DEVELOPERS
Introduction
By Anton Kibalnik
Hey everyone. The guide is done. Yey. I actually have a thing or two to fix here and there, and the weapons section is not quite complete (dwarf crap), but these are minor things that I can't really fix now anyway. There might be a minor update or two later on, but for now consider this thing done. *Wipes sweat off forehead.* I kind of wish I never wasted my time on this thing in the first place. But I get people emailing me everyday thanking me. So I guess it was worth the effort. I did this all for you - my fans. Sorry for the huge delay, but I'm a high school senior with lots of thing to do. Time to get on with the rest of my life... *Dizzy, blind, and flabby, gets up from his own pool of sweat from the chair and leaves the room for the first time in months.*
Trailer
The Story
The Lord created Chaos, and divided it in two parts, the Light and the Darkness. He gave to them life and thought, and so were born the Spirit of Light and the Prince of Darkness. But the Prince held the unspoken desire of supplanting his Father. He learnt in secret the language of Creation and tried to create a new being. But the newborn would not accept the commands of the Prince of Darkness, and growing stronger, took part of his own essence and created terrible monsters and demons. The Lord and the Prince of Light tried to stop it, and they waged a great war. Gradually, the being was weakened and finally defeated, but after this the Father was exhausted, and withdrew into the depths of the Universe.
The younger Gods, proud of the victory, completed the creations of their Father, giving shape to the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. However, the Prince of Darkness attempted to corrupt the souls of the fledgling race of man, amidst the confusion of a new war incited by dark creatures of his own creation. The Earth was in a moment of extreme danger, so one of the younger daughters, Ianna, cast a powerful spell that expelled the gods from their dwelling place and kept the Earth closed to them. The Spirit of the Light went to the Sun and from there protected the Earth during the day. Ianna went to the Moon, to protect it during the night. Thus began the cycle of Day and Night, and a new age of balance was born over the Earth. But all of the gods' creations remained, leaving mankind to contend alone against the darksome fiends.
The struggle continued for many years, until a young hero emerged to defy the Darkness. He was chosen by Ianna to wield the Sacred Sword, and fought the Evil in its own lair. The Darkness was defeated, but the hero was mortally wounded, and his friends buried him with his Sword in the Temple of Ianna.
But all that was long ago... Now, something strange is happening. The signals are clear. Foul creatures are awakening from their dormancy, and spreading terror and destruction... The Darkness has returned, and the end is near. A new hero is needed, a chosen one who will wield the Sword, and destroy the Enemy forever...
Bla bla bla. Does this actually mean anything? Probably not.
Why I Like Blade of Darkness
This is the first guide that I have written. This doesn't mean that BoD is my favorite game. I just felt like it wasn't getting as much attention as it should be. Anyway, this is why I decided to write this guide.
- Graphics/Engine -The engine of Blade of darkness is simply beautiful. The physics and environment are just incredible. I've never seen a prettier sun shining at while I enjoy the crisp, fresh air. Or I've never been in a gloomier dungeon with such realistic torchlight. The reflections on water are perfectly cast. Shadows are exactly the way they should be. Sometimes, you will find yourself carrying torches for no other reason but to see your own, realistic shadow. The lighting effects in BoD are the best by far that I've ever seen. If you can find a game with light more realistic than this, please let me know.
- Gore/Realism -Another great thing that BoD gives is the highly realistic, and naturally sadistic gore. Again, if you can find a game with more realistic gore, please let me know. There is so many ways to kill an enemy. Want to cut of its head and watch blood squirt out of the neck? Then go for a high slash. Or, you can go for the sides and cut off its arm to watch it die in agony. You might end up cutting off the wrist and find it by a trail of blood sometimes 15 meters away! And you can even chop 'em up while there are dead on the ground. Cut of a limb if you wish and use it to beat your next enemy. I know that this is a bit sadistic, but it's fun too! I enjoy a good amount of realism in a game.
- Music -Wow. Music in games doesn't get much better than this. The music composed for BoD is incredibly atmospheric. It fits the current situation perfectly. The music is pulsating and exciting when you are in battle. When you are exploring ancient tombs and deserted areas rich, ambient music adds to the already wonderful environment. Some of the melodies are so wonderful, I often listen to them when I'm not in the game. There are about thirty different tunes in Blade of Darkness.
- Combat -This is probably the best of Blade of Darkness. Each battle is epic. With each enemy you have to take your time and plan your strategy of attack, because running at them with your sword swinging will simply get your head dismembered. A lot of people were drawn off by the games awkward and difficult way of fighting. They complained about the uneasy controls. Well, I don't think that it is awkward at all. It is very similar to a fighting game: attack when the enemy is not blocking, block when the enemy is attacking. You will need to learn your enemy's tactics and movements, and then find out what their weaknesses are. Blade of Darkness is a combination of fantasy, rpg, fighting, and adventure. Sometimes, I find myself looking for the next enemy just so I can chop it up. I found the combat addictive and difficult at the same time.
- Why is BoD not that great of a game then? -From all these great comments it would seem that BoD is one of the best games ever made. But unfortunately, the game is greatly flawed. The major flaw: lack of an involving storyline. The story is so weak you will often get bored. You'll ask yourself, "What am I doing here? Why am I going from place to place killing things?" Aside from that, there are no memorable moments in BoD, nothing to get you excited, nothing to add depth to the gameplay. The levels, although are neat looking, do not have anything interesting in them. Find the key, activate the switch, etc... You will spend most of your time wondering aimlessly killing things or enjoying the beautiful atmosphere.
- Various Information -Besides writing the walkthrough, I have decided to add this section. You'll find a lot of useful information that you can't get in a walkthrough. This is helpful if you want to quickly look up something for an enemy or a weapon. Plus, the Combat Tactics section will help with defeating the difficult enemies of Blade of Darkness.
The Characters
One of the best things about Blade of Darkness is that you have four different characters to choose from: the knight, the dwarf, the Amazon, and the barbarian. Each one has different movements and combos. Also, the first level of each character is different, as they start off each from a different path, and the story line changes slightly for each character. That is why the replay value is so high in this game. You will often want to play the game through again right after beating it just to see how you would manage with a different character.
I liked all the characters except for the dwarf. I don't really have a favorite character, because sometimes I want to play with Sargon, others I want to play with Tukaram. But if I had to pick one, it would probably be the knight. I think most people like the Barbarian.
The Knight
Name: SargonLife: 100
Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Age: 40
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Specialty: One-handed swords and shields
Information (from the game): Men of arms, the success of the King's Knights is based on their organization, their knowledge of the art of war and their superior armaments both in attack and defense.
- Description -This was my favorite character. I think that the creators of BoD spent the most time on him. He is the first character that comes up when you start a new game.
He has a perfect 100 health, giving him an even 1000 or 3000 later on in the game. He can wear the most amount of armor and use the most amounts of weapons (intended for him). By that I mean he can use most weapons skillfully, even though they he might not have a special attack for them (Light Edge, Orc Sword, Snake Sword, etc.) His starting level has the best storyline of all the characters, and it is my favorite of all the starting levels. Overall, he just seems like the best person to defeat evil with. The other characters don't fit into being a hero as much. I recommend playing with him first.
- Shields and Blocking -Sargon is one of the two characters that uses shields regularly because he uses one-handed weapons. The other two characters can also use shields, but they are practically useless since they can't use their weapon at the same time. When I first played with Sargon, I took his shield for granted and barely used it. But the shields are very useful. Whenever you block an enemy's attack with a shield, their weapon will bounce back and you will have time to hit them back. Also, naturally they prevent you from taking damage. Shields, however, don't last forever. In fact, they don't last long at all. There is only a certain amount of damage that can be inflicted upon any shield. Once their hitpoints get to zero, just like you, they break. You will then need to seek out another shield unless you have another one already. (You can carry three.) Be careful: Check your shield before each battle. If it is too weak, you don't want to use it because it will simply break and you will take damage and be stunned for a second, giving the enemy time to hit you again. Different shields will have different hitpoints. You should try to seek out those that are not damaged and have high hitpoints.
- Dodging and Jumping -Sargon's dodging and jumping is moderate. He doesn't dodge too far. Therefore, you'll have to depend on his shield more. But it is still useful. You will have to dodge right or left as the enemy is about to attack you. Most of the time this works, even if appears as if you were hit. You can turn it into a right or left dodge attack if you like (simply press 'attack' as you dodge).
