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Bound by Flame - Review
Posted:

Bound by Flame - ReviewPosted:

Hearthstone
  • Resident Elite
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Status: Offline
Joined: Jan 21, 201410Year Member
Posts: 276
Reputation Power: 14
Bound by Flame


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Info


Developer: Spiders
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Producers: Walid Miled
Composers: Olivier Derivire
Engine: Silk
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360
Release dates: May 9th, 2014
Genre: Action RPG
Mode: Single-player






Synopsis
You are a mercenary possessed by a flame demon in a desperate world ravaged by seven Ice Lords and their Dead-Army. In this RPG where all your choices lead to consequences, you must choose between unleashing the powers of the beast within or rejecting the demonic influence that wants to claim your humanity.





Gameplay
In terms of gameplay Bound by Flame does a decent job of providing players with quality. Players are able to complete the main storyline of the game within just 10-12 hours if they have previous experience with RPGs. The main quests consist of three different acts and a total of 8 different chapters that compose those acts. The game also features an array of optional side quests a player is able to partake in if they so choose. These side quests reward players with gold, items, and much more story development. In terms of the games replay value players wont see much out of a second run through. Other than changing the games difficulty or becoming a different gender there really is not much to offer. The only main replay value for players would be how they interact with the inner demon within their main character as well as the choices they make in game.

The game offers four different difficulty modes available to players from the start; Recruit, Hawk, Buffalo, and Captain. These difficulty levels are intended to make the game more challenging in terms of combat. However even on Recruit, which is the lowest of all the difficulties, players will find themselves dying rather quickly. Players are forced to rely on loads of potions, skill, patience, and a thought process when it comes to the combat within the game.

Bound by Flame is one of the restricted maps types of RPGs so it is extremely linear for the most part. Players arent able to run around an open world experience, but rather are confined to several short passages that branch off here and there. The only real purpose of branching off the main path for a short distance is to find loot and more enemies at the end of the path. Players can expect to go through swamps, marshes, camps, a village, icy terrain, lairs, and more.

The combat within Bound by Flame is probably one of the most controversial aspects this game has to offer players. As previously mentioned even on the easiest difficulty players will find that they will die rather easily if they are not careful. Enemies hit with very hard blows, and that will drop a players health bar with a couple attacks if they do not pay attention. Players often find themselves fighting 3 or more enemies all at once which can be rather frustrating, because a player has to parry/dodge every incoming attack at the right time if they wish to live very long. Although the game offers two different fighting stances; Ranger and Warrior, the combat has a repetitive feel that players will immediately come to notice. It seems as if every combat situation results in the mashing of the attack button and the constant preemptive parry/dodge button.

The game does have some pretty basic mechanics that allow players to upgrade their skills as well as their weapons and armor. Players are able to upgrade their skills simply by gaining experience and leveling their character. There are three skill trees a player can choose from; Ranger, Warrior, and Pyromancer. Upon each level a player is given two skill points that they may spend in whichever tree they would like. Players may evenly distribute the points among all three of the trees or may choose to specialize in solely one or two. As skill points are allotted into the different trees players are granted combat bonuses for that specific tree, which they are able to utilize in game. A player may also upgrade their weapons and armor by crafting their upgrades from collected materials such as leather, steel, etc. Weapon and armor upgrades may include more damage, critical strike chance, resistances to certain elements, and more. The game also features a very simplistic crafting mechanic that players have access to. Players are able to craft health and mana potions, crossbow arrows, and exploding traps, as long as they have collected the required materials.

One thing that must be noted is the sometimes very poor voice acting and writing of the game. Many of the characters seem to be extremely vulgar and the voice acting just cant seem to pull it off well enough. There are many times when the dialogue is amusing when it shouldnt be simply because of the poor voice acting. The game attempts to make jokes that sometimes end up not giving the expected outcome that was desired.






Plot
Bound by Flame does have a pretty engaging plot that players are able to experience. Players control a character that works as a mercenary, but soon falls victim to a demonic possession when a ritual goes bad. The world is being taken over by 7 Ice Lords and their entire Dead-Army and the player is the only one that may be able to prevent it from happening. Players must form allies, enemies, relationships, and more in order to conquer their adversaries. The demonic possession is also something players must deal with constantly throughout the course of the game. Players must decide whether or not to give in to the demon in exchange for greater power or reject the demon that is living inside them. Whether players choose to reject or embrace their inner demons does not change their goal, and that is to reach the Ice Lords and prevent them from gaining control.





Graphics
In terms of graphical design Bound by Flame did a good job of providing players with pleasing visuals. Mostly all of the characters, landscape, and textures seem to be pretty well detailed. There are however a couple instances where the lighting and or shadows dont really add up, but other than that players should be pleased with what the game has to offer. The best graphical part of the entire game would definitely be the main character and the enemies. Players are able to see their character change before their own eyes as their demonic possession grows stronger, and enemies have great detail making them each unique.

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Controls
As for the controls within Bound by Flame players shouldnt have much of a problem at all. The game does a very good job of introducing players to what controls they need in order to succeed. Everything feels smooth and in the correct place as they should be.





Final Verdict
Bound by Flame has plenty to offer players that are true fans of RPGs. The game does fall short in playing time as well as overall customization however. The combat is controversial and the voice acting can be quite cringe worthy in some parts, but overall players should have a good time. The plot, enemies, and the demonic possession players get to experience is enough to keep them engaged despite the games negative aspects. The price isnt half bad either coming in at $29.99 USD, but would feel more correct at around $19.99. If youre looking for a newer generation RPG that has a pretty decent plot line then this wouldnt be a bad pickup at all.

Gameplay: 7
Price: 8.5
Plot: 8
Graphics: 7
Controls: 9
Overall: 7.5
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