Blades of Destiny (video game)

Blades of Destiny
Developer(s)	SOI Studios
Publisher(s)	Monsteristic
Series	Blades of Destiny
Engine	Unreal Engine
Platform(s)	PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox One Xbox Series X/S
Release	November 8, 2023
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Blades of Destiny is a 2023 multiplayer first-person shooter developed by SOI Studios and published by Monsteristic. It is the first installment of the Blades of Destiny series. The game was released on November 8, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Blades of Destiny features three gamemodes. The game is a multiplayer game with a heavy focus on PvP with the second mode being a PvE mode. The game's first mode, "Multiplayer", features 6v6 combat with various modes such as Team Deathmatch and Free-for-All, and features weaponry set in the 1960s. The game's second mode is called "Revenant", a wave-based survival mode features one map at launch.

Blades of Destiny received varied reviews, praised by GameSpot for its campaign and multiplayer, yet critiqued by Edge for resembling Call of Duty too closely. The PC version was notably buggy, impacting multiplayer performance. User feedback was mixed, with lower ratings on Amazon.com three days post-launch: PC and PS4 versions at 3.1 stars, and Xbox Series X/S at 1.8 stars, due to lag and bugs. The Daily Telegraph highlighted its content richness and Call of Duty inspiration.

Gameplay

Blades of Destiny is a first-person shooter. The player assumes the role of a foot soldier who can wield various firearms (only two of which can be carried at once), throw grenades and other explosives, and use other equipment as weapons. A player close enough to an enemy can kill with one knife blow. A character can take three stances: standing, crouching, or prone. Each affects the rate of movement, accuracy, and stealth. The player can drop to the prone stance from the standing stance while running (colloquially known as "dolphin diving"), and can momentarily sprint before stopping.

The screen glows red to indicate damage to a player's health, which regenerates over time. When the character is within the blast radius of a live grenade, an on-screen marker indicates where it is in relation to the player, helping the player to move away or to throw it back.

The player assumes the role of various characters during the single-player campaign, changing perspectives throughout the story. The playable characters are covert operatives conducting black operations behind enemy lines. Each mission features a series of objectives that are displayed on the heads-up display, which marks the direction and distance towards and from such objectives as it has been in the earlier versions. The player is accompanied by friendly troops throughout the game. Although primarily a first-person shooter, certain levels feature sequences where the player pilots a Hind helicopter and guides friendly troops from a SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. In addition, the campaign features several scripted cinematic moments.

Multiplayer

Blades of Destiny introduces a distinctive Multiplayer mode, setting itself apart with 6v6 combat that intricately blends historical warfare with mystical elements, all rooted in the tumultuous era of the 1960s. This unique amalgamation of settings and styles offers players a diverse array of combat experiences, from conventional warfare to engagements infused with ancient magic and artifacts.

At its core, the game revitalizes the concept of Specialists, introducing a roster of characters each boasting unique abilities that draw upon historical and mythological lore. Initial launch features twelve Specialists – half are inspired by historical figures renowned for their combat prowess and strategic genius during the 1960s, while the remaining six are mythical warriors, each embodying ancient legends and endowed with powers that reflect their heritage. This blend ensures a dynamic battlefield where technology clashes with magic, offering new tactical considerations.

The Multiplayer mode emphasizes tactical play and teamwork more than ever. Traditional automatic health regeneration is replaced by a more deliberate healing mechanic, where players must use ancient relics or technology-based gadgets to recover health. Weaponry is a mix of historically accurate firearms and mythical weapons, each with unique recoil patterns and damage properties that combine hitscan and projectile systems. Customization takes center stage, allowing players to tailor their weapons with historical or mythical attachments that enhance performance in ways grounded in the game's lore.

Each weapon in Blades of Destiny carries its own legend, whether it's a rifle used in pivotal 1960s conflicts or a blade forged in myth. Customization is deep and meaningful, with attachments that not only improve functionality but also add visual flair reflective of the weapon's origin. Operator Mods return, offering game-changing modifications that can significantly alter a weapon's role on the battlefield. The introduction of a new "Artifacts" slot allows players to equip a special item—be it a piece of ancient armor or a technological marvel—that provides unique advantages in combat.

Multiplayer modes range from classic Team Deathmatch and Free-for-All to unique, objective-based modes that draw from historical events and mythical battles. These modes encourage strategic play, with each Specialist's abilities tailored to provide various roles on the team, from front-line warriors to support and stealth operatives. The emphasis on tactical play is further heightened by environmental interactions, where players can use the terrain and mystical elements to gain an advantage or turn the tide of battle.

