Bound by Flame

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 havingBound 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

   • 22 of 43 users found this helpful
2. 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 esMe 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

   • 2 of 5 users found this helpful
4. 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 reactionGreat 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

   • 2 of 4 users found this helpful
5. fuwaneko

   May 9, 2014

   7

   It's nothing special, but it's not THAT bad as many journalists say. And it's quite challenging in a good way. Because, you know, Dark SoulsIt's nothing special, but it's not THAT bad as many journalists say. And it's quite challenging in a good way. Because, you know, Dark Souls showed us that a game should actually kill you, and do it often.… Expand

   • 6 of 9 users found this helpful
6. DJPMTL

   May 26, 2014

   6

   Im going to cut out the BS i'm seeing in other reviews and just give it to you straight.
   The game retails brand new at $49.99.
   It's 10 bucksIm going to cut out the BS i'm seeing in other reviews and just give it to you straight.
   The game retails brand new at $49.99.
   It's 10 bucks cheaper than games normally are which is a good indication that it isn't as good as it might look. it's good for a bit of fun if you like RPGs. If you don't like RPGs don't play it.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
7. BaronMonaco

   Nov 4, 2016

   5

   Bound By Flame is one of those AA games in which Focus Home Interactive is specialized. This means it would be ridiculous to have the sameBound By Flame is one of those AA games in which Focus Home Interactive is specialized. This means it would be ridiculous to have the same expectations that you could have for The Witcher, Dragon Age or Elder Scrolls as their budget is way lower. But does it mean Bound By Flame is a good AA game ?
   
   Technically the game is okay, of course it will not make your console work very hard (like I said those expectations are not welcomed if you don't buy a AAA game) and the aliasing is very strong, but there's a nice hand drawn feeling on some textures. The art direction is not original for one second and if you know your heroic fantasy standards you'll have the feeling of "déjà-vu" for the majority of the game. At least the framerate is rather steady and I didn't encountered any major issues (some minor collision bug) and you'll not stop playing the game for those reasons.
   
   Concerning the gameplay this is where the game fails, there's some good role playing elements although none are new (three skill trees, modification of the equipments) that are okay, but the fighting system is atrociously boring with very long and unchallenging fights (even for the bosses) where you'll smash hit and block in an awful monotony. I think even a turn-based approach (like classic Dungeons & Dragons) would have given more vibrant fights (with a nice strategic addition).
   
   The story like most of the game lacks originality with a lot of cliche characters and twists that you'll see coming from a long way that's a shame as it's the easiest way to give value to a title that doesn't benefit from the same financial backing as your competitors. In addition the voice overs are average at best and failed to truly give life to the characters. The side quest are, once again, pretty common but at least they didn't just made a notice board that asks you X item Y times. You can finish the entire game in more or less 20 hours, a bit short for a RPG but not a shame either.
   
   In conclusion even if it isn't broken or ridiculous Bound By Flame is uninspired and plagued by a boring gameplay and even at its current price I don't advise it to anyone as you can find way better (including among AA games like Pillars of Eternity or Divinity).… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. SCLancho

   Feb 27, 2016

   0

   So far the worst game over $40 price i ever played. Graphics are great 10 years ago. Music is just inapropiate, some sounds will reallySo far the worst game over $40 price i ever played. Graphics are great 10 years ago. Music is just inapropiate, some sounds will really destroy your brain (owl sound very 2 seconds)
   You can't load chapters. Dificulty is very low till you face the final boss, then you are **** up.
   Game is too short, you just follow corridors... DO NOT WASTE YOUR $$$!!!!!… Expand

   • 0 of 3 users found this helpful

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