The Bearer & The Last Flame kicks off with the sort of grimdark monologue you could probably recite yourself after five minutes: the world’s finished, hope’s gone, and you’re lugging about the last spark of light. It should feel epic. Instead, it feels like the game’s going through the motions, ticking off fantasy clichés without ever giving them any real weight.
Gaming Heaven
There is, technically, a full game here. Multiple areas, a central hub, vendors, and a selection of enemies all suggest something with ambition. The hub even throws in a massive war elephant for good measure, because why not. Exploration occasionally throws up a surprise, whether it’s a hidden chest or a mimic attempting to remove your face, which at least adds a bit of personality.
There’s also a decent range of gear and vague “soulslike” systems lurking beneath the surface. You can see what the developers were aiming for, and in fleeting moments, it almost resembles a cohesive experience. Almost.
Gaming Hell
The opening area is less “tutorial” and more “aimless wandering simulator”. Paths blur together, landmarks are non-existent, and progress feels like something you stumble into by accident rather than design. Later levels double down on this, with staircases and ladders looping endlessly, as if the game itself isn’t entirely sure where it’s going.
Combat is where patience goes to die. Hit detection is wildly inconsistent, making every fight feel like a negotiation rather than a test of skill. Attacks miss when they shouldn’t, connect when they shouldn’t, and movement feels oddly weightless. Instead of mastering mechanics, you’re left hoping the game agrees with you.
Performance on PS5 is equally grim. Frame drops, stuttering, and crashes turn an already frustrating experience into something actively exhausting. Visually, it’s muddy, and the echo-heavy audio makes open spaces sound like you’re fighting inside a biscuit tin.
Final Judgement
The Bearer & The Last Flame has the ingredients of a decent dark fantasy game, but none of the fundamentals to support it. Between baffling design, unreliable combat, and technical issues, it feels unfinished rather than challenging. Like a poorly planned shortcut around the Dartford Crossing, it promises to save time but mostly leaves you wondering why you bothered.