- Sargon's Attacks and Combos -One of the highlights of Sargon is his combos. He has plenty of them, and they are very good too. Sargon's high and right smash used as a combination work very well if you do them over and over because he will advance forward as he is hitting. Four of his basic combos can be performed by simply executing one of the basic attacks two times in a row. You can view these by pressing F1. Dodge attacks are performed by jumping to a side and attacking at the same time (The arrow forward confused me for a long time and I couldn't do them.). They are not really useful since you can do a more powerful attack after dodging instead. The north cross is an awesome attack because you can do it three times in a row, bludgeoning the enemy. And at the end of the last north cross, you can do the south cross, which is very, very powerful and effective. Just remember to use different combos and not the same one over and over.
The Dwarf
Name: NaglfarLife: 120
Attack: 2
Defense: 1
Age: 153
Height: 160 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Specialty: One-handed axes and shields.
Information (from the game): For countless generations, the Dwarves have sought the most precious metals and jewels. Their hard but peaceful way of life has made them a strong yet contemplative people.
- Description -I didn't like this fellow too much. Up to this point, I have never passed the game with Naglfar. I did come close, but the game was becoming too frustrating at the end. Naglfar is short and fat; therefore he is slow. He can't dodge well. And he runs shaky. Like the Knight, he carries shields, which you should find yourself using a lot. Therefore, they will break often. All of his special moves are just one simple swing. Some of them are exactly the same! He doesn't have any combos except for his direction attacks and a move called cyclone, which is simply a 360 degree swing. Therefore, most of the times you just have to keep swinging and hope that the enemy won't block much.
But if you like challenge, and you are tired of the other three characters, I suggest you give him a try. You might like him. But don't play with him until you are somewhat experienced. By the way, did anyone notice that the names of the weapons and special moves of the Dwarf are messed up in the game?
- Shields and Blocking -Fortunately, Naglfar uses shields. Otherwise, playing with him would be a drag, and I doubt that anyone would enjoy it. Since he has to come up so close to the enemy in order to hit it, you will go through your shields like paper with him. You will have to constantly block with him, so be sure to switch shields and find new, stronger ones.
- Dodging and Jumping -As you might have already guessed, since Naglfar is fat he can't dodge or jump for sh**. He dodges the same or worse as Sargon. So depend more on his shield. As for jumping, make sure you don't do it too early, because he doesn't jump that far.
- Naglfar's Attacks and Combos -I was greatly disappointed with Naglfar's attacks. His arms are short, so he can't reach far. You will have to come very close to the enemy to hit it. You won't have any combos, so you'll have to bludgeon your enemy with simple attacks by holding down attack and pressing various direction keys. Cyclone is simply a horizontal 360 degree attack, which doesn't work that well. You will have to depend on his special moves, but they are not that impressive either. Every single one is just one quick, simple stroke. That can have its advantages, however. Some of his special moves are actually exactly the same!
The Amazon
Name: ZoeLife: 60
Attack: 1
Defense: 0
Age: 19
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 58 kg
Specialty: Spears
Information (from the game): The Adventurers travel the world in search of legendary treasure. They are nimble, resolute, daring, and seasoned warriors. It is not uncommon to encounter them singly or in groups wandering the highways or delving among the ruins of yesteryear.
- Description -Because she is the easiest, you will probably enjoy playing with Zoe in the beginning. I did. She is quick. Really quick. She doesn't even need to sheathe her weapon to run faster. Her weapons are long and cool looking. When in combat, she can easily dodge enemy attacks by jumping to the side.
Zoe doesn't carry shields (She can still pick them up and use them without the weapon drawn.) But she can block with her weapon for a moment. She also doesn't have many combos, like the Dwarf. She has a one cool attack called whirlwind, which kicks ass, buts gets boring after a while. Zoe is a hit-and-run type of attacker. She will dodge, attack, and then get away before the enemy retaliates. But she might become boring because you'll be using the whirlwind or the weapon's special move over and over again. Otherwise, she is fun. If you are having trouble, play with her.
- Shields and Blocking -Zoe does not use shields. There isn't a need for them with her because she dodges so well. However, this does not mean that she cannot block. She can actually use her weapon to block, but just for a moment. Therefore, you will have to block just as the enemy is about to hit you. The resistance on weapons is very high, so they won't break unless the attack is very strong. And weapons don't lose hitpoints like shields do. I didn't block with Zoe that much. I didn't find a need for it.
- Dodging and Jumping -When it comes to dodging and jumping, Zoe is by far the best. When you perform a dodge, she actually rolls on the ground going far out of the way. So usually, if you dodge in time, you won't get hit. This is the good thing about Zoe.
Her jumping is very good too. Of all the characters, she jumps the farthest. And she doesn't even need to sheathe her weapon. You'll notice just how fast she runs even with her weapon drawn. However, since Zoe is weaker (She is a woman.), she will not climb as fast as the other characters. This is not really a problem except for one part in the game.
- Zoe's Attacks and Combos -Zoe will use long, fancy-looking weapons. Therefore, she will have cool looking special attacks that reach far. With these attacks you should have little problems slicing and dicing your enemies. However, she has only one combo - the whirlwind. This attack is awesome. It is very powerful and fast. However, it tends to get boring after a while.
The Barbarian
Name: TukaramLife: 80
Attack: 2
Defense: 0
Age: 25
Height: 225 cm
Weight: 130 kg
Specialty: Two-handed swords and axes.
Information (from the game): A proud and independent people, Tukaram's tribe pay no tribute to any power, nor do they recognize any Lord being superior to themselves. They respect only armed force and the ancient wisdom of their shamans.
- Description -I think that Tukaram is most people's favorite. And I can see why. He looks awesome with all his muscles and tattoos. His weapons, like the big sword or shark sword, are awesome looking as well. Like the Knight, he has lots of combos. He is very similar to the Knight actually. His speed is very similar, and he uses swords. But, he doesn't have that free hand to carry a shield for blocking. Instead, he can block with his weapon, but just for an instant. Therefore, you will have to time it just right.
Tukaram is also powerful in the beginning. He will be able to kill a lot of enemies with just one hit. However, Tukaram has only one blunt weapon, making him have trouble while fighting skeletons and golems. But that's the only flaw that I could find about him.
- Shields and Blocking -Just like Zoe, Tukaram does not use shields. And just like Zoe, he can use his weapon to block. But since he cannot dodge nearly as well as Zoe, you will find blocking with him a lot more useful. I suggest that you practice your timing. If you learn how to block well with Tukaram, you'll be unstoppable.
- Dodging and Jumping -Tukaram dodges better than Sargon and Naglfar, but still not nearly as good as Zoe does. I recommend using a mix of dodging and blocking, since he performs both quite well. His jumping is pretty good too. He is the mediocre of the characters in terms of jumping and dodging.
- Tukaram's Attacks and Combos -Like Sargon, Tukaram has lots of great combos. Since his weapons are bigger, it takes him slightly longer to perform them, but they have further range. Tukaram will have the most amount of combos, particularly because he can use two types of weapons. Anything that's not a sword Tukaram will swing differently. These attacks take longer to perform than his sword attacks but they have their advantages.
The Enemy
The enemies in Blade of Darkness are amazing. Each has different tactics and methods of killing you. Some are stupid and aggressive like the orc. Others, like the knights, are highly defensive and careful. The enemies of BOD are different from most other games because they are all hard. You can't really say which ones are easier or harder except for a few. Their hit points and damage increase as you go along in the game. Each enemy you face will be a challenge, especially when you first start off. The next enemy can cut your head off just as easy as the last one. Also, your foes will often attack in groups, and that makes them that much harder.
The weapons you choose to kill your enemies will be important. For example, fleshy enemies like the Minotaur or troll take more damage from sharp, slicing weapons. While armored or tough enemies like skeletons and golems are better dealt with blunt, crushing weapons like a mace or club. For the highly defensive knights you will want to use long weapons that don't require you getting really close to them. I can't really arrange the enemies according to their difficulty, but some are noticeably easy or hard.
