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A PC role game to discover Norse runes inside of a mythological narration.
Created by Rebel Act Studios from Spain, Blade The Edge of Darkness is also known as Blade of Darkness and Severance Blade of Darkness. The first sketches were designed by the end of 1996 and, five years later, it was released as a game of action, fantasy, sorceress and adventures. With remarkable audiovisual effects by those times, it includes puzzles, destroyable staging elements, and light/shadow effects in real time, which had never been seen before.
Somehow, it's also considered to be the first of its kind, and inspired other soulslike games such as Dark Souls or Demon's Souls. And twenty years later, in October 2021, a new release by Steam and GOG offered a much lighter PC version (of only 462 MG), with rescaled textures, updated visualization options and support for panoramic screens and 4K, among other changes. Anyway, the game remained basically like the original version: a dark scenario for tactical, paused and quite visceral combats requiring accuracy and to keep control inside of compacted areas.
Mythologies
Some names and key elements of the game remind of Norse and Sumerian mythologies. The goal is to reach 6 Runes of Power. Each one of them is a relief telling of a specific moment during the creation of Blade's universe. The letter characters belong to the ancient, Saxon or young alphabets, so some of them are associated to Norse gods: Fehu and Freyja, Haegl and Thor, Algiz and Heimdall.
Narrative
GODS
Ahura Mazda is the Lord. In the beginning, he created the Primigeneous Chaos, splitting appart Light from Darkness, and then emerging his sons, the Avestas gods.
One of his sons, Angra Manyu, is the Prince of Darkness, and tried to take his place. For his purpose, he created Aserat, the Lord of Chaos, who made great evil in the Universe.
Ahura Mazda along with one of his sons, Spenta Manyu or the Prince of Light, defeated Aserat, and peace was restored. Nevertheless, Ahura Mazda was disapointed about his creation and went to the Depths of the Universe. It is said he will come back only at the end of times.
EARTH
Goddess Ianna populated the Earth with a big garden where humans appeared.
Angra Manyu (the Prince of Darkness) moved to the Earth with the Avestas. But peace didn't last too long, and soon some gods turned loyal to Ahura Mazda and some others to Angra Manyu (known as the Arcontes).
The Earth was about to be destroyed because of the fierce battle between the gods, so Ianna cast a strong spell and expulsed them all. Since then, Ianna moved to the Moon and watches the nights from there, whereas Spenta Manyu moved to the Sun and watches humans from there. The rest of gods were disseminated across the Universe.
WAR OF THE SWORD
But humans had to keep on fighting the demons Angra Manyu had left.
Among the humans, a young heroe, Eresh Kigal, received the Sacred Sword from Ianna, becoming Blade, the Knight of Light. He commanded a great army of humans and dwarves, defeating the forces of evil although he died because of the injures received during the battle. He was buried along with his sword in the Temple of Ianna.
Then 6 Runes of Power emerged from the sword as well as 4 gems, which can be used to open the gates of the temple. Runes and gems were saved in secret places although they can be tracked if needed.
Game
GOAL
Evil comes back to Earth and the enemies attack. The runes are usually protected by mortal traps. Once gathered, the players can set free the Sacred Sword embedded in The Temple of Ianna, then defeat Dal Gurak in the penultimate level, access later the final secret level The Abyss, and finally defeat evil and Aserat (the Lord of Chaos) for good.
The players may choose one of four different characters to start the game. The game begins inside of a specific context (level) depending on the chosen character. After the initial level, different locations are displayed: deserts, castles, volcanoes and temples. The players explore tombs, frozen fortresses and demonic towers, face several enemies, solve puzzles, and have to avoid traps made of fire, water, arrows, stones and other elements.
CHARACTERS
Each one of them counts on strong characteristics, weaknesses, abilities and specific fighting styles.
Naglfar is a dwarf from a mine town, an expert in the usage of heavy weapons and shields. When orcs moved forwards, he had to search for answers in a secret library in the city of Khazel Zalam.
