelled and you only fight rats for the first few hours, this game drops you straight into tough fights, and you have to block constantly! No button mashing. But once you get the hang of it it's great, really satisfying to fight enemies and make a strategy, craft potions and upgrades to your armour and choose a strategy from your possible skills. I have made a sort of fire mage warrior, I regenerate health and mana while guarding and blow up my enemies from a distance. At the beginning tho with no health or mana regen it was hard, every single fight I would die, now it's still tough but I survive. You get a good sense of progression, strategy and development. Also the characters are really good and believable, the dialogue is great, what I've had of the story so far has been funny and exciting, I'm really looking forward to the rest of the game. This game is a lot like the Witcher 1, good atmosphere, believable story, and strategy to combat. This game is supposed to be hard to begin with! It's not fable! Stick at it, and, if you accept the offers of greater power, you might become a demon of FIRE!… Expand
  18. IRON_SOUL
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    The game is a fun, well-produced AA Action Rpg. I don't understand how it can be so underrated, I think they were expecting an open world or maybe a new SKyrim. The story follows the classic molds of medieval fantasy, nothing new, but still very well done, functional gameplay and fulfills the proposed role, and the fun that this game provides is extremely high. if you haven't played yetThe game is a fun, well-produced AA Action Rpg. I don't understand how it can be so underrated, I think they were expecting an open world or maybe a new SKyrim. The story follows the classic molds of medieval fantasy, nothing new, but still very well done, functional gameplay and fulfills the proposed role, and the fun that this game provides is extremely high. if you haven't played yet and are looking for an action rpg in a fantasy world...give bound by flame a chance!… Expand
  19. nitefighter
    May 9, 2014
    9
    it may not be the best rpg ever but its by no means as bad as the reviews are depicting. I've been playing for about 4 hours and i am enjoying it very much
  20. Pho3nixBlad3
    May 10, 2014
    9
    Great game and well worth your time. It is clearly a budget title but not as much as you would expect. But the combat is vary much reaction based and that is what makes this game fun and with some many different ways to combat enemies it's enough to keep you invested. Whether you are laying down traps, using your crossbow to interrupt attacks or just hacking, dodging and blocking your wayGreat game and well worth your time. It is clearly a budget title but not as much as you would expect. But the combat is vary much reaction based and that is what makes this game fun and with some many different ways to combat enemies it's enough to keep you invested. Whether you are laying down traps, using your crossbow to interrupt attacks or just hacking, dodging and blocking your way through the game. Bound By Flame has just about everything in the combat department. The story did leave me with a what-am-I-doing-again vibe, though. Not a bad story by far though but a little hard to follow at times. There is a twist here and there to keep you guessing, too. Moving on, this game is HARD if you are playing on any of the higher level difficulties. But it's the good kind of difficulty where one wrong move will ruin your day! You will want to make sure you invest in health and mana potions as much as possible. I made the mistake of not doing that and had a painful time fighting the final boss, running around and not attacking waiting for my heath to regenerate. The characters, mainly your squad mates, specifically Mathras (He's British!!!!) are fun! Nuff said....Anyway Great game!!!… Expand
  21. Pritsonius
    Jun 27, 2023
    9
    Criminally underrated. This budget ARPG has a lot of heart. The only reason I’m not giving it a 10 is because there are clearly some moments where that budget kicked the game in the shins. Some dialogue reveals plot points that were meant to happen that doesn’t. People complaining about the voice acting… please. Every line is voiced. Most are perfectly fine, but yes there are some duds.Criminally underrated. This budget ARPG has a lot of heart. The only reason I’m not giving it a 10 is because there are clearly some moments where that budget kicked the game in the shins. Some dialogue reveals plot points that were meant to happen that doesn’t. People complaining about the voice acting… please. Every line is voiced. Most are perfectly fine, but yes there are some duds. The complaints about not fighting all 7 ice lords? Follow the story and speak to your companions. Literally everything is covered as the story develops. The growth Spiders showed from Mars: War Logs to Bound by Flame is astronomical.… Expand
  22. JuicyBooty
    Aug 9, 2022
    9
    Game is pretty tight. Fun combat, parrying is hella fun, monster designs are cool, soundtrack is nice, atmosphere is cosy, love the swamp area, weapon customization is cool,... Dialogue can be kinda goofy, certain characters are somewhat interesting. Feels a bit rushed though. With more time, this could have been a really great game I feel, cause the lore is interesting. My favouriteGame is pretty tight. Fun combat, parrying is hella fun, monster designs are cool, soundtrack is nice, atmosphere is cosy, love the swamp area, weapon customization is cool,... Dialogue can be kinda goofy, certain characters are somewhat interesting. Feels a bit rushed though. With more time, this could have been a really great game I feel, cause the lore is interesting. My favourite spiders game, one of my most fun platinums to get, good for speedrunning as well … Expand
  23. forcefullpower
    May 14, 2014
    8
    Just goes to show don't believe big review sites any more. This game is solid enjoyable experience. There are some quirks but for low budget team this is hopefully a return to good RPG this gen.
  24. dpc
    May 16, 2014
    8
    BBF simply doesn't deserve the beating it's getting. I love action RPGs and this is fun and involving. It looks great, and, yes, you probably need to lower your expectations a little bit as it doesn't have the financing of a huge corporation. I originally reviewed this as a 9, but lowered it a little. It realistically should be scored 7.5 because it's good - not great. The music is great,BBF simply doesn't deserve the beating it's getting. I love action RPGs and this is fun and involving. It looks great, and, yes, you probably need to lower your expectations a little bit as it doesn't have the financing of a huge corporation. I originally reviewed this as a 9, but lowered it a little. It realistically should be scored 7.5 because it's good - not great. The music is great, the crafting and loot are awesome and you genuinely feel like you're getting more and more powerful as you play. There are occasional technical problems, like characters "shifting" while talking, etc., but NOTHING on the scale of Oblivion or Skyrim where the game becomes unplayable. I can see how the game can be divisive, but don't take yourself or the game so seriously and you'll see it has a lot to offer.… Expand
  25. djwille88
    May 14, 2014
    8
    I'll tell ya what, screw the professional reviewers these days! While the game is far from great it doesn't deserve 2-3's. It's really a solid 7 if judged fairly. There really hasn't been any huge issues for me in the gameplay dept and most of it's minor in my book.