- Spider -Difficulty: easy
Body: fleshy
Appearance: over-sized tarantulas
First Encounter: first level for the Dwarf and Barbarian, otherwise Mines of Kelbegen
Description: These guys shouldn't be a problem unless you're really clumsy. Their only attack is their bite, which is sometimes poisonous but doesn't hurt too much. Since they are low to the ground, you will have to use an attack that would reach them there. Low slice or smash usually does the job. They are always in groups, so be careful not to get surrounded while you're being occupied with one of them.
- Critter (Bug) -Difficulty: easy
Body: fleshy
Appearance: a small, vicious, hairless monkey-like creature with a big head; pig-like
First Encounter: First level of the characters; Mines of Kelbegen for the Dwarf
Description: I wasn't sure on what to name these things. Their attack is very simple. They simply run up close and then leap forward to take a bite out of you. Like the spiders, they are also small, and you'll have attack low. Circle around them in order to avoid their bite and don't get too close. You'll often find them in groups, in dark, eerie areas snacking on a corpse.
- Lich (Zombie) -Difficulty: easy
Body: fleshy
Appearance: a slow-moving dead dude
First Encounter: First level of the Amazon and Barbarian, otherwise Island of Karum
Description: Zombies are really slow in moving and attacking. Therefore, they are very easy. You shouldn't have any problems with them. Just run up to them and kick their ass. If you are really slow they will manage to hit you with slow, lazy swings, which will hurt a lot. It will appear to swing their weapons with great effort and clumsiness. Well that's because they are zombies, and they are dead! They will also puke poison on you from a distance. They carry shields but never use them. You can often kill them quickly because their body parts have a tendency to fall off.
- Zombie Knight -Difficulty: easy
Body: fleshy
Appearance: a slow-moving dead knight
First Encounter: Tombs of Ephyra
Description: They are the same as the zombie in every single way, except for they appearance. They tend to have more hit points and are more fun to kill too. They have armor, but it's rusted or something, so it is much better to use a sharp weapon. It will make all the difference.
- Orc -Difficulty: easy/medium
Body: fleshy
Appearance: ugly, human-like things that don't like strangers; make
irritating sounds
First Encounter: Fortress of Tell Halaf for the knight, otherwise first
level of the character
Description: These are the most common enemy in the game. So you'll have plenty of time to figure out some strategy to defeat them. Orcs are programmed to be stupid and aggressive. They will charge at you violently, usually with an overhead smash. Therefore, You want to circle around them as they approach you so they miss you. Then you should attack. Sometimes they will attack in quick, abrupt hits. When they do this, you want to get away because they will kick the crap out of you and you'll never get a chance to hit them. This was my favorite enemy of the game. I think that Codemasters spent a long time on them. It's so fun to chop off their body parts. They can be archers.
- Troll -Difficulty: medium/hard
Body: fleshy
Appearance: A big, dark human like dude
First Encounter: Fortress of Tell Halaf for the knight, otherwise first level of the character
Description: Wherever you'll find orcs, you should find trolls as well. They are simply a bigger, meaner, nastier version of the orc. If you walk away far, they will taunt and laugh at you. They will usually have more hit points and damage than the orcs. Their weapons are often poisonous. They tend to be more aggressive too. If you observe them, you'll realize that their movements are identical to that of the orc's. You don't want to just go at them with all you got. They will often hit you just before you do. So you have to be more strategic and careful. Get away if necessary and wait for them to attack first with the overhead smash while sidestepping and then attack.
- Skeleton -Difficulty: medium
Body: armored
Appearance: a SKELETON
First Encounter: First level of the Amazon and Barbarian, otherwise Tombs of Ephyra
Description: If orcs are offensive and knights are defensive then these guys would be somewhere in the middle. Starting with the fourth level, skeletons are going to be very common. Since their tactics are going to be different from any other enemy that you will have faced by that point, they will cause you some trouble at first, partially because they have tough bodies and require blunt weapons. Their swings, although not multiple, reach far. So you don't want to be too close to them. They also have thin bodies, making them harder to hit. Sometimes you would have sworn that you hit them when you really didn't. When you are at medium range, skeletons will perform a triple attack - left, right, and forward. This is how you get them. Stand at medium range and wait for them to do this triple attack. Then step aside and once they have performed the last swing forward, quickly get them from the side. They often attack in pairs or groups. When they are you can let them kill each other by circling around them fast (without locking on) at medium and close range so they hit each other. They can be archers.
- Traitor Knight (Knight or Guard) -Difficulty: medium
Body: armored
Appearance: A KNIGHT, as in a man covered with metal armor
First Encounter: Tabriz for the knight, otherwise Fortress of Nemrut
Description: Totally opposite of the orcs and trolls. The knight (I'll call them knights for short.) is the only completely human enemy you'll face. They will taunt you from a distance and approach you very slowly and cautiously. They are very defensive. For this they have shields that are always up. Therefore, you don't' want to just go charging at them. Don't get close. Keep your distance. Try to do a special move that has long range while they are still far away, because they will simply block when you're trying to do it and then attack you. You don't want just to keep attacking them without a pause because sooner or later they will block and then kick your ass. They are not as tough as other enemies are when they are in groups because you can kill them off one by one since they approach you slowly. They often carry potions, so don't go too far away once you take away some of their damage. Otherwise, they will quickly drink it before you can stop them and leave you potionless. They can be archers.
- Dark Knight -Difficulty: medium/hard
Body: armored
Appearance: same as the knight but darker and have no face
First Encounter: Island of Karum
Description: Dark Knights are identical to the traitor knights except for a few things. They are scarier, tougher, more powerful and often equipped with snake swords, which poison you. They are often in groups of two or more. You will have to be smarter and more careful with them. They can be archers.
- Ape (Ogre) -Difficulty: hard
Body: fleshy
Appearance: A big, fat, muscular gorilla
First Encounter: Kazel Zalam for the Dwarf, otherwise Mines of Kelbegen
Description: These dudes are some mean mofos. They are huge and look very angry. They will have a lot of hit points and the hits from their club or axe will sting a bit. However, because of their size, apes move kind of slow. You will want to be more defensive with them. Circle around them when they are trying to hit you. After they take their swing and miss, quickly attack, preferably with a special attack to drain all those hit points. Get away once you are done before they swing again. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to avoid being chopped up into his next dinner.
- Minotaur -Difficulty: hard
Body: fleshy
Appearance: a giant, muscular, human-like creature with an animal head
First Encounter: Island of Karum
Description: Minotaurs are very similar to Apes: They are slow, scary, and powerful. So the tactics you will use will be the same: Circle around them and wait for them to attack, then do a special move. Minotaurs usually have more hit points damage than Apes, and their swings are larger. But they are slightly slower and like to growl after some attacks, giving you more time to kill them. Beware of the ones towards the end of the game with a huge rock tied to a stick instead of their usual meat clever. They have huge range and can take away thousands with one hit. Getting hit by every swing of their triple attack when they have the rock for a weapon means death to you. Take your time with these bastards.
- Golem -Difficulty: hard
Body: armored
Appearance: a giant man made of stone, ice, lava, or metal
First Encounter: Tombs of Ephyra
Description: Golems are big and walk slow (Unless you are far away. They will run then.). But once they are close they don't mess around. They will use their giant arms to punch the hell out of you. They have four attacks: a left punch, a right punch, a double punch with both arms, and an overhead smash that will break you in half. Although they approach you slowly, they attack fast. So the simple tactic of circling them won't work as well. Don't get too close, and jump to the sides once they attack. Their overhead smash takes them a while to perform, so that's a good time to attack them from the side. Be careful though. Since they approach you slowly, use the same tactic as you do for the knights. Start a special move before they are close so they don't attack you. They will also grow rocks from their fist and throw them at you. But they can be easily dodged. Just move around a lot and use a blunt weapon.