A new game mode, War, is introduced as a "narrative-driven" multiplayer game mode alongside the "Eclipse Ascendant" DLC pack in January 2024. In War, two teams of 6 players perform objectives as either the Allied or Axis faction, inspired by some of the iconic World War II battles, such as storming Normandy on D-Day as the Allied, or defending the Normandy bunker as the Axis in the map Operation Neptune. The mode features four massive scale maps. Several fan-favorite modes from other games, are introduced in time-limited events throughout the month, such as Demolition or Infected.

Revenant

In Blades of Destiny, the survival mode "Revenant" offers players an immersive experience that blends history, mythology, and the supernatural into an intense, wave-based combat challenge. The first map introduced in the mode is called "Ruins of Eldora," set in the mystical ruins of an ancient city hidden within a dense, uncharted jungle. This setting provides a unique battleground that tests players' survival skills against relentless waves of mythic undead warriors and resurrected ancient heroes. The map features multiple mechanics such as artifact activation (which gives buffs), traps and defenses, boss encounters, a easter egg quest, and a mystical "Wonder Weapon".

The general gameplay of Revenant is simple: Survive. Players spawn in with a pistol and must survive against endless waves of Zombies, whilst empowering themselves by purchasing upgrades, Elixirs of Fate, and weapons from the Arsenal of the Ancients (weapons box). Players must turn on the power to gain access to features such as Elixirs of Fate and The Forge (or "Upgrade-Machine").

The second map, "Frosthold Ruins" was introduced in the first DLC called "Eclipse Ascendant". The map features very similar gameplay to that of Ruins of Eldora, however features a few major changes and a new Perk. The features include a new Elixir of Fate called "PHD Flopper", which allows players to create an explosion from diving onto a flat surface and reduces fall-damage. The map also introduces a new wonder weapon called "Mystic Pistol", similar to Call of Duty's Ray Gun.

Downloadable content

Blades of Destiny will offer a lot of downloadable content map packs, each containing regular multiplayer maps and a Revenant map. Along with each map pack, new modes and weapons will be added to the game for all players, even those who don't purchase the map pack. Players who purchase the "Destiny Pass", which grant access to all four map packs on release, also receive an exclusive weapon called the "Peacemaker".

On December 6, 2023, Monsteristic released a preview trailer for the first downloadable content pack, Eclipse Ascendant, containing 3 new multiplayer maps: Anthropoid, Valkyrie, Occupation; a new Revenant map called "Frosthold Ruins", which features a new quest known as a "Easter Egg". The map pack was released on January 10, 2024 across all platforms at the same time.

On March 17, 2024, Monsteristic announced the second downloadable content pack, Frozen Bastion, containing 3 multiplayer maps: Egypt, Dunkirk, V2; 1 new "War" Map; and 1 new Revenant map called "Sunken Temples". The map pack will be released on April 2, 2024.

Maps

Launch Multiplayer maps

• Aachen
• Ardennes Forest
• Flak Tower
• Gibraltar
• Gustav Cannon
• London Docks
• Pointe du Hoc
• Sainte Marie du Mont
• USS Texas

Revenant Maps

• Ruins of Eldora
• Frosthold Ruins
• Sunken Temples

DLC Multiplayer Maps

• Anthropoid
• Valkyrie
• Occupation
• Egypt
• Dunkirk
• V2

Plot

Synopsis

Blades of Destiny's campaign is set in 1960 during a "Mystic War". It follows Eirik Stormcaller (Travis Willingham) and his mission to stop this war in its track before it turns into a third world war. The story also tells a few realistic stories. Featured locations include the Netherlands, Turkey, West and East Berlin, South Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and Cuba. Stormcaller is supported by characters Liliana Shadowveil (Laura Bailey), Thane Ironheart (Chris Hemsworth), Soraya Lightweaver (Tara Strong), and Ragnar Wildblood (Jason Momoa). Mordred Darkforge (Ralph Fiennes) is the lead antagonist for the story and is joined by Selena Nightshade (Cate Blanchett), Vex Shadowmourn (Mark Hamill), and Gaius Stormwrath (Jeremy Irons).

Blades of Destiny's Revenant mode features a storyline that is titled "Shadowed Realms". The story features Viktor Kovalenko (Danila Kozlovsky), Mina Ashido (Takuya Kimura), Jack Carter (Pedro Pascal), and Isa Al-Masih (Rami Malek) as they are revealed to be trapped in a world of torture and suffering.

