I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance:
Blade of Darkness 2001)
An action-adventure hack-and-slash game, some call it a precursor to
Souls games.
I really wanted to play this, I gave it the old college try. I played >through each character, starting with the dwarf which I got through the >tutorial with and not much further. Then the Amazon, which I got
through the tutorial with and a little further on her own adventure
(each character starts with their own adventure mission then goes on the
the main quest.) I learned the controls better, but still not well
enough and couldn't seem to get through it.
Then I did the Knight, and I got through his adventure, but got stuck on >fighting 'trolls' I must've fought the first one for a couple hours,
until I could beat him hitless, because the next one was even worse and
I didn't have any healing left. At least the game has a save anywhere >system, so I was able to save after him, but it'd been too long since I
had any healing to go back to. Durring this, I looked up how to fight
the troll, and I noticed that the controls felt way worse than it looked >fighting him, and decided to go back to 1080p from 1440p as I'd had
another game that didn't do 1440p, that helped.
So I started over with Barbarian, and I got through his staring
adventure o.k. but then I got to the same troll, and I had a bunch of >healing, but I went through it on him and the next troll quickly and was >left fighting another troll. The controlls still felt worse than they >looked on the video I had watched. 'combos' weren't working, I figured
out I had to pause for a second before doing them. changing direction
also didn't always work and I'd be stuck waiting a half second for it to >register and once in a while I'd be stuck just standing there when I
wanted to go a different direction.
I gave up at that point. I wonder if it might've been using a
controller though, since the game was from originally from 2001, and
might eventually go back and try kbm.
On Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:11 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance:
Blade of Darkness 2001)
An action-adventure hack-and-slash game, some call it a precursor to
Souls games.
I really wanted to play this, I gave it the old college try. I played
through each character, starting with the dwarf which I got through the
tutorial with and not much further. Then the Amazon, which I got
through the tutorial with and a little further on her own adventure
(each character starts with their own adventure mission then goes on the
the main quest.) I learned the controls better, but still not well
enough and couldn't seem to get through it.
Then I did the Knight, and I got through his adventure, but got stuck on
fighting 'trolls' I must've fought the first one for a couple hours,
until I could beat him hitless, because the next one was even worse and
I didn't have any healing left. At least the game has a save anywhere
system, so I was able to save after him, but it'd been too long since I
had any healing to go back to. Durring this, I looked up how to fight
the troll, and I noticed that the controls felt way worse than it looked
fighting him, and decided to go back to 1080p from 1440p as I'd had
another game that didn't do 1440p, that helped.
So I started over with Barbarian, and I got through his staring
adventure o.k. but then I got to the same troll, and I had a bunch of
healing, but I went through it on him and the next troll quickly and was
left fighting another troll. The controlls still felt worse than they
looked on the video I had watched. 'combos' weren't working, I figured
out I had to pause for a second before doing them. changing direction
also didn't always work and I'd be stuck waiting a half second for it to
register and once in a while I'd be stuck just standing there when I
wanted to go a different direction.
I gave up at that point. I wonder if it might've been using a
controller though, since the game was from originally from 2001, and
might eventually go back and try kbm.
The controls of this game were /always/ iffy; it was one of the
biggest weaknesses of the game even when it was new. (The limited,
keyframed animations didn't help either). From what I recall, many
argued that it was better played on a gamepad too, so I don't think
going back to KB/M will help.
On 7/13/2026 5:06 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:11 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance:
Blade of Darkness 2001)
An action-adventure hack-and-slash game, some call it a precursor to
Souls games.
I really wanted to play this, I gave it the old college try.ÿ I played
through each character, starting with the dwarf which I got through the
tutorial with and not much further.ÿ Then the Amazon, which I got
through the tutorial with and a little further on her own adventure
(each character starts with their own adventure mission then goes on the >>> the main quest.) I learned the controls better, but still not well
enough and couldn't seem to get through it.
Then I did the Knight, and I got through his adventure, but got stuck on >>> fighting 'trolls' I must've fought the first one for a couple hours,
until I could beat him hitless, because the next one was even worse and
I didn't have any healing left. At least the game has a save anywhere
system, so I was able to save after him, but it'd been too long since I
had any healing to go back to. Durring this, I looked up how to fight
the troll, and I noticed that the controls felt way worse than it looked >>> fighting him, and decided to go back to 1080p from 1440p as I'd had
another game that didn't do 1440p, that helped.