    I don't know it is about the game but I will say this, it's FUN! The combat is the strength of the game. You can't go    I'll tell ya what, screw the professional reviewers these days! While the game is far from great it doesn't deserve 2-3's. It's really a solid 7 if judged fairly. There really hasn't been any huge issues for me in the gameplay dept and most of it's minor in my book.

    I don't know it is about the game but I will say this, it's FUN! The combat is the strength of the game. You can't go in button mashing your way to victory. I like the 3 separate fighting system's or tree's that you have at your disposal and find it quite engaging.

    Other pro's..

    Great crafting system.
    Decent Story.
    Companion AI isn't that bad if you set them up right(on Rookie difficulty)
    Tough enemy's
    Interesting bosses.
    Dialog that actually can be pretty funny.
    Secondary quest's are pretty good.

    Con's

    Level design is very linear.
    Voice acting can be very cheesy.
    Not enough enemy variety.
    Transition's can be a bit jarring.
    Facial animation's is poor at times.

    I've really had a great time with the game and if you're keen on a fun little RPG with solid combat and interesting story well, this game might be up your alley.    … Expand
  26. phishhippy
    May 9, 2014
    8
    It's not perfect by any means, but in a drought of rpgs on ps4 I am really enjoying this game. I started on the 2nd hardest difficulty and I think it's made it much more enjoyable and long lasting. It is incredibly difficult on this setting, almost dark souls difficulty. I've died more than I can count but most of the time it's my fault and not the AI or design of the game. I'm on hourIt's not perfect by any means, but in a drought of rpgs on ps4 I am really enjoying this game. I started on the 2nd hardest difficulty and I think it's made it much more enjoyable and long lasting. It is incredibly difficult on this setting, almost dark souls difficulty. I've died more than I can count but most of the time it's my fault and not the AI or design of the game. I'm on hour 23 right now having done all side quests and am about to face the final boss. The story is cliche but it's enjoyable none the less. I've managed to stay human even though I've made a lot of immoral decisions at other points in the game. It's deeper than people are making it out to be with a mass effect like dialogue/morality system. The character customization is in the middle of the road. Upon creating your character there are only 4 or 5 choices for male/female along with some hairstyles. The gear is fun, allowing you to switch helmuts, gloves, breast-plate, etc. although in the end there are only maybe 7 of each with about 30 total weapon choices. You can collect materials to add both visual and statistical bonuses to them which is fun. The visuals have a cool slightly cell-shaded look that resembles some of borderlands town textures with an eos4 vibe. I will play through this game again on the hardest difficulty and so that I can see the demon side of things, so I will have probably spent 50 hours with the game when it's all said and done. Well worth it in my opinion, especially right now in the current drought of games on ps4.… Expand
  27. ProtoCaster
    May 27, 2014
    8
    First things first, the graphics and presentation are mediocre at best. Terrible even by PS4 standards. The voice acting can be quite laughable as well. Once you get past the looks and dig into the meat of the game, you'll find a rewarding Action RPG with a good amount of depth and a very rewarding combat system. This is difficulty done right, to progress through a battle, even with minorFirst things first, the graphics and presentation are mediocre at best. Terrible even by PS4 standards. The voice acting can be quite laughable as well. Once you get past the looks and dig into the meat of the game, you'll find a rewarding Action RPG with a good amount of depth and a very rewarding combat system. This is difficulty done right, to progress through a battle, even with minor enemies you need to be on your toes. The three classes you can switch to on the fly are varied and make combat signigicantly different depending on how you perfer to play. The crafting system is simple but effective, allowing you to create your own potions and traps on the fly even in the heat of combat. If you're like me and just want a satisfying fun Western style RPG to play on your PS4 to fill the void until later in the year, this will keep you entertained for at least 15 hours if you like to explore every nook and cranny.… Expand
  28. robotnist
    May 9, 2014
    8
    i have the game on PS4, its nice to have an actual RPG to play along with the MMO FF14. so here's the deal, i'm a huge RPG fan, so take my score with a grain of salt. my fave RPGs are PSO, elder scrolls franchise, dragon age origins, basically anything bioware etc. i came to metacritic to check out a review right after my girlfriend bought me a copy today and was freaked out to see a 4 outi have the game on PS4, its nice to have an actual RPG to play along with the MMO FF14. so here's the deal, i'm a huge RPG fan, so take my score with a grain of salt. my fave RPGs are PSO, elder scrolls franchise, dragon age origins, basically anything bioware etc. i came to metacritic to check out a review right after my girlfriend bought me a copy today and was freaked out to see a 4 out of 10 from one of my fave sites, Polygon. (but they also gave ESO a 6/10 so guess i'm not surprised).