Campaign

"Blades of Destiny" unfolds during the tense backdrop of 1960, amidst the Cold War's covert skirmishes, introducing an unseen conflict: the Mystic War. This shadowy battle threatens to escalate into a global catastrophe, blending historical events with a layer of mysticism and ancient powers. At the heart of the story is Eirik Stormcaller, a man bestowed with ancient elemental powers, chosen to thwart the looming threat of a third world war sparked by arcane forces. His mission is as monumental as it is perilous—to navigate the political and mystical turmoils of the era and halt the Mystic War's progression.

Stormcaller's journey begins in the Netherlands, where whispers of mystical artifacts being sought after by both sides of the Iron Curtain draw him into the fray. Here, he meets Liliana Shadowveil, a master spy with the ability to meld into shadows, whose intelligence leads them to Turkey. In Turkey, ancient texts hint at the existence of a powerful artifact capable of swaying the Mystic War's outcome, guarded within the depths of forgotten ruins. Eirik and Liliana, joined by Thane Ironheart, a knight whose honor and strength are as legendary as his hammer, delve into these ruins, confronting both mortal and mystical foes.

Their quest then splits, leading Eirik to the divided city of Berlin. West and East Berlin are a microcosm of the global tension, and it's here Eirik faces Gaius Stormwrath, a rogue elemental master who seeks to manipulate the Mystic War for his own gain. Meanwhile, Soraya Lightweaver and Ragnar Wildblood investigate disturbances in South Vietnam, where dark magic is being used to fuel the conflict. Soraya's mastery of light and healing combats the darkness enveloping the land, while Ragnar's brute force carves a path through the enemy lines, uncovering a network of mystical energy being funneled to the Soviet Union.

In the heart of the Soviet Union, the team reunites to confront Mordred Darkforge, the puppet master behind the scenes, orchestrating the Mystic War's chaos to resurrect an ancient deity. Darkforge's lieutenants, Selena Nightshade and Vex Shadowmourn, prove formidable opponents, wielding dark magic and undead armies. The battles are fierce, testing the heroes' strengths, wills, and bonds. Each location—from the icy streets of Moscow to the sun-baked alleys of Cuba—presents its own challenges and revelations, drawing the team ever closer to the war's dark heart.

Cuba serves as the climax of their journey, where Eirik and his companions must prevent a catastrophic ritual that would turn the tide of the Mystic War and spark a third world war. The island, with its strategic significance, becomes a battleground not just between nations, but between the forces of light and darkness. The final confrontation with Darkforge and his lieutenants is a testament to the heroes' growth, resilience, and unity, forged through trials and tribulations across the globe.

Revenant

In the shadowed corners of the world, where myths whisper and the fabric of reality wears thin, the saga of "Shadowed Realms" begins. Our tale unfolds as four disparate souls, each marked by their own burdens and secrets, are drawn together by a force unseen, their destinies intertwined with the ancient and the arcane. Viktor, Mina, Jack, and Isa, once mere whispers in the annals of their lands, now stand at the precipice of a journey that will unravel the threads of existence itself. Their mission: to thwart a cataclysm foretold by the stars, a convergence of realms that threatens to drown the world in darkness. As they navigate the treacherous paths of forgotten ruins and battle revenants of legends past, a deeper truth begins to unveil itself, one that ties their fates not just to the survival of their own realm, but to the very essence of all that is, was, and will be.

Beneath the veil of their quest lies the heart of the enigma: The Forge. An artifact of unparalleled power, said to be the key to mending the shattered barriers between worlds. Yet, as our heroes soon discover, The Forge is not merely a tool of salvation—it is a nexus of fates, where the blood of the past and the promise of the future converge. The spirits that dwell within, guardians of its ancient power, task our quartet with gathering the lost relics needed to restore The Forge's might. But darkness lurks in every shadow, a malevolent force known only as The Warden seeks to harness The Forge's power for his own nefarious ends. Commanding legions of the undead and creatures of nightmare, he challenges our heroes at every turn, setting the stage for a conflict as old as time itself. With each relic secured and every foe vanquished, Viktor, Mina, Jack, and Isa forge not just a weapon of hope, but a bond that transcends the ages, their camaraderie and valor becoming the beacon that might yet save the Shadowed Realms from oblivion.