So I started over with Barbarian, and I got through his staring
adventure o.k. but then I got to the same troll, and I had a bunch of
healing, but I went through it on him and the next troll quickly and was >>> left fighting another troll.ÿ The controlls still felt worse than they
looked on the video I had watched.ÿ 'combos' weren't working, I figured
out I had to pause for a second before doing them.ÿ changing direction
also didn't always work and I'd be stuck waiting a half second for it to >>> register and once in a while I'd be stuck just standing there when I
wanted to go a different direction.
I gave up at that point.ÿ I wonder if it might've been using a
controller though, since the game was from originally from 2001, and
might eventually go back and try kbm.
The controls of this game were /always/ iffy; it was one of the
biggest weaknesses of the game even when it was new. (The limited,
keyframed animations didn't help either). From what I recall, many
argued that it was better played on a gamepad too, so I don't think
going back to KB/M will help.
After posting I decided to go try kbm and reinstalled it.ÿ I also
lowered resolution down more to 1360x7?? the lower resolution helped,
but I was still stalling out some on controller.ÿ Kbm did it, no more stalling out on Kbm, I should try raising the resolution again now.
The game is still insanely hard though, I started over dwarf and I'm
having to face the trolls which have around 200 hit points (same as I
do), and I'm doing 7 with my current weapon, vs. their 20-50, and I'm finding it almost impossible to dodge all their attacks.
On 7/14/2026 3:46 AM, Justisaur wrote:
On 7/13/2026 5:06 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:11 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance:
Blade of Darkness 2001)
An action-adventure hack-and-slash game, some call it a precursor to
Souls games.
I really wanted to play this, I gave it the old college try.ÿ I played >>>> through each character, starting with the dwarf which I got through the >>>> tutorial with and not much further.ÿ Then the Amazon, which I got
through the tutorial with and a little further on her own adventure
(each character starts with their own adventure mission then goes on
the
the main quest.) I learned the controls better, but still not well
enough and couldn't seem to get through it.
Then I did the Knight, and I got through his adventure, but got
stuck on
fighting 'trolls' I must've fought the first one for a couple hours,
until I could beat him hitless, because the next one was even worse and >>>> I didn't have any healing left. At least the game has a save anywhere
system, so I was able to save after him, but it'd been too long since I >>>> had any healing to go back to. Durring this, I looked up how to fight
the troll, and I noticed that the controls felt way worse than it
looked
fighting him, and decided to go back to 1080p from 1440p as I'd had
another game that didn't do 1440p, that helped.
So I started over with Barbarian, and I got through his staring
adventure o.k. but then I got to the same troll, and I had a bunch of
healing, but I went through it on him and the next troll quickly and
was
left fighting another troll.ÿ The controlls still felt worse than they >>>> looked on the video I had watched.ÿ 'combos' weren't working, I figured >>>> out I had to pause for a second before doing them.ÿ changing direction >>>> also didn't always work and I'd be stuck waiting a half second for
it to
register and once in a while I'd be stuck just standing there when I
wanted to go a different direction.
I gave up at that point.ÿ I wonder if it might've been using a
controller though, since the game was from originally from 2001, and
might eventually go back and try kbm.
The controls of this game were /always/ iffy; it was one of the
biggest weaknesses of the game even when it was new. (The limited,
keyframed animations didn't help either). From what I recall, many
argued that it was better played on a gamepad too, so I don't think
going back to KB/M will help.
After posting I decided to go try kbm and reinstalled it.ÿ I also
lowered resolution down more to 1360x7?? the lower resolution helped,
but I was still stalling out some on controller.ÿ Kbm did it, no more
stalling out on Kbm, I should try raising the resolution again now.
I found 1080p works, but 1440p still has some stalling/lag even with
KBM.ÿ I also found out the game defaults to 1440p each time I start it,
so I have to change it each time.ÿ Also the accept key on the display doesn't accept, it instead acts as the right key, changing the
resolution, but it keeps the resolution if I use the back key.ÿ Very janky.
The game is still insanely hard though, I started over dwarf and I'm
having to face the trolls which have around 200 hit points (same as I
do), and I'm doing 7 with my current weapon, vs. their 20-50, and I'm
finding it almost impossible to dodge all their attacks.
