DAIMON BLADES

Daimon Blades is a first-person melee-focused roguelike set in the E.Y.E. universe, blending fast-paced combat with deep lore and a dark, atmospheric art style. Players appreciate its unique aesthetic, satisfying melee mechanics, and challenging gameplay that demands situational awareness and skillful timing. The game features procedurally generated maps, weapon-centric progression, and a corruption mechanic that adds tension to each run.

However, as an Early Access title, it suffers from technical instability including frequent crashes, bugs, and desync issues, especially in multiplayer. Many players report frustrating one-hit kills, inconsistent parry mechanics, and janky controls that detract from the experience. Additionally, UI and tutorial shortcomings, grind-heavy progression, and some design imbalances limit enjoyment. The developers are actively addressing feedback, showing promise for future improvements. Fans of the E.Y.E. franchise find it a nostalgic and worthy spiritual successor despite its rough edges.

Highlights

Players praise the game's fast and engaging melee combat mechanics that emphasize timing, parrying, and dodging. The art direction and atmospheric design receive consistent acclaim for their dark, gothic, and occult influences, capturing the E.Y.E. vibe effectively. The soundtrack, especially contributions by Olivier Zuccaro, enhances the immersive experience. Procedurally generated maps are noted for their clever construction and replayability. The game’s smooth performance on high settings and crisp framerates impress players, making the combat flow seamless. The roguelike progression, focused on weapon upgrades and abilities, offers strategic depth and replay value. The game is also appreciated for its solo playability and potential for cooperative multiplayer once stabilized.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the prevalence of crashes and technical bugs that frequently interrupt runs and cause loss of progress. The combat feels floaty and lacks impact for some, with inconsistent hit detection and parry windows causing frustration. Many players find the one-hit kills and punishing difficulty, especially on higher modes, unfair and demotivating. The grind-heavy progression system with rare loot drops and locked abilities can feel tedious. UI elements are considered cluttered and unintuitive, with poor tutorialization leaving players confused about mechanics. Multiplayer suffers from desync and balance issues, making co-op unreliable. Some design choices, like the stamina system and shielded enemies, are seen as limiting combat fluidity. The grappling hook and certain level designs (e.g., "climb or die" sections) are criticized for awkward implementation.