- Demon -Difficulty: hard
Body: fleshy
Appearance: an ugly and freaky looking thing with a hook on one hand First Encounter: Marakamda for the Amazon, otherwise Island of Karum
Description: When I first saw this thing in the Island of Karum, I thought that it would be the hardest enemy ever from its looks. Fortunately, I was wrong. Demons have everything they need to kick your ass except for one thing: They are weak. Your armor will increase as you keep playing, but their attack won't, much. Therefore, you can take many hits from their hook. However, in everything else demons are successful. They travel by constantly disappearing and reappearing while coming toward you in a zigzag motion. Once they are close they will quickly slice you with the hook attached to their hands. Therefore, you need to start attacking before they come close, because then it will be too late. Once you get a demon to low health, it will stumble back and scream in pain. When they do this, run up to them and keep attacking before they get a chance to retaliate. Oh yeah, they also breathe fire from a distance in short, constant breaths. Although this doesn't hurt too much it will be annoying because your character will keep getting hurt, and will not be able to move, therefore getting hit by the next flame. When they start to do this, sidestep to avoid the fire. This doesn't always work however. They will also not have that much health and are very fleshy. Be sure to use a sharp weapon.
- Chaos Knight -Difficulty: hard
Body: armored
Appearance: a huge knight with a face on the front of his armor First Encounter: Tabriz for the knight, otherwise Temple of Ianna
Description: What a nasty mofo. He doesn't have a face in his head, but one in his chest. You will have to use the same tactics as for the golems. Don't get too close and wait for them to attack. Jumping will help a lot. They will also spawn some of energy balls that will lock onto you. You can block these or hide behind something. They won't hurt too badly. It's their big ass sword that you have to worry about. Patience is key with these Giants.
- Vampire (Necromancer) -Difficulty: boss
Body: fleshy
Appearance: a one-eyed freak with no skin
First Encounter: Island of Karum
Description: Let me guess. You are at the end of the level Island of Karum, and you are really frustrated from loading the game over and over? Yes, the vampire is one nasty son-of-a-bitch. Not only do his attacks drain your energy and give it to him, but also his vampire shield will drain as much of your life away as the damage that you inflict upon it. And you will hit it. And you don't even get any credit for killing him the first time you encounter him. I ain't done yet. If you run off too far, he will disappear and reappear behind you. He attacks really fast, so it is almost impossible to attack him with a special move since they take time to perform. If you want to do this, do it before he comes close. It will be hard to hit him with normal attacks too because he will keep blocking. So you want to pull off a special move on him in the beginning to take out his shield, and unfortunately most of your health with it. Then go at him with constant combos so he doesn't have a chance to hit you. Once he has below 2000 health, he will keep disappearing and reappearing behind you. When he does this, you can either do the back attack (this works really good), or run forward a little bit to avoid getting back stabbed, and then quickly turn around and go at him before he gets a chance to disappear again. You will want to use a power potion. Good luck with this f**ker.
- Meskalamdug -Difficulty: boss
Body: fleshy
Appearance: similar to a demon, only much bigger and nastier
First Encounter: Tower of Dal Gurak
Description: This nasty son-of-a-bitch is a bigger version of the demon, but much harder. They too breathe fire and look similar, but they are much bigger. Dal Gurak will unleash him upon you when you meet. At close range he will slash at you with his huge arms in big swings. At medium range he will breathe fire at you, You can dodge this if you quickly go to his side. When you are right up next to him, he won't be able to reach you with his arms. However he will, create a circle of fire and push it out in all directions, stopping you from attacking him. Therefore, it's best to face him at medium range and wait for him to start breathing fire. Then run to his side and perform a special move. If you have a crown, which you should when you first meet him, turn it on and his circle of fire won't hurt, but will still prevent you from hitting him, unless you're quick.
- Dal Gurak -Difficulty: boss
Body: armored
Appearance: a man with fancy armor (you will know it's him when you see him)
Only Encountered in Tower of Dal Gurak
Description: Read the walkthrough
- Lord of Darkness (Chaos Child) - Difficulty: bossBody: fleshy
Appearance: This the ultimate bad dude. So yeah, he is pretty freaky
looking. Only Encountered in the Abyss
Description: Read the walkthrough.
Info on the Game
This section is for the ones who are new to Blade of Darkness. In here you'll find some valuable information, but most of this you should have already found out for yourself.
- Leveling Up -Your character will level up as he gains more experience by killing enemies. This adds a unique RPG element to the game. As he levels up, his hit points, power, and defense will increase. His health will also be restored. This means that you want to kill as many enemies as possible so you level up more. Don't worry if you miss an enemy here or there. Just don't avoid enemies, unless you are at the end of the game. There are twenty levels. You will reach the twentieth level so long as you don't avoid enemies. After the twentieth level, you can still level up. But you will not become stronger or healthier; your life will simply be restored. Leveling up is one of the most fun things in the game. You will finally be able to use a weapon or a special attack that you have been waiting for for two levels. Plus, you might be on the edge of death and your life will not only be restored, be increased as well. I love leveling up, especially in the beginning.
- Runes -There will be six different runes that you will have to find in BoD. They will be well hidden with a symbol of the runes themselves. You will also have to get past a trap to get each one. If you want to acquire the entire power of the Sword of Ianna, defeat the Lord of Darkness, and see the games true ending, you will have to find these runes. By saying the entire power of the Sword of Ianna I mean its two special attacks. These attacks can launch a powerful arc, allowing you not to have to face your enemies up close. And also, they make defeating Dal Gurak much easier. If you collect all the runes and defeat him, you will have to pass an additional level called the Abyss. At the end you will face off with the Lord of Darkness. Finding the runes will be hard, but thankfully, you have this guide to help you. The following levels contain a rune: Fortress of Tell Halaf, Mines of Kelbegen, Tombs of Ephyra, Fortress of Nemrut, Oasis of Nejeb, and Temple of Al Farum. You can also see which levels they are located in at the table of contents. In the walkthrough, I will give their exact location. If you miss a rune, you will have a chance to get it again after you pass the Temple of Ianna. You will be allowed to go back to any of the six levels where you missed a rune. However, doing so is not so fun. All the levels will now be filled with nasty Demons, Vampires and Chaos Knights. In most cases I recommend to simply run past them since killing them is not required. All the doors will now be open, and all the items and original enemies will be gone from the level. But trust me, it's much better to find the runes the first time.
- Poison -Certain enemies will have weapons that will poison you, meaning your life will slowly drain for a minute or so. This is not a big threat unless you are low on health. If you are, you will want to cure yourself with a potion. Travel rations and ghost medallions will also cure poison (look at the items when pressing F1). The rate of how your health depletes when poisoned will depend on how much damage you took from the poisoned weapon.
- Special Attacks -Each weapon that is designed for a character will have a special attack. These attacks can only be performed at certain levels. You will often hold on to a weapon until you can use their special attack. Special attacks look fancier, are very powerful and can usually finish the enemy in one hit. If your weapon turns red and the enemy glows red after you hit it, you know that you have performed a special attack. You can see how to do the special attack of any weapon if you press F1.
- Special Weapons -Aside from their normal weapons, each character will have special weapons. The Queen's Sword and Sword of Ianna will be special weapons accessible by every character. But besides those two, each character will have their own. These special weapons will be either fire, ice, or poisonous. The weapons themselves are weak and are not intended for normal use. It's their special attack that is profitable. These special attacks will usually be much more interesting and powerful than those of normal weapons will. Therefore, you might want to hang onto a special weapon until you can access its special attack. Plus, you benefit from the ice, fire, or poison damage bonus.
- Level Order -Unlike most games, in Blade of Darkness the sequence of levels can be altered. You will often be given the opportunity to play two levels at a time. No matter which one you pick first, you will still have to pass both of them. My recommended sequence is obviously in the order of which I wrote the walkthrough. I always chose the easier levels first to save the harder ones for later when I have leveled up. Also, my choice depended on which weapons I wanted first. The hitpoints of the enemies change depending on when you play the level. You will be given hints on which level you should pass first. For example, after beating Tabriz with the knight, you will be told that it is best to return to Tell Halaf and report what has happened.
Combat Tactics
The most important and difficult thing in the world of Blade of Darkness is the combat. This section will help you with the different tactics you should you do defeat your foes.
- Controls -The controls in Blade of Darkness are harder than most games. Therefore, you might want to accustom them to your liking. I myself changed a lot of the controls. This configuration I found the most comfortable:
Forwards: wBackwards: s
Turn Left: d
Turn Right: a
Jump: RightButton
Attack: LeftButton
Block: MiddleButton
Throw: q
Sneak: LShift
Use: e
Draw/Sheathe Weapon: CapsLock
Cycle Weapons: WheelDown, f
Cycle Shields: r
Cycle Inventory Objects: WheelUp, c
Lock On Enemy: Tab
Select: Space
You might like the controls the way they are. But I greatly recommend trying them this way just to see if you like it better. All the buttons are close and easily accessible.