    i immediately thought to myself, "maybe i shouldn't open the packaging and take it back?"

    im so glad i didn't!!!!

    BbF is a great RPG!!! the GFX don't "scream" next gen, but they're def NOT old gen!!! in fact i'm very anal about frame-rates and textures/lighting/anti-aliasing, what have you, and i'm very happy with all of the above. it also needs to be noted i'm not one of those RPG, or to be precise, "JRPG" fans who complain about western localization/voice-over as opposed to having the japanese voices that are ultimately the most obnoxious aspects of all RPGs, ever, lol. meaning as long as voices are semi-professional i have NO issue what so ever with them. i mean japan INVENTED obnoxiousness, come one. i say that lovingly, it was japan who delivered me to my love of RPGs in my childhood with the likes of dragon warrior, phantasy star and final fantasy!!!

    the story works great. let me elaborate... when i say works, i'm not a story snob as far as games go. so many people hold their nose up at stories that aren't the next "memento" of games... i feel as though if the story has interesting lore, and it supports the game play, it "works". i play games for the fun of the gameplay, the story works for me if it doesn't interfere with the fun i'm having.

    the combat in BbF is so good. i was, again, blown away at how well this aspect of the game was handled. and the way you advance your character lets you choose whether you want him to be a warrior, ranger (rogue) or mage. and depending on how u spend your points, 2 skill points per level and 1 feat per level makes tweaking your character fun. it kind of reminds me of dragon age here, where in DAO ur skills kind of handle some of the esoteric features of gameplay.

    there are so many times i played this game and felt references to RPGs that have come out in the past few years, and here they are, i hope this helps u make a decision to purchase this game if this is what you enjoy.

    i sensed the new game of thrones RPG right off the bat, now i agree that game isn't as good as it could be, but it had great ideas with simply poor execution. where BbF shares any similarities here i said to myself "this is what GoT the RPG, SHOULD have been".

    another game i felt it resembled early on was DA2s weapon type attacks. but bound by flame has all active combat the really trumps DA2, even though i am a huge fan of DA2 (being a bioware game as well)

    and most importantly, i kept getting a nagging feeling about a game from my past that this game really felt like... i couldn't remember and then it hit me 3-4 hours in, this is a new age Jade Empire!!!

    it has map setups just like JE. now i know thats not the most promising aspect here, the maps in bound by flame ARE NOT open world. they're not even as large as Dragon Age Origins, but they are very fun to explore and find loot for upgrading, crafting. there's tons of nooks and crannies and the character/item/skill advancement is SO much fun, the maps don't detract AT ALL!!! in fact, they really are large enough in the cities and wilds to keep the combat to explore ratio perfect!!! and you never tire of either, that's probably the best thing i can say about bound by flame!!!

    so for those of you who made it this far, i just wanted to say, i wrote this HUGE obnoxious review because so many times i have been curious about a new game, and i have come to metacritic and been disappointed by a lack of info in the areas I'M interested in. i don't care how the story of a new game starts, how reviews are so apt to talk about them for paragraphs, i want to know how the game "feels" in my hands.