Tukaram is a barbarian from the Northern steppes, an expert handler of greatswords, and travels to his ancestors home in The Valley of Kashgar.
Zoe is an Amazon from the External Kingdoms who entered the game while looking for The Lost City of Marakamda. She's also an agile spearwoman.
Sargon is the captain of the Knights of the King, counts on several balanced qualities (strength, resistance, defence and agility) and appears in the level The Fortress of Tabriz.
LEVELS
Khazel Zalam, The Valley of Kashgar, The Lost City of Marakamda or The Fortress of Tabriz (according to the chosen character)
The Mines of Mount Kelgeben
The Fortress of Tell Hallaf
The Tombs of Ephyra
The Island of Karum
The Fortress of Shalatuwar
The Defile of Orlock
The Fortress of Nemrut
Oasis of Nejeb
The Temple of Al-Farum
The Forge of Xshathra
The Temple of Ianna
The Tower of Dal Gurak
The Abyss (hidden level)
Runes
1. In The Mines of Mount Kelbegen, the players have to break a wood wall to enter a hidden pathway inside of a big stone structure. The structure is surrounded by acid, which quickly fills up the room. At the top of it, OTHILA can be found.
Othila is related to family, possessions, lands, legacies, genetic codes. It indicates wellness, fortune, success, earning, prosperity and satisfaction, good luck and vital strength.
"On how Ahura Mazda, the Lord, created the Primigeneous Chaos. And on how by splitting it apart he formed Light and Darkness, giving them life and thoughts of their own. And on how by creating the other gods he was not alone anymore."
2. In The Fortress of Tell-Halaf, the players find FEHU (Feoh) rune.
It belongs to Earth element and is associated to wealthness, plenty, motherhood, fertility, honor and cattle. It also refers to Freyja goddess.
"On how Ahura Mazda being disappointed by his sons, retired to the depths of the Universe, and how he has not been seen among the Avestas since then, to only come back at the end of Times."
3. In The Tombs of Ephyra, behind King Azud's tomb, is HAEGL (Hagalaz) rune.
Related to losses and hail, since it destroys harvests and produces times of need. It's also associated to Thor since it is believed hail comes from the stones thrown by the wheels of his carriage.
"On how the Prince of Darkness started manipulating the Primigeneous Chaos to create a new being. And how, before he controlled it, the being was independent of its creator. And how the Lord of Chaos appeared among the gods."
4. In The Fortress of Nemrut it can be found the YR rune of the Saxon alphabet.
The meaning is not clear although it's associated to weapons, war machines, or emblems carried out as signs of war distinction.
"On how the Avestas agreed to create a home where they all could leave together. And how Ianna, the beloved daughter of his Father, created a beautiful orchard, which gave life to the entire Earth. And how Angra Manyu, the Prince of Darkness, visited his brothers and lived among them."
5. In The Oasis of Nejeb, ALGIZ (Elhaz) rune must be discovered.
Related to protection during the battles, defense and Heimdall god, who watches the home of gods and the rainbow connection to the world (Bifrost).
"On how the aura of light and beatitude that surrounded the Earth was darkened by evil. On the fight of Avestas and Arcontes, and the expulsion of the fighters from Earth."
6. In The Temple of Al-Farum the players find the Yr rune of the young alphabet.
It means yew (European tree), and is related to war, death and endings.
"On how Ianna expulsed the gods from their homes and kept closed the Earth, leaving behind works and creatures on it. And on how Spenta Manyu watches the Earth from the Sun, Ianna lives on the Moon to watch the night from there, and since then the sequence of day and night rules life on Earth."
Download the game's demo and find a version to buy in SNEG. Creators: Rebel Act Studios (currently in Digital Legends and MercurySteam). Development: Fire Falcom and General Arcade. Distribution: Codemasters.
Material source: Wikia Blade: The Edge of Darkness in FANDOM (CC 3.0).
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