- Weapon Selection -The weapons you choose to kill your enemy are important. Using sharp or slashing weapons like swords, axes and spears works well against fleshy enemies so they can be cut and sliced. Against armored or tough-materialized foes, you will want to use blunt or smashing weapons like clubs, maces and bos so you can dent and break the enemy. Ok, so you come across a skeleton. Try hitting him with your hooked sword. Now try hitting him with your heavy mace. Even though the heavy mace is weaker, it will hurt more. Why? Because it is a blunt weapon. Read the enemy section to find out which enemies are fleshy or armored. Also, against weaker enemies I found it better to use more powerful weapons that don't necessarily have their special attack accessible. Instead of wasting your time on performing a special move, you can use the raw power of the weapon to kill your foe quickly. When facing a difficult foe, you will want to put away the stronger weapon and use one with a special attack to soak up them hitpoints. Weaker weapons also don't decrease your defense as much.
- The Environment -The environment will also play a role on how the battle goes. You will want to avoid fighting enemies in small, tight areas. This is because not only will you have little room to fight, but also the camera angles will not be as good. You will end up getting your ass kicked. You want room to dodge when the enemy attacks. So when you end up in a small area, try to lure your enemy to where there is more room to fight. You might think that this is common sense, but some people don't think about these things. You also will want to avoid dangerous areas to fight. You don't want to fight right next to a fall or a lava pit. Avoiding your enemies' attacks is hard enough; having to avoid dangerous environment at the same time will be even tougher.
- Throwing Items or Using the Bow -This is often under estimated. You don't always have to fight your enemy in a melee fashion. You can attack from a distance. When people first get the bow, they will have a desire to use it. But soon you will realize that it doesn't deal enough damage to kill the enemy quickly, and when a troll is charging at you at full speed, this could be a problem. Therefore, you will only want to use it when your enemy can not get access to you to take free shots. In the later parts of the game, the enemies get tougher, and using your bow becomes less useful. It will be more practical to just go next to them and give them a few good swings and cut their head off. However, throwing objects can often work better, especially at the beginning of the game. Try throwing a powerful object, like a weapon that is too powerful to use yet, while the enemy is still trying to approach you. Often, you can kill them. In Tabriz, this works especially well. I must have killed six or more enemies just by throwing the eclipse or death sword at them. Try it. It's fun.
- Sneaking -When the enemy can't see you or is sleeping, you can sneak up to them and take a free shot at them. They will usually retaliate fast, so be careful. Also, if an enemy is walking away from you, try running up to them really fast. Of course they will hear you, but in the time that it takes them to turn around and make their usual growl or yell you can quickly hit them. This works well in the Fortress of Tell Halaf.
- Running Away -Don't be too naīve. If you are getting your ass kicked, get away. You're not being a coward; you're just saving some annoying loading time. Although the enemy will follow you, you might get it to a spot where it can't go. Or you might just gain a lot of distance from it. This will give you time to drink a potion, get the right weapon or shield out, or simply get your thoughts together on how to kill the thing. This also can be helpful if you are facing more than one enemy. Try to lure only one of them to you so you don't have to face them at the same time.
- Have Fun! -In any game, your goal is not to defeat the enemy or get to the end. It is to have fun. If you have fun playing a game, then the game did what it was supposed to. Once you are done with killing an ape, cut off his head and carry it over to the next one and throw it at him, just to tell him, "Here's your friend. And you're next." Of course, this will not affect how he will fight you, but it's just plain fun. If you are fighting a bunch of skeletons, lock off of them and run around them in circles so they kill each other. Do whatever makes you happy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How can you drop the bow?
- You can't. Stop asking.
2. Where's
the heavy armor for the barbarian/dwarf/amazon?
- There isn't any. The barbarian and Amazon only have light armor. The
dwarf has light and medium. Only the knight has all three. The armory
in the Tower of Dal Gurak contains the strongest armor and weapons for
each character, so that's how I know.
Did You Know...
1. You can walk around with no head? Yes, it's possible. Get one of the life draining weapons like the queen's sword or the blood axe (vampire shield might work). Get really low on health, and just as you take your last hit attack the enemy with a life-restoring attack. If you time it right, you'll get your head (or any other limb) cut off and still be alive. Then you can walk around like the headless horseman. This happened to me on more than one occasion, all accidental.
2. I've been working on this guide since the summer of 2001. Too bad I was lazy the first year and busy the second.
3. You can level up past level 20. However, your health will not increase. Neither will you strength or defense. Your life will simply be restored. I knew this one guy who got up to level 24. There is actually no limit to levels. Well... it might reset after level 99. Why don't you find out...
Weapons
Unlike in most other games, in Blade of Darkness you are not intended to use every weapon because most weapons will not be designed for your character. If you try to use them, your character will do so clumsily. So you must rely on your own weapons if you want to make it through the world of Blade of Darkness.
Actually, anything that you can pick up, except for food or drinks, you can use as a weapon. That's one of the best parts of Blade of Darkness. You can also throw anything. You can cut off your enemy's head, then pick it up and beat the next enemy to death with it! This will only work in the beginning of the game though. Later in the game you will get your ass kicked if you keep going around hitting enemies with stools, bones, limbs, etc.
I wasn't going to include this section, but I thought that it would be nice to have a section that will tell you where all the weapons are located. Sometimes the information on the location of the weapon will not be sufficient. In this case, you should read the part of the walkthrough that is being referred to.
Note: The amount of stars next to the weapon's name indicate its coolness.
- Sargon's Weapons -
Gladius **
+3 Attack
Special Attack: Swing of Pride (L4)
First found in TABRIZ. Once you escape the dungeon you'll find it lying by the corpse that the critters were snacking on.
Description: (sharp) This is the first weapon for the Knight. And, it is just that, a first weapon. It's weak and has short range. However, you'll be glad that you at least have that when fighting the Knights of Tabriz. Also, it might be a good idea to use it even after you get the mace because it doesn't lower your defense any.
Mace ***
+15 Attack; -10 Defense
Special Attack: Royal Smash (L7)
First found in TABRIZ. Near the bridge will be a knight with the Armory Key. Near that knight will be the Armory. Inside the Armory will be the mace.
Description: (blunt) The mace will be a big step up from the gladius. Not only is its attack way more powerful then the gladius, it is also a smashing weapon, which works better against knights. Its range is rather short, like all maces, and it takes away a little of your defense.
Combat Sword **1/2
+35 Attack; -20 Defense
Special attack: Righteous Anger (L8)
First found in TABRIZ. Ragnar, the boss, will have it.
Description: (sharp) This weapon is another big step up from the previous weapon. Not only as it a lot more powerful, it is also a slashing weapon. Since you'll be fighting mostly orcs and trolls at this time, this weapon will be quite useful.
Elf Sword ****
+50 Attack; -25 Defense
Special attack: The Dream (L9)
First found in FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF, behind the table in Duke's Bedroom.
Description: (sharp) An awesome weapon for only one reason - its special attack. The Dream is a three-part attack causing over a 1000 damage. That is why you might want to hang onto it for a long time.
Heavy Mace ***
+70 Attack; -30 Defense
Special attack: Lord Kerman's Smash (L10)
First found in FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF, next to an orc corpse by the little water stream near the first archer. (Thanks Tahunuva!) You might, however, not want to get it at this location. I recommend getting it later on in Tombs of Ephyra when it's more useful.
Description: (blunt) The heavy mace is not only great because it's a blunt weapon, but its special attack is awesome. It is a three-part attack that deals massive damage, especially to them nasty golems and skeletons.
Hooked Sword **
+90 Attack; -25 Defense
Special attack: Hook Sweep (L11)
First found in TOMBS OF EPHYRA. The first skeleton archer will have it.
Description: (sharp) Nothing special about this weapon, except that it's the first weapon that deals 3-digit damage, and by that I mean 100. Its special attack is short and simple.
Curved Sword **1/2
+120 Attack; -25 Defense
Special attack: Soul of Honor (L12)
First found in ISLAND OF KARUM, somewhere in the tower. (Read the walkthrough for exact location.)
Description: (sharp) The curved sword is quite powerful, and so is its special attack, although it takes some time to perform.