I'm finding the game much easier after the point of facing those two
trolls in a row (the second one has 400 hp.)ÿÿ That's the hardest bit in
the game so far, I finished that level, and the next with a bit of
trouble, but nothing like those two trolls.ÿ More normal what I'd expect
of a 2001 game.
I also changed back to Amazon, as I'd read it's the easiest class, long reach, best dodge, and best class combo (weapon combos can be better.) I
had to look up how to perform the whirlwind combo, as I wasn't getting
it from looking at the description which showed to hit attack + left and right at the same time.ÿ The + means wait for a half second between
doing the thing before and after the +, so it really means hit attack,
wait then hit left and right at the same time.ÿ I still have trouble
getting it off, and anything with a good shield bounces the attack, but
when I do get it off it does somewhere between 3-5 attacks in rapid succession, which each do normal damage at the stamina cost of one attack!
On 7/15/2026 7:55 AM, Justisaur wrote:
On 7/14/2026 3:46 AM, Justisaur wrote:
On 7/13/2026 5:06 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:11 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance: >>>>> Blade of Darkness 2001)
An action-adventure hack-and-slash game, some call it a precursor to >>>>> Souls games.
I really wanted to play this, I gave it the old college try.? I played >>>>> through each character, starting with the dwarf which I got through the >>>>> tutorial with and not much further.? Then the Amazon, which I got
through the tutorial with and a little further on her own adventure
(each character starts with their own adventure mission then goes on >>>>> the
the main quest.) I learned the controls better, but still not well
enough and couldn't seem to get through it.
Then I did the Knight, and I got through his adventure, but got
stuck on
fighting 'trolls' I must've fought the first one for a couple hours, >>>>> until I could beat him hitless, because the next one was even worse and >>>>> I didn't have any healing left. At least the game has a save anywhere >>>>> system, so I was able to save after him, but it'd been too long since I >>>>> had any healing to go back to. Durring this, I looked up how to fight >>>>> the troll, and I noticed that the controls felt way worse than it
looked
fighting him, and decided to go back to 1080p from 1440p as I'd had
another game that didn't do 1440p, that helped.
So I started over with Barbarian, and I got through his staring
adventure o.k. but then I got to the same troll, and I had a bunch of >>>>> healing, but I went through it on him and the next troll quickly and >>>>> was
left fighting another troll.? The controlls still felt worse than they >>>>> looked on the video I had watched.? 'combos' weren't working, I figured >>>>> out I had to pause for a second before doing them.? changing direction >>>>> also didn't always work and I'd be stuck waiting a half second for
it to
register and once in a while I'd be stuck just standing there when I >>>>> wanted to go a different direction.
I gave up at that point.? I wonder if it might've been using a
controller though, since the game was from originally from 2001, and >>>>> might eventually go back and try kbm.
The controls of this game were /always/ iffy; it was one of the
biggest weaknesses of the game even when it was new. (The limited,
keyframed animations didn't help either). From what I recall, many
argued that it was better played on a gamepad too, so I don't think
going back to KB/M will help.
After posting I decided to go try kbm and reinstalled it.? I also
lowered resolution down more to 1360x7?? the lower resolution helped,
but I was still stalling out some on controller.? Kbm did it, no more
stalling out on Kbm, I should try raising the resolution again now.
I found 1080p works, but 1440p still has some stalling/lag even with
KBM.? I also found out the game defaults to 1440p each time I start it,
so I have to change it each time.? Also the accept key on the display
doesn't accept, it instead acts as the right key, changing the
resolution, but it keeps the resolution if I use the back key.? Very janky. >>
The game is still insanely hard though, I started over dwarf and I'm
having to face the trolls which have around 200 hit points (same as I
do), and I'm doing 7 with my current weapon, vs. their 20-50, and I'm
finding it almost impossible to dodge all their attacks.
I'm finding the game much easier after the point of facing those two
trolls in a row (the second one has 400 hp.)?? That's the hardest bit in
the game so far, I finished that level, and the next with a bit of
trouble, but nothing like those two trolls.? More normal what I'd expect
of a 2001 game.
