Blaze & Blade is a multiplayer RPG made for the PC and Playstation by T&E Soft, and published by THQ (PC) and Funsoft (PSX). It was released way back in 1998, and was ported to the PC in 2000. Unlike most RPGs, this has no real story to speak of, but rather, you decide your own path completely. The game received a large amount of negative feedback for this very reason, but putting that aside it's a good little game.
Storyline
One of the most simplistic storylines available. Our intrepid adventurers happen upon an ancient lithograph during their travels, and wish to know more about it. They bring it to a man, a scholar of some sort, and he verifies that it is in fact, a powerful magical item...That is, if the magical gems were still upon it. Thus begins the adventure, in which our heroes delve into many dungeons, forests, canyons, etc. in order to find these gems.
Graphics
I'm being lenient on this section, as the game is over ten years old. The graphics are not the best, they are rather pixellated regarding characters and enemies, and the backgrounds can seem rather blocky at times. But magic looks great, especially when you unleash one of the more powerful spells of say, the elf. The bosses later on however, look absolutely brilliant.
Gameplay
Playing the game can be a unique experience for players, depending on which character(s) they choose to bring into battle with them. The steadfast warrior, who is able to both attack with his sword and defend with his shield? Or do you opt for an additional skill and bring the dwarf, who is capable of moving rocks otherwise blocking inaccessible areas? Skill choices affect where you can and cannot go in this game, despite having no real customization aspects other than equipment.
One thing I will say about character creation though, is that it is quite complex yet simple, especially for this game’s date. First, you select your character.
Character select screen.
• Warrior – Sword-and-shield, brute force characters. Skill—Block. Use a shield to defend against frontal attacks.
• Elf – Uses a rapier and magic, up to the level 4 Wizard spells. Skill—Magic. Can unlock magic seals, opening new paths.
• Wizard – Uses stave-type weapons, and are the main damage-dealing magic-users in the game.
• Priest – Healers. Cures status ailments and heals team-mates. Uses mace weapons.
• Hunter – Ranged attackers. Can only use bows. Skills—Herbs. Uses herblore to heal, increase stats, etc. Secondary skill—Tracker. Can find hidden areas by following animal trails.
• Rogue – Fast fighters. Uses daggers. Skill—Dash. Can run faster than any other class.
• Dwarf – Small, stoic fighters. Uses axe and shield. Skill—Block. Secondary skill—Smash. Can break through certain weak walls and floors.
• Fairy – Uses wand weapons. Also uses status magic to inflict negative effects upon enemies. Skill—Flight, allowing them to avoid ground traps.
Once you have selected your character type (And gender of course!) you name them. Once named, you select how your character will speak. Although it has no real effect on fighting games , it does change how your character interacts with NPCs. A nice little touch.
Subsequently, you must decide on a governing protective element. Your chosen element dictates your damage and defense of that element, and its polar opposite.
Fire – Water
Earth – Wind
Light – Dark
Holiness – Evil
Your chosen element gives you an increased defense against that element, but weakens you against its opposite. A double-edged sword, but another reason being able to create multiple characters is useful.
Next, you roll your stats >
• Agility—Affects attack speed. Best used for Rogues, but comes in useful for any class. Raises Defense.
• Strength—The mainstay of any physical combat class. The higher this stat, the higher your attack power. Also raises HP.
• Intelligence—A mage’s best friend. The more intelligence your character has, the stronger your repertoire of spells becomes. Also
• Willpower—Important for raising magical defense. Also raises MP.
• Power—Raises your magical recovery speed. Also raises MP.
• Luck—Very important for many things. Raises likelihood of rare treasure dropping, and increases critical hits.
• Constitution—Without it, you’ll be weak. Raises HP.
The stat roll is a random selection of three cards, each of which has a number on it. Should you not like the roll you’re given, you can redo it as many times as desired. In addition, if you roll three of any one number, you get to roll again and keep the number you originally rolled.
Combat as well, differs depending on character choices. Should you choose to go alone, you will be bound to the character you choose. If you select a warrior, and go to an area with flying enemies, you will probably not survive. This is where the multiplayer aspect comes in. Up to four players can work simultaneously to accomplish the goals of the game. But don’t despair—if you don’t have three other friends, simply create 3 other characters and bring them along with you anyway. The AI will take control of them.