Dagese *1/2
+150 Attack; -30 Defense
Special attack: Tumblestab (L14)
First found in OASIS OF NEJEB, up on one of the balconies near the first giant door.
Description: (sharp) One of the more useless weapons in the game. If you go the recommended path while playing, you should not even need this weapon. If you choose to go to the Oasis first, you should get it. Its special attack is just what it's named, a tumblestab. You tumble forward and stab straight ahead. Therefore, it's rather hard to hit anything with it.
Scimitar ****
+210 Attack; -45 Defense
Special attack: Triple Attack (L15)
First found in SHALATUWAR FORTRESS. After you defeat the minotaur and the troll with the barbarian shield, go where the troll had come from. Climb up the wall on the left. Up here you'll find a small room with the sword.
Description: (sharp) The scimitar will be your new best friend when you get it. Not only is it powerful, its Triple Attack is easily performed while dealing massive damage and covering lots of area. You will be using this weapon for a while.
Great Mace ***1/2
+290 Attack; -55 Defense
Special attack: High Order Smash (L16)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT, in a small room with the minotaur who was snacking on a corpse.
Description: (blunt) Another great weapon in that it's the last blunt weapon for Sargon, and therefore the most powerful.
Double Sword **1/2
+380 Attack; -60 Defense
Special attack: Wrath of the Gods (L17)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT, in the same room as the double sword, hidden behind a barrel.
Description: (sharp) This weapon deals great raw damage, but its special attack takes a while to perform, and it's hard to hit anything with it. Therefore, you might skip over it and use the Scimitar or Sharp Sword instead.
Sharp Sword ***
+470 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Sword of Justice (L18)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA. At the second staircase jump over to where the skeleton archers are. Somewhere there will be the sword.
Description: (sharp) Powerful. It's special attack is very complicated as you do some fancy stab, tumble over and do another slice through the air.
Heavy Sword ****
+780 Attack; -80 Defense
Special attack: Majestic Sweep (L19)
First found in TOWER OF DAL GURAK, in the armory. (You will need a key, which location is explained in the walkthrough.)
Description: (sharp) Long, powerful, and massive, the heavy sword spells death to your foes. Don't be surprised when your enemy falls dead after only a couple hits.
Fire Sword *1/2
+45 Attack; -25 Defense
Special attack: Fire Spiral (L13)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA, in the room with the first zombies.
Description: (sharp) The weapon is rather useless. The only reason special weapons like this one are even used is for their special attacks. And the fire sword's special attack is not that impressive. It looks nice, but just doesn't deal enough damage. If you take the recommended path, the weapon will be even more useless, as you will have much better weapons at that point.
Ice Sword ***
+35 Attack; -25 Defense
Special attack: Northern Lights (L18)
First found in GORGE OF ORLOK. If you stick to the right wall of the labyrinth, you will come to a lit dead end with the sword.
Description: (sharp) The ice sword is one of the few special weapons worth keeping. Its famous attack - Northern Lights - consists of four swings dealing a total of 14000 damage.
- Naglfar's Weapons -
(Much info is unavailable or inaccurate right now for this character as I have not played with him much. But I'm planning to play through the game with him soon.)
Club *1/2+2 Attack
Special attack: Nutcracker (L3)
First found in KAZEL ZALAM. Many orcs will have this weak weapon.
Description: (blunt) The most basic and simple weapon. It is a blunt weapon and it is weaker than the axe, therefore there is no real use for it except when you can access its special attack. Since you get it at an early level of 3, you might want to grab one once you are at that level so you can use it.
Axe **
+4 Attack
Special attack: Morning Star (L4)
First found in YOUR HANDS. You start off with it!
Description: (sharp) Although you start off with this weapon, it is not the weakest weapon for the dwarf (club). There's nothing really to say about this weapon, except that you will be using it a lot in the beginning of the game until you get better stuff.
Killer Axe (Biting Axe) **1/2
+18 Attack; -10 Defense
Special attack: The Chop (L7)
First found in FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF?
Description: (sharp) A big step up from the axe, this weapon will be your new best friend. Overall a pretty good weapon.
Spiked Club ***
+45 Attack; -30 Defense
Special attack: Beast Crash (L8)
First found in KAZEL ZALAM. The ape will have it.
Description: (blunt) A pretty powerful weapon for the start of the game, you will be happy to get this guy early on. It's special attack is performed quite quickly, too.
Sharp Axe (War Axe) *
+55 Attack; -40 Defense
Special attack: Slashback (L9)
First found in MINES OF KELBEGEN?
Description: (sharp) Probably the worst weapon in the entire game. Why? You can't hit jack sh*t with it. Since only a small part of the tip is actual blade, you'll find yourself missing the enemy over and over again. And it is so short too. No range at all. You will feel like you're trying to kiss your enemy you'll be getting so close. It will be like swinging a dildo in their face.
War Axe (Sharp Axe) **
+75 Attack; -55 Defense
Special attack: Body Chop (L10)
First found MINES OF KELBEGEN.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
War Hammer **1/2
+95 Attack; -30 Defense
Special attack: Bonebreaker (L11)
First found in TOMBS OF EPHYRA, in the room with the first zombie knights.
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Great Hammer **1/2
+135 Attack; -35 Defense
Special attack: Earthquake (L12)
First found in ISLAND OF KARUM. Jump down into one of the three holes in the room with the barrels. The hammer will be down there.
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Heavy Club ***
+175 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Brutality (L14)
First found in SHALATUWAR FORTRESS. The troll who will order two orcs and then a minotaur to kill you will have it.
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Double Mace **
+200 Attack; -60 Defense
Special attack: Double Smash (L15)
First found in OASIS OF NEJEB, somewhere at the end :).
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Biting Axe (Killer Axe) ****
+290 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Eagle's Eye (L16)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT. Once you get into the inner fortress, look and listen for a breeze in an outside area. Go down to the right of the breeze to find the sword.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Combat Axe ****
+480 Attack; -85 Defense
Special attack: Liberator (L18)
First found in TEMPLE OF AL FARUM. In one of the small buildings by the river, go down the steps all the way.
Description: (sharp) This weapon will be a huge step up from the previous weapon. Its raw power and the fact that it is a slashing weapon will be a nice aid.
Doom Hammer ****
+790 Attack; -160 Defense
Special attack: Demolition (L19)
First found TOWER OF DAL GURAK, in the armory. (You will need a key, which location is explained in the walkthrough.)
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Ice Hammer *
+25 Attack; -60 Defense
Special attack: Ice Strike (13)
First found in GORGE OF ORLOK. Near the end, it will be laying next to a sort of pillar in the large "building."
Description: (blunt) Terrible weapon. The only reason anyone would get it is for its special attack, which is horrible - a simple thrust forward. Don't get it. It's only good use is as an ice box.
Fire Axe **
+40 Attack; -100 Defense
Special attack: Burning Rage (17)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA, on the left in the room with the two demons at the end.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Venom Hammer *
+50 Attack; -90 Defense
Special attack: Snake's Breath (18)
First found in TOMBS OF EPHYRA, in a room concealed by a fake wall near the first skeletons.
Description: (blunt) Don't know what it's special attack is like. But since you can't access it until level 18 (you would have to carry it around for half the game), why bother? I'm sure it is just some quick simple stroke like all the other attacks.
- Zoe's Weapons -
(I forgot how Zoe's special attacks are, so that info might be inaccurate.)
Bo **+3 Attack
Special attack: Overhead Smash (L3)
First found in YOUR HANDS. You start off with it!
Description: (blunt) Although it's a simple stick, don't underestimate the bo. Zoe knows how to use her weapons. A few quick strokes and the enemy will be knocked out on the ground before you know it. Nothing special about the special attack.
Boathook **1/2
+16 Attack; -5 Defense
Special attack: Blinding Slice (L7)
First found in MARAKAMDA, near the first troll. It will be in a room locked by the key that the troll will have.
Description: (blunt) Much more powerful than the bo, and having a better special attack will make you like this weapon.
Spear **1/2
+35 Attack; -10 Defense
Special attack: Lightning Cut (L8)
First found in MARAKAMDA, near the end by the temple key.
Description: (sharp) The first slashing weapon for Zoe. It's quite powerful and has a nice, quick special attack.
