Bound by Flame Preview

IGN’s Luke Karmali has penned a preview for SPIDERS’ upcoming action-RPG Bound by Flame, which sheds more light on the game’s storyline and gameplay. A sampling:

Now that we’ve actually seen the game, however, we can shed some more light on what to expect. Bound by Flame takes place in a high fantasy world under siege by seven ice lords. You play the role of Vulcan, a mercenary tasked with trying to defend the beleaguered lands from the minions of evil, which include gigantic, rotting flesh golems and shambling cadavers.

Soon after the story kicks off, a botched attempt by our hero to bolster his strength by summoning a fire demon instead sees him possessed, gifting him with the power of flame but at the potential loss of his humanity. This duality then becomes the focus of the game, especially when facing off against foes. As is swiftly becoming the norm for RPGs, Bound by Flame offers three skill trees you can specialise in, each with an Ultimate Ability lurking at the top. Vulcan can better himself through a tanking tree that lets him use swords, axes and hammers, or a nimble ranger tree that sees him focus on twin daggers and a crossbow, gaining speed but sacrificing stamina. The pyromancy powers are the ones that are the real draw though, allowing the demon within to revel in his more destructive tendencies and reduce foes to ashes.

This duality also shapes the wider content of Bound by Flame too, as the action-RPG will feature a branching plot and multiple endings depending on how you choose to play it. Opting to pursue quests that preserve your own humanity while helping others will see you remain fairly recognisable, while following the demon’s path will see your armour deteriorate as your body becomes wreathed in flames and, finally, horns jut out the top of your head. While you’ll be more susceptible to damage if you take this route, your magical powers will be much stronger.