What your intrepid party could look like. Then again…
There is a down-side to this. The characters controlled by the computer will fight alongside you, and they are by no means amateurs in their respective abilities—with an Elf in your party, the battlefield will be alight with magic, for example. But the AI’s capabilities end there. When not in combat, the computer-controlled characters will follow you wherever you go in a line, and do everything you do. If you jump, they jump.
This brings me onto the control system. It is relatively simple. X allows the player to jump, whilst square controls attacking. Should you opt to play as a character with a skill, such as the warrior’s block, or the fairy’s status magic, these could be activated using the O button. Accessing the menu is done via the triangle button, and camera controls are done with the L/R shoulder buttons.
Originality
Enemies are certainly original in this game. Who would have thought of making an enemy whom is a cross of an owl and a bear? The areas you will see are not at the start original, but as you delve further into the game, you will see some memorable locations. For example the island castle, protected by the Ents. With its gates sealed by a magic unknown of this world, it is an ominous place to view, even though it is daylight. As darkness falls, you enter a swamp, where its foul residents wish to drain your life.
The fabled OwlBear, such a fearsome first boss.
Regarding characters, they are for the most part generic--the only original one is the fairy, an airborne model that can cast spells such as poison or silence. The control method is rather original too, as you can play alone with up to four characters at a time, and switch between them at will. The auction system too, makes the game more balanced out, by rendering trading of super equipment to new weak characters impossible, unless they have the Gel (currency) to buy it.
Replayability
Put simply, it has amazing replay value. With eight character classes to choose from, both male and female on each, and having no level cap at all, this game can keep you going for a long time should you so choose.
Flaws
One of the large flaws with this game is simply that it is not in-depth. It’s an RPG, but it doesn’t have a hugely compelling story. It’s a simple game, but can take some amount of trial and error to figure out what areas of the shooting games you are able to handle, as enemy strengths differ greatly. It has been advised on various forums and walkthroughs that you be at least level 200 before taking the final boss on, but I’d think you may need to be higher than that, depending on class choices.
As mentioned previously, the graphics are by no means amazing. It’s an old game though, and as they say, the oldies are the goodies.
Overall
I love this game. There are flaws, but I love it for that. If you have a PS1 memory card free, and you can find this game, I would advise you buy it.
Storyline
One of the most simplistic storylines available. Our intrepid adventurers happen upon an ancient lithograph during their travels, and wish to know more about it. They bring it to a man, a scholar of some sort, and he verifies that it is in fact, a powerful magical item...That is, if the magical gems were still upon it. Thus begins the adventure, in which our heroes delve into many dungeons, forests, canyons, etc. in order to find these gems.
Graphics
I'm being lenient on this section, as the game is over ten years old. The graphics are not the best, they are rather pixellated regarding characters and enemies, and the backgrounds can seem rather blocky at times. But magic looks great, especially when you unleash one of the more powerful spells of say, the elf. The bosses later on however, look absolutely brilliant.
Gameplay
Playing the game can be a unique experience for players, depending on which character(s) they choose to bring into battle with them. The steadfast warrior, who is able to both attack with his sword and defend with his shield? Or do you opt for an additional skill and bring the dwarf, who is capable of moving rocks otherwise blocking inaccessible areas? Skill choices affect where you can and cannot go in this game, despite having no real customization aspects other than equipment.
One thing I will say about character creation though, is that it is quite complex yet simple, especially for this game’s date. First, you select your character.
Character select screen.
• Warrior – Sword-and-shield, brute force characters. Skill—Block. Use a shield to defend against frontal attacks.
• Elf – Uses a rapier and magic, up to the level 4 Wizard spells. Skill—Magic. Can unlock magic seals, opening new paths.
• Wizard – Uses stave-type weapons, and are the main damage-dealing magic-users in the game.
• Priest – Healers. Cures status ailments and heals team-mates. Uses mace weapons.
• Hunter – Ranged attackers. Can only use bows. Skills—Herbs. Uses herblore to heal, increase stats, etc. Secondary skill—Tracker. Can find hidden areas by following animal trails.
• Rogue – Fast fighters. Uses daggers. Skill—Dash. Can run faster than any other class.