Naginata **1/2
+50 Attack; -20 Defense
Special attack: Killer Strike (L9)
First found in FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF, in the second upper room in the outer ring.
Description: (sharp) What is a naginata? Must be a made up name for the game. Sounds cool, and it is.
Trident **1/2
+75 Attack; -30 Defense
Special attack: Sea Smash (L10)
First found in FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF, before the rune trap at the end.
Description: (sharp) Will you feel like Neptune with this weapon? Not really. It's pretty good though. 'Nuff said.
Axe Spear ***
+95 Attack; -40 Defense
Special attack: (sharp) Spin Slash (L11)
First found in TOMBS OF EPHYRA, at the very beginning. You'll have to climb up the wall and into the window.
Description: It's 360 degree special attack is what makes this weapon good.
Death Bo **1/2
+130 Attack; -35 Defense
Special attack: Nightmare (L12)
First found in ISLAND OF KARUM, in the inner room opened by an iron key.
Description: (blunt) The last blunt weapon for the Amazon, you might want to hang on to this thing for a while. Know nothing about its special attack at this point.
Cross-tipped Spear **1/2
+160 Attack; -45 Defense
Special attack: Dark Star (L14)
First found in SHALATUWAR FORTRESS, in the first cell as you go down the steps.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Sharp Axe ***
+215 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Tumblekill (L15)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT, by the beginning of the bridge at the end. You'll have to jump onto a windowsill on the right and climb into a window.
Description: (sharp) Pretty powerful, and its attack is pretty interesting. Similar to the sharp sword's attack.
Crush Bo ****
+300 Attack; -60 Defense
Special attack: Deadly Mist (L16)
First found in GORGE OF ORLOK, by the large closed door at the dead end with the zombies.
Description: (sharp) Although a bo, it's actually a slashing weapon. Know nothing about its special attack at this point.
Harpoon ***
+390 Attack; -70 Defense
Special attack: Gut Wrencher (L17)
First found in TEMPLE OF AL FARUM, in one of the small rooms of the crypt.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Heavy Naginata ***
+490 Attack; -80 Defense
Special attack: Spiral Death (L18)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA, in the small room with the first minotaur.
Description: (sharp) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Demon Spear ****
+760 Attack; -90 Defense
Special attack: Way of the Goddess (L19)
First found in TOWER OF DAL GURAK, in the armory. (You will need a key, which location is explained in the walkthrough.)
Description: (sharp) Powerful. Special attack is good. 'Nuff said.
Ice Wand **
+30 Attack; -20 Defense
Special attack: Ice Strike (L13)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT, in the area with the unholy medallion, concealed by the snow.
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Fire Bo **
+50 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Dragon Circle (L15)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA.
Description: (blunt) I don't know much about this weapon at this point.
Steel Feather *1/2
+60 Attack; -50 Defense
Special attack: Death's Breath (L18)
First found in OASIS OF NEJEB, by a fire at the end.
Description: (sharp) Special attack pretty good, but not worth carrying.
- Tukaram's Weapons -
Chaos Sword **1/2
+5 Attack
Special attack: Speed Kill (L5)
First found in YOUR HANDS. You start off with it!
Description: (sharp) The most powerful of the starting weapons (like all of Tukaram's weapons). The typical two-handed sword. It's good, but you have to wait until level 5 to perform its special attack...
Eclipse **1/2
+20 Attack; -5 Defense
Special attack: Dark Moon (L7)
First found in KASHGAR, at the second boulder. There will be a room on the left with it.
Description: (sharp) The eclipse is handled like the axe, so Tukaram will take longer to swing it, but the swings reach farther. Pretty cool weapon, but you'll have the death sword... Forgot about the special attack.
Death Sword **1/2
+40 Attack; -10 Defense
Special attack: Death Sweep (L8)
First found in KASHGAR, in a secret room. You have to jump down the large broken bridge, go right, and into a hole in the wall near the end.
Description: (sharp) Basically a stronger chaos sword. Forgot about the special attack.
Scythe ***
+60 Attack; -15 Defense
Special attack: Grim Reaper (L9)
First found FORTRESS OF TELL HALAF, in the inner circle.
Description: (sharp) Oh yeah, baby. You'll definitely feel like the grim reaper with this baby. I love this weapon, simply because you just go around slaying things as if you were death. It's spinning special attack is also impressive.
Long Sword ****
+80 Attack; -15 Defense
Special attack: Hellswing (L10) First found in TOMBS OF EPHYRA, by the hole in the top room of the building with the spiral staircase.
Description: (sharp) Tukaram's weapons just keep getting better. The long sword is just that, long. It has great range, power, and its special attack is fast and easy to perform.
Slaying Sword **
+100 Attack; -40 Defense
Special attack: Bloodlust (L11)
First found in ISLAND OF KARUM, by the large fire in a room accessible only from above.
Description: (sharp) Nothing special about this weapon, except that it looks like an extended cleaver. It looks cool, just like all of Tukaram's weapons.
Double Edge ***1/2
+140 Attack; -60 Defense
Special attack: Blind Rage (L12)
First found in ISLAND OF KARUM, in the room from which the minotaur comes.
Description: (sharp) What a weapon... It's huge. I'm surprised the enemies don't run away when they see you with this. It's special attack is incredible, Tukaram spins around three times killing anything dumb enough to get close.
Flat Sword ***
+180 Attack; -65 Defense
Special attack: Destroyer (L14)
First found in SHALATUWAR FORTRESS, in the hidden room with the mural.
Description: (sharp) I think that this was the last weapon I found in the game. Never noticed that window... Anyway, this weapon is pretty cool. Forgot about the special attack.
Big Sword **
+220 Attack; -70 Defense
Special attack: Hellthrust (L15)
First found in OASIS OF NEJEB, in the center of the pool with the first golem.
Description: (sharp) You should know this weapon simply from the cover of the game. Two blades wielded together by a strip of wood through the middle. However, there's nothing too cool about the weapon, except its looks. Special attack is a simple thrust forward, not that effective.
Rhino Club ****
+300 Attack; -80 Defense
Special attack: Spike of Evil (L16)
First found in TEMPLE OF AL FARUM, in an outside area above the sacred water.
Description: (blunt) A log with a huge spike in it. Also the only blunt weapon for the barbarian. So hold onto it.
Doom Axe ****
+500 Attack; -120 Defense
Special attack: Overkill (L18)
First found in GORGE OF ORLOK, in the room with the ape in the labyrinth.
Description: (sharp) The doom axe brings doom. It deals massive damage, and its three part attack is definitely overkill.
Shark Sword ****
+800 Attack; -100
Special attack: Chaos Killer (L19)
First found TOWER OF DAL GURAK, in the armory. (You will need a key, which location is explained in the walkthrough.)
Description: (sharp) The most powerful weapon in the game. 'Nuff said.
Ice Axe **1/2
+30 Attack; -10 Defense
Special attack: Frostbite (L13)
First found in FORTRESS OF NEMRUT, near the end. While you are crossing the bridge, pay attention the large "pillars" by it. One of them is missing the base. Cross over to it and go down the lift.
Description: (sharp) One of the few special weapons worth keeping, MAYBE. Its special attack is similar to Northern Lights, four hits dealing massive damage.
Great Fire Sword **
+50 Attack; -10 Defense
Special attack 1: Firestorm (L13)
Special attack 2: Volcano (L18)
First found in FORGE OF XSHATHRA, in a semi-secret room. There is a gate locked by the iron key. Once you get the key go back to it and open it. Inside will be a bunch of skeletons as well as a lava pool. Look for a window in a wall. Through it you have to shoot a large switch to open a door. Inside will be sword. (Read walkthrough for better explanation.)
Description: (sharp) The only weapon with two special attacks, (except Ianna's sword). Although both are impressive, you will simply have too many great weapons to get this baby. But you could get it, if you like penis.
Version Info
Version 1.0 - Current Version (12-6-03)
- Completed the Letters from You, FAQ, and Did you Know... sections. (These will never be finished as I'll probably always be adding to them.)
- COMPLETED THE WALKTHROUGH. It's done. Finally. Wohoo.
- Proofread the guide and changed a thing or two there.
Version .95 (8-6-03)- Finished walkthrough for Temple of Ianna and added to the Fortress of Nemrut walkthrough.
- Wrote walkthrough for Tower of Dal Gurak and started on the Abyss.
- Loosely started a FAQ, Did you know..., and Letters from You sections.
Version .9 (7-15-03)- Finished Weapons section.
- Wrote walkthroughs for Oasis of Nejeb, Temple of Al Farum, Forge of Xshathra, and started on Temple of Ianna.
- Started the Did you know... section.
Version .8 (5-30-03)- Made a second map for Marakamda and completed its walkthrough.
- Wrote walkthroughs for Tombs of Ephyra, Island of Karum, Shalatuwar Fortress, Gorge of Orlok, and started on Fortress of Nemrut.
- Rewrote small parts of the guide and updated the Weapons section.
Version .7 (12-05-02)- Organized the guide.
- Added the Version Info, Weapons, and You Know You've Been... sections.
- Rewrote Why I Like Bod section and proofread the guide.
- Completed walkthroughs for Kashgar, Fortress of Tell Halaf, and Mines of Kelbegen.
- Made a map for the beginning of Marakamda and started on its walkthrough.
Version .5 (9-29-02)- Completed the first two parts of the guide.
- Wrote walkthroughs for Tabriz and Kazel Zalam.
You Know You've Been Playing BoD Too Much When...
This section was ENTIRELY copied from http://www.geocities.com/phileosophos/bod/toomuch.html. The author of this section is John B. Williston. I thought that this was kind of funny, so I added it to this wonderful guide. Enjoy.
You Know You've Been Playing BoD Too Much When...
1. You think about going click, right+left, up+down on people who piss you off.2. You stop and make very sure that no one is near enough to strike before drinking your coffee.
3. Carrying your keys prevents you from picking up your wallet.
4. You're badly injured but decide to bear with it because reloading the game would take too long.
5. You stand stupidly in front of a locked door waiting for the lock name to appear.
6. You expect even the smallest candle to throw interesting and sharply defined shadows.
7. You wonder how to unleash the combo for your butter knife.
8. You figure only women know how to tuck and roll out of harm's way.
9. Water seems far too translucent and just doesn't ripple realistically.
10. You beat on any portion of a wall whose color doesn't exactly match the rest.
11. You name your firstborn son Sargon.
12. You are incapable of side-stepping unless an enemy is nearby.
13. You believe you understand Zoroastrian teachings but don't really care.
14. You always try to keep your enemies clumped together and off balance.
15. You expect a thrown object to reappear magically in your hand.
16. You destroy anything wooden by sheer force of habit.
17. You think about what a cool looking weapon someone's head would make.
18. You wonder how to unleash your special abilities.
19. You do your best to fight your enemies through iron bars, wooden pillars, walls or other circumstances such that they cannot fight back.
20. When someone crosses their arms your immediate reaction is either to jump forward or strike backward.
21. Life's sound track seems dull and uninteresting.
22. Your Unreal Tournament game is off because you keep triggering alternate fire when jumping.
23. You expect yellow or red trails behind your limbs when performing neat moves.
24. You name your only daughter Zoe.
25. Fear of what might happen prevents you from picking up your keys.
26. You expect a 20% improvement in your vertical leap if you stow what you're carrying.
27. You expect arrows or blades to sally forth from any hole in a wall.
28. You don't even bother trying to stop yourself when sliding down a slope.
29. Anything but weapons, shields, food, bottles, keys and jewelry is useful only for throwing.
30. You know how to pronounce 'Xshathra' properly.
31. Hovering above and behind yourself seems perfectly reasonable.
32. You expect to lose control of your body to a cut-scene at any moment.
33. Snow just doesn't crunch realistically enough.
34. You try to use or shoot any nearby protrusions you see.
35. You figure a full life potion can fix anything.
36. The bigger someone is, the less they scare you.
37. You know you understand Zoroastrian teachings and still don't really care.
38. The sound of electricity arcing causes you to spin about wildly
looking for protrusions to shoot.
39. You expect to "absorb" books in a very literal sense.
40. Names like "Ahura Mazda" and "Angra Manyu" [sic] seem perfectly natural.
41. Carrying five enormous weapons, three shields, two quivers, eight bottles and a number of other miscellaneous items seems a bit too limiting.
42. Carrying all that gear seems perfectly reasonable.
43. You name your stockiest son Nagflar.
44. You try to find every opportunity to unleash a combo attack.
45. You immediately pocket any gems you find.
46. You think you can do anything because your stamina bar isn't showing.
47. None of the "textures" in your neighborhood look right.
48. You eat only meat, bread and cheese.
49. You drink only red or glowing liquids and expect miraculous things from both.
50. You expect to glow when using jewelry.
51. You religiously avoid or jump over any discolorations on the ground.
52. You name your most difficult son Tukaram.
53. You forget what your front side looks like.
54. Your natural reaction to spiders (and small, jumpy, teething children) is click+down.
55. Enormous pools of deadly lava or acid are just part of a good day's work.
56. When someone comes at you with a huge meat cleaver, you're not worried.
57. When the ground starts shaking, an earthquake is the farthest thing from your mind.
58. You run immediately toward any levers you see and pull them.
59. You figure you can always retrieve important books later if you miss them the first time.
60. You look over every precipice for ledges.
61. Using ranged attacks seems appropriate for the final bosses in a melee-oriented game.
62. Getting shot with arrows concerns you only because they could be poisoned or might disrupt what you're doing.
63. You look around for an empty bottle when confronted with holy water.
64. What excites you most about a woman is her agility.
65. You carry a torch just to watch the shadows its light casts.
66. When someone just stands and stares at you, your first reaction is to throw a sword at them.
67. You are extremely careful when walking near graveyards.
68. You wonder if you are Ianna's chosen one.
69. The sound of stones rolling sets you to immediate flight.
70. You try to pull yourself up onto any surface lower than two feet above your head.
71. You live with the constant fear that enormous, heavily-armored knights carrying full-length shields and nine-foot swords may suddenly appear.
72. You always look to the high ground for archers when entering an unfamiliar area.
73. You always wait for your enemy to make the first move.
74. You jump into any open sewer without giving it a second thought.
75. You become convinced that you are Ianna's chosen one.
76. You keep looking for the Sword of Ianna around your church.
77. You grant statues a very wide berth.
78. You aren't a programmer by trade but find the Python language fascinating nevertheless.
79. You expect a magic weapon to be of little use and probably not worth carrying.
80. You consider whether a slashing or smashing weapon would be most effective.
81. You start overlooking opportunities for combo attacks in order to prolong combat.
82. You're sure that the solution to all of life's problems somehow involves a very large sword.
83. You expect confrontations to take place in very narrow, confined spaces.
84. What excites you most about a man is his ability to take damage.
85. You stop trying to keep your enemies clumped up and off balance for more of a challenge.
86. None of the architecture near your home seems remotely interesting.
87. You are very cautious around caskets.
88. The undead hold no fear for you and are only an annoyance.
89. Improving your shield usage is one of life's most basic priorities.
90. You expect to be able to side-step just about any attack.
91. An island just isn't an island without a dragon circling it.
92. You understand the background story.
93. You stop fighting your enemies through iron bars, pillars and walls because it's too easy.
94. You wonder whether you are the King or merely a miserable thief, skulking in the shadows.
95. Your to-do list includes items such as "Retrieve the white opal", "Defeat Dal Gurak" and "Banish the chaos child from the Abyss".
96. What you fear more than anything else in the world can be summed up in two words: vampire shields.
97. You consider the final cut-scene entirely satisfying.
98.You could have written Blade of Darkness II in the time you've spent waiting for games to load.
99. You consider the Gladiator mod the most important invention of this century.
100. Your soul seems like a fair price for better multi-player support.
101. You interpret saving your game as a sign of weakness.
102. When a pesky child runs from you, your natural reaction is to slice him open to get at the blue gem.
103. A knife covered in blood just seems wrong somehow.
104. You think goblins look like big, pink chickens.
105. You consider learning Spanish just to be able to understand the developers' comments.
106. You spend time assembling lists of indicators that you've been playing BOD too much.
107. You know exactly where every screenshot was taken.
108. You actually discuss the pros and cons of major and minor combos.
109. You're ready, waiting and actually anxious for The Chaos Child's inevitable return.
110. You think goblins taste like chicken.
