What Bound By Blades is about
Bound By Blades is a 2D action-RPG built around boss fights. You play as one of the Bound, a new order formed by a lone warrior who united the tribes of Ashmyr after an ancient force turned people into corrupted fiends called the Ilcyon. Your job is to take down 10 unique Ilcyon bosses, then face their Extreme mode variants once you are ready for a harder version of the same fights. Between bosses you collect loot, craft gear, and put together sets that change how your abilities work. The combat is simple to learn but demanding: you need to memorize attack patterns and time your parries, blocks, and combos correctly. Each boss you beat makes the next encounter tougher.
Playing it with friends
The game supports 2 player online co-op, so you can bring one friend along for the whole run. Both of you pick from 3 characters, each with its own attacks and combos, which lets you build a pair that covers each other's weaknesses. Bosses are the main event, and taking them on together means you can split attention, cover a missed parry, and share the loot you pull from the fight. The Tower and the Endless Dungeon are there when you want something other than the boss list to grind through with a partner.
Before you start
Expect a difficulty curve. If a boss stops you, the settings let you pick from 3 difficulties, so you can drop down and learn the pattern before pushing back up. Progress comes from more than raw skill: level up your attributes, craft the 10 armor sets and 10 weapons, apply enchants for extra buffs, and unlock item-set bonuses that alter your abilities. Pets are worth investing in early — send them on missions to gather crafting materials, or level and evolve them so they help in combat. The transmog system lets you change how your character looks without giving up the gear you want to wear. For score-chasers, each boss fight has ranks to aim for.