• Dwarf – Small, stoic fighters. Uses axe and shield. Skill—Block. Secondary skill—Smash. Can break through certain weak walls and floors.
• Fairy – Uses wand weapons. Also uses status magic to inflict negative effects upon enemies. Skill—Flight, allowing them to avoid ground traps.
Once you have selected your character type (And gender of course!) you name them. Once named, you select how your character will speak. Although it has no real effect on fighting games , it does change how your character interacts with NPCs. A nice little touch.
Subsequently, you must decide on a governing protective element. Your chosen element dictates your damage and defense of that element, and its polar opposite.
Fire – Water
Earth – Wind
Light – Dark
Holiness – Evil
Your chosen element gives you an increased defense against that element, but weakens you against its opposite. A double-edged sword, but another reason being able to create multiple characters is useful.
Next, you roll your stats >
• Agility—Affects attack speed. Best used for Rogues, but comes in useful for any class. Raises Defense.
• Strength—The mainstay of any physical combat class. The higher this stat, the higher your attack power. Also raises HP.
• Intelligence—A mage’s best friend. The more intelligence your character has, the stronger your repertoire of spells becomes. Also
• Willpower—Important for raising magical defense. Also raises MP.
• Power—Raises your magical recovery speed. Also raises MP.
• Luck—Very important for many things. Raises likelihood of rare treasure dropping, and increases critical hits.
• Constitution—Without it, you’ll be weak. Raises HP.
The stat roll is a random selection of three cards, each of which has a number on it. Should you not like the roll you’re given, you can redo it as many times as desired. In addition, if you roll three of any one number, you get to roll again and keep the number you originally rolled.
Combat as well, differs depending on character choices. Should you choose to go alone, you will be bound to the character you choose. If you select a warrior, and go to an area with flying enemies, you will probably not survive. This is where the multiplayer aspect comes in. Up to four players can work simultaneously to accomplish the goals of the game. But don’t despair—if you don’t have three other friends, simply create 3 other characters and bring them along with you anyway. The AI will take control of them.
What your intrepid party could look like. Then again…
There is a down-side to this. The characters controlled by the computer will fight alongside you, and they are by no means amateurs in their respective abilities—with an Elf in your party, the battlefield will be alight with magic, for example. But the AI’s capabilities end there. When not in combat, the computer-controlled characters will follow you wherever you go in a line, and do everything you do. If you jump, they jump.
This brings me onto the control system. It is relatively simple. X allows the player to jump, whilst square controls attacking. Should you opt to play as a character with a skill, such as the warrior’s block, or the fairy’s status magic, these could be activated using the O button. Accessing the menu is done via the triangle button, and camera controls are done with the L/R shoulder buttons.
Originality
Enemies are certainly original in this game. Who would have thought of making an enemy whom is a cross of an owl and a bear? The areas you will see are not at the start original, but as you delve further into the game, you will see some memorable locations. For example the island castle, protected by the Ents. With its gates sealed by a magic unknown of this world, it is an ominous place to view, even though it is daylight. As darkness falls, you enter a swamp, where its foul residents wish to drain your life.
The fabled OwlBear, such a fearsome first boss.
Regarding characters, they are for the most part generic--the only original one is the fairy, an airborne model that can cast spells such as poison or silence. The control method is rather original too, as you can play alone with up to four characters at a time, and switch between them at will. The auction system too, makes the game more balanced out, by rendering trading of super equipment to new weak characters impossible, unless they have the Gel (currency) to buy it.
Replayability
Put simply, it has amazing replay value. With eight character classes to choose from, both male and female on each, and having no level cap at all, this game can keep you going for a long time should you so choose.
Flaws
One of the large flaws with this game is simply that it is not in-depth. It’s an RPG, but it doesn’t have a hugely compelling story. It’s a simple game, but can take some amount of trial and error to figure out what areas of the shooting games you are able to handle, as enemy strengths differ greatly. It has been advised on various forums and walkthroughs that you be at least level 200 before taking the final boss on, but I’d think you may need to be higher than that, depending on class choices.
As mentioned previously, the graphics are by no means amazing. It’s an old game though, and as they say, the oldies are the goodies.
Overall
I love this game. There are flaws, but I love it for that. If you have a PS1 memory card free, and you can find this game, I would advise you buy it.