    hopefully, if your an RPG fan like me and your on the fence, you will have enough info to decide if Bound By Flame is the game for you. either way, i hope this all helped, cheers.    … Expand
  29. Plasmaneedle
    May 14, 2014
    8
    Bound by Flame is not groundbreaking in any way but there is a lot of fun to be had with its combat system. There is some interesting enemy designs and the crafting is great and the game world is interesting. If you're looking for RPGs on the PS4 then Bound By Flame is worth checking out.
  30. xOmegAx
    Jul 3, 2014
    8
    Bound by Flame, a fantasy RPG brought to us by Spiders Studio, is something of a mixed bag of good and bad points but overall, I have found it to an be enjoyable and a solid RPG experience. It's not as deep as Skyrim (huge fan), but it is very similar to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning in my opinion.

    Story: You play as a mercenary who becomes possessed by a demon that grants him the    Bound by Flame, a fantasy RPG brought to us by Spiders Studio, is something of a mixed bag of good and bad points but overall, I have found it to an be enjoyable and a solid RPG experience. It's not as deep as Skyrim (huge fan), but it is very similar to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning in my opinion.

    Story: You play as a mercenary who becomes possessed by a demon that grants him the ability to wield the power of fire in the midst of a war against the Deadwalker Army, but you must decide what's more important to you...your humanity, or the ever expanding powers of the demon. Every choice you make could make you a hero, or become more of a reflection of the demon possessing you, therefore, affecting those around you.

    Gameplay: Combat is definitely one of the strongest points of Bound by Flame. During combat, you have the ability to change your "stance" between a Warrior or a Ranger on the fly and allowing you to approach or adapt to the situation in front of you. Using the Warrior stance allows you to use swords, battleaxes, or hammers and are capable of dishing out lots of damage, but the attacks are relatively slow and if facing an agile enemy, you could find yourself getting hit and possibly interrupting your attacks. The Ranger stance allows you to use daggers as your primary weapon and to become very nimble, focusing more on quick, consecutive strikes while being able to evade enemy attacks but if facing a group of enemies, the weaker strikes means more damage needing to be dealt and more time for you to be overrun.

    Exploration is similar to KOA: Reckoning as it's an open world but you're not entirely allowed to go "everywhere" like Skyrim. The areas that you visit each have their own distinctive feel but nothing too stunning that really makes them memorable.

    Another part of combat is the decision if you want to bring a companion along with you. Personally, I've found your companions to be lacking in combat and they make better meatshields than fighters. I find myself doing most of the dirty work while my companion is getting stomped more than the I in the Pixar logo before movies.

    Customization: One of the other strong points of Bound by Flame is it's customization options for your armor and weapons. Throughout the game, you collect raw materials like metal and leather and you can take those and enhance armor or weapons you receive from chests or enemies. Each customization option has a different appearance compared to other options and grants different bonuses as well so, you can find one that suits your style the best and make your own unique piece of equipment.

    Music: I find the soundtrack of the game to be a little overbearing during the game and especially during cutscenes so, I would recommend going into the Options and turning down music volume so you can listen more to the dialogue and sounds of battle than the music. Even with this small complaint, I still found the soundtrack to be decent, especially during boss battles.

    Voice Acting/Dialogue: One of the weaker points of Bound by Flame. I found some characters to be lacking in emotion during some situations but it's not as bad as what some people have said in my opinion. Merchants and others NPCs say the same thing, every time you speak to them, even if it's literally 2 seconds apart unless you progress past a certain point in any side quest or main story mission that involves them. I also found dialogue options to be kind of lacking as you can ask someone questions to get some answers to a quest you are on, but after you finish that quest, you can select an option that was open previously available and the only option after that is, "Let's talk about something else." It's almost like a waste of breath and time.

    Summary: Overall, I am giving Bound by Flame an 8/10. I think it's a solid entry for Spiders Studio and a satisfying entry for RPG enthusiasts who were looking for a small fix on the PS4 that didn't want to invest in FFIV: A Realm Reborn, like me. It has it's flaws, but the strong combat, nice customization, and a decent story make up for them. If you enjoyed KOA: Reckoning or Fable, then I would recommend you giving Bound by Flame a shot. I'm glad I did.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
38
#38 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 40
  3. Negative: 12 out of 40
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 29, 2014
    40
    Juddering. [July 2014, p.93]
  2. games(TM)
    Jun 28, 2014
    60
    The story, writing and the role-playing part of the game is distinctly previous-gen play, if not older.
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  3. Play UK
    Jun 21, 2014
    62
    While never truly bad, Bound by Flame is rarely much better than serviceable either. [Issue#245, p.60]
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