I also changed back to Amazon, as I'd read it's the easiest class, long
reach, best dodge, and best class combo (weapon combos can be better.) I
had to look up how to perform the whirlwind combo, as I wasn't getting
it from looking at the description which showed to hit attack + left and
right at the same time.? The + means wait for a half second between
doing the thing before and after the +, so it really means hit attack,
wait then hit left and right at the same time.? I still have trouble
getting it off, and anything with a good shield bounces the attack, but
when I do get it off it does somewhere between 3-5 attacks in rapid
succession, which each do normal damage at the stamina cost of one attack!
I set up a macro on one of my extra mouse buttons to do the combo, but I >have to change it for each weapon. Also it only gets off around 50% of
the time, more or less depending on which combo it is.
I finished the game, I enjoyed it, but with the horrible inconsistent >controls (as proved by my macro only functioning 50% of the time) I
couldn't recommend it to anyone else.
I looked up what people were saying on usenet about it in 2001.
horrible controls (so even then they were bad) and beautiful. Well, 25
years later and it's tolerable to this old fellow, but it's got nothing
on the visuals of today's AAA games of course.
On Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:52:34 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I Played: Blade of Darkness * 2021 (remaster rerelease of Severance: >>>>>> Blade of Darkness 2001)
Blade's got a wonderful sense of mood, helped by some soulful music
and great ambient sound effects, as I remember. It was set in a sort
of fantasy mix of Robert Howard-esque Hyperborean fantasy crossed with
Indian (or was it Persian?) mythology. It felt pretty unique for its
time.
Although they didn't come out exactly at the same time, it sort of was competing against "Die By the Sword" (1998), which was another
melee-based dungeon-romp. "Die by the Sword" has a novel control
scheme where your mouse-movements mapped directly to the direction of
your sword-swing, which gave the game a verisimilitude that "Blade of Darkness" lacked. But it did add to the game's initial learning curve,
and it never gained mass-market appeal. Those who learned the system
couldn't keep raving about how much better it was than anything else,
though. "Blade of Darkness" (also called "Severance") was frequently
chided by them for its comparatively simplistic stances and combos.
;-)
In terms of narrative and atmosphere, it's much more generic than
"Blade of Darkness", and its gameplay is less reliant on timing blocks
than it is on landing a strike on an enemy. However, I'd include it as
one of the forebears of modern Souls-likes (at least as much as "Blade
of Darkness" is, anyway. So if you're following the trail of Proto-Souls-likes, then it's maybe something to take a look at.
Anyway, you can see a video of it in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUMmvuwUSNw
and it's available on GOG if it looks interesting to you
On 7/19/2026 9:50 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
I played Die by the Sword back in the day (well some time after it'd hit
the bargain bin, but much closer to the time it came out than now.
Certainly before I discovered Souls games.) I learned the system, but I >just thought it was just o.k. The idea sounded great on paper, but the >reality was much less enjoyable. It also felt more like a tech demo
being ~3-5 hours long.
Not replicated until VR, with Blade & Sorcery. And that is even more of
a tech demo than a game.
I'm not sure I'm into pro-soulslikes, though I thoroughly enjoyed Blade
of Darkness. I never finished Demon Souls, mostly because of the very >confusing levels, and whole light/dark system. I am curious about
King's Field, but I watched a video on it, and it looked very frustrating.
Anyway, you can see a video of it in action here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUMmvuwUSNw
and it's available on GOG if it looks interesting to you
I think I still have the CD for it.
On Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:40:05 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
On 7/19/2026 9:50 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
I played Die by the Sword back in the day (well some time after it'd hit
the bargain bin, but much closer to the time it came out than now.
Certainly before I discovered Souls games.) I learned the system, but I
just thought it was just o.k. The idea sounded great on paper, but the
reality was much less enjoyable. It also felt more like a tech demo
being ~3-5 hours long.
Not replicated until VR, with Blade & Sorcery. And that is even more of
a tech demo than a game.
I dunno; I think other games like Chivalry and others tried similar mechanics. The idea of tracing your sword swing with the movement of
your mouse (or controller) isn't that unusual. Certainly it was done
before 2018. I remember flailing about wildly with some Star Wars game
on the XBox Kinect! ;-)
I'm not sure I'm into pro-soulslikes, though I thoroughly enjoyed Blade
of Darkness. I never finished Demon Souls, mostly because of the very
confusing levels, and whole light/dark system. I am curious about
King's Field, but I watched a video on it, and it looked very frustrating.
"Kings Field", made by the same team who later punished us with "Dark
Souls". You can't get more proto-Dark Souls than that!
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