It is a fact that gamers around the world have developers that they support, no matter the genre of game they are making. For some those developers also make consoles, but for many they are just developers and one of mine is MercurySteam.

I first had the pleasure of discovering their work with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in 2010, but it wouldn’t until E3 2017 where I met Enric from the studio, when I went hands on with the then unreleased Raiders of a Broken Planet. The game would release just a few months later and I liked it, but it took a bit for the game to gain traction, the name change did not hurt though. That same year the developers also worked alongside Nintendo to release Metroid: Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS, so they had a great year. While they also delivered Metroid Dread in 2021 for Nintendo Switch, they were hard at work on developing something new as well, Blades of Fire.

Now we reviewed Blades of Fire and loved it, so naturally we had questions about the game and who better to get the answers from than Enric Alvarez, the Game Director and CEO at MercurySteam.

Maxi-Geek: How did Blades of Fire come to be?

Enric Alvarez: The founders of MercurySteam met years ago while working at Rebel Act Studios on Blade: The Edge of Darkness. That project was our trial by fire, and ever since, we’ve always wanted to return to that sword-and-sorcery world. Blades of Fire came from a very personal and emotional place—like closing a circle.

When people compare Blades of Fire to the Souls genre, they’re actually—without realizing it—comparing it to that original Blade game from long ago.

Maxi-Geek: Weapon customisation in videogames is often done by another character in the game. How important was it that the player character would be the one working on their weapons?

Enric Alvarez: It was absolutely crucial. Blades of Fire only works if the player is proactive, curious, and willing to engage with the world. You have to forge your own weapons, find your own path, and even piece together the story. The game doesn’t just push you forward—it asks you to earn every bit of progress through exploration, combat, and decision-making. That’s what makes it immersive.

Maxi-Geek: Something that excites me is the option for adjusting playstyles, by picking up a different type of weapon. In deciding the three styles, Slashing, Piercing and Blunt, were there any talks of other types?

Enric Alvarez: Oh, there were talks! But we wanted to release the game before the next console generation showed up 😄

Maxi-Geek: With the game’s combat being a core part of it, what considerations were put into the game, for players who may not be used to a game like Blades of Fire?

Enric Alvarez: Blades of Fire isn’t punishing for the sake of it. Most enemies go down in two or three hits—if you’re using the right weapon and steel. So even players who don’t want to master every combat nuance can make good progress without frustration. It’s not about superhuman reflexes—it’s about timing, spacing, and choosing the right weapon. And don’t worry—we’ll never make you find some magic ring buried on the other side of the map that no one told you about just to beat a boss 😉

Maxi-Geek: The game’s story has a fun hook with Aran and Nerea growing up together. Now that Aran has to take down the Queen, how much of their time together as kids will impact events yet to come?

Enric Alvarez: Can’t answer that without spoiling the story! Let’s just say: you’ll want to pay attention.

Maxi-Geek: Because of that history between the two characters, is that something players will get to discover as they play the game?

Enric Alvarez: Definitely. But it’s not handed to you. You’ll need to be curious, dig into the world, and actively uncover those story threads yourself. The game rewards players who pay attention.

Maxi-Geek: You have revealed a few of the characters that players will encounter in the game, some friendly and some like Nerea who are not as friendly. Such a story heavy game requires great characters, so I imagine that you have a favourite one. Who would they be?

Enric Alvarez: I honestly can’t choose—I love them all equally 😊

Maxi-Geek: Given the situation the world finds itself in, with the Queen being wicked, will Aran get to help people in the world as he pushes forward, or is his quest the only thing on his mind?

Enric Alvarez: Throughout the adventure, Aran will meet other characters—some alive, some not—who he’ll befriend, help, or rely on. Sometimes all at once. This isn’t a lone hero’s journey. It’s more of a shared path, even a bit of a cooperative one, if I may use the term.

Maxi-Geek: I have fond memories of Raiders of the Broken Planet, or Spacelords as it became. Both that game and Blades of Fire take place in very different and unique worlds. What do you consider to be the most important aspect of creating a new world for players to discover?

Enric Alvarez: I’m so glad you enjoyed Spacelords! We’re very proud of that game—and I still play it from time to time. It holds up surprisingly well!

For me, the world of a game is like another main character. It needs to be rich, surprising, layered—full of contradictions, beauty, and danger. It should feel like a place worth exploring and staying in, not just moving through.

Maxi-Geek: You are the only developer in the world to have worked on both sides of a genre, Metroidvania, which must feel surreal at times. Given the series that inspired that genre are from big developers, have there been any lessons that you have learnt over the years that you keep in your mind when developing something new like Blades of Fire?

Enric Alvarez: Yes—one lesson above all: Never bore the player.

Maxi-Geek: Were there any accidents during development that lead to a new addition to the game?

Enric Alvarez: Oh yes. But I can’t talk about it without ruining a surprise. I’ll just say this—there’s one character in the game who absolutely wasn’t supposed to be there. That’s all I’m saying 😉

Maxi-Geek: Finally, what is something you are excited for players to discover, without spoiling anything of course.

Enric Alvarez: I think players who reach the end of the game are going to feel something very special.

Many thanks to Enric for taking the time to answer my question. Blades of Fire is available on PC via Epic Game Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.