Viktor, Mina, Jack, and Isa journey to Frosthold Ruins to retrieve a relic vital for The Forge's restoration. Within this ancient stronghold, enshrouded in ice and legend, they face the guardian ice spirit protecting the relic. Utilizing Isa's knowledge, Jack's inventions for warmth, Mina's ability to perceive spirits, and Viktor's combat skills, they navigate the perilous, icy ruins. Confronted by the spirit and its revenant warriors, they demonstrate their worthiness and unity, securing the relic after proving their resolve. This achievement strengthens their bond and brings them closer to their goal of revitalizing The Forge, crucial in their quest against The Warden. As they leave, the ruins' echoing winds hint at greater challenges ahead.

Development

In May 2021, publisher Monsteristc was rumored to be looking for licensing regarding 1960s-era music which led to speculation that they are developing a game set in the 1960s. In May 2022, SOI Studios employee David Kim revealed on his LinkedIn profile that he would work as a senior animator on a untitled franchise. In November 2022, Monsteristic officially announced Blades of Destiny, to be released in 2023. The game runs on the Unreal Engine 5. This allowed the game to run at 120 frames per second.

Audio

Blades of Destiny features the voices of Travis Willingham as Eirik Stormcaller, Laura Bailey as Liliana Shadowveil, Chris Hemsworth as Thane Ironheart, Tara Strong as Soraya Lightweaver, Jason Momoa as Ragnar Wildblood, Ralph Fiennes as Mordred Darkforge, Cate Blanchett as Selena Nightshade, Mark Hamill as Vex Shadowmourn, and Jeremy Irons as Gaius Stormwrath.

Marketing

Blades of Destiny was first officially unveiled when the website for the game went live on April 13, 2023 prior to the release of its debut teaser trailer on YouTube. In early 2022, Monsteristic announced they were publishing a game in 2023, following the announcement of the conclusion of ShooterofIO in 2021.

Monsteristic announced in 2021 they have a new first-person shooter franchise in development and will have the same developers take in turns releasing a game once a year, starting in 2023 with SOI Studios.

Retail versions

Like Modern Warfare 2, "Hardened" and "Prestige" limited editions are available: the Hardened Edition includes a SteelBook case, a medal with its display case, four exclusive co-op levels and an Xbox Live or PlayStation Home avatar outfit. The Prestige Edition offers, in addition to the Hardened Edition's content, a real RC-XD remote-control vehicle modeled after the in-game killstreak reward, which gives video and audio feedback to its controller. In Japan, the game is distributed by Square Enix. Two versions are available: subtitled or dubbed, released respectively on November 18, 2010, and December 16, 2010. Both have dismemberment censored. Gore is censored as well in Germany in addition to the removal of "Sympathy for the Devil" and Nazi symbols considered "anti-constitutional" in the country.

Release

Blades of Destiny was released on November 8, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Reception

Blades of Destiny recieved "generally positive" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. GameSpot awarded it 9.0 out of ten and wrote "Blades of Destiny bears the genre standard superbly, delivering an engrossing campaign and exciting competitive multiplayer." Edge magazine was less positive, giving it a 7/10, writing that "As polished and pretty fun as Blades of Destiny often is, it feels more like a Call of Duty title than a original first-person shooter game". Several reviewers also complained that the game felt too much like a rail shooter, with PC Gamer branding it "barely interactive".

Reviewers also noted that the PC version of the game was buggy and had "a number of frustrating problems", including a lag in multiplayer modes which for some players rendered the game almost "unplayable". Players have also reported serious bugs with the PlayStation 5 version, including compatibility issues with 3D televisions. PC World magazine noted that user reviews of the game were much less positive than those of critics. As of November 12, 2010, three days after the release, PC, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game held average user ratings of 3.1, 3.1, and 1.8 stars on Amazon.com, respectively (on a 1 to 5 scale), with many PC users complaining about lag, stuttering and bugs.

The Daily Telegraph praised Blades of Destiny as a "new content fueled" game that is clearly inspired by a Treyarch Call of Duty game.

Sales

Within 24 hours of its release, Blades of Destiny had sold 3.6 million copies in the U.S. and 1.4 million copies in the UK, surpassing that of 2023's Modern Warfare III and establishing a new record for largest entertainment launch. Only five days after its release, sales from the game worldwide reached US$900 million. By December 22, the game remained the bestselling title in the United Kingdom, despite sales dropping by 85%. By January 10, 2024, worldwide revenue of Blades of Destiny exceeded $1 billion. Sales remained strong months after the game's release, remaining at the top-seller list in February 2024. On March 3, 2024, the news magazine The Hollywood Reporter also reported on the best selling video games ever. It announced that Blades of Destiny was the best-selling game ever in the United States of America. Blades of Destiny was the best-selling game of all time in the UK until Modern Warfare III, once again, overtook it